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Ube  Student's  ©15  Testament 


ISRAEL'S 

HISTORICAL   AND   BIOGRAPHICAL 

NARRATIVES 


THE  STUDENT'S  OLD  TESTAMENT 

LOGICALLY  AND  CHRONOLOGICALLY 
ARRANGED  AND  TRANSLATED 


CHARLES  FOSTER  KENT.  Ph.D.,  Litt.D. 

WOOLSEY  PROFESSOR  OF  BIBLICAL  LITERATURE  IN  YALE  DNIVERSITT 


ARRANGEMENT  OF  VOLUMES 

I.    Narratives  of  the  Beginnings  of  Hebrew  History.    (Now  Ready.) 

Introduction.  The  Beginnings  of  Human  History.  Traditional 
Ancestors  of  the  Hebrews.  Deliverance  of  the  Hebrews  from  Egypt. 
Life  of  the  Hebrews  in  the  Wilderness  and  East  of  the  Jordan.  Con- 
quest and  Settlement  of  Canaan. 

n.     Historical  and  Biographical  Narratives.     {Now  Ready.) 

Introduction.  The  United  Monarchy.  History  of  Northern  Israel. 
History  of  Judah.  Re-establishruent  of  the  Jewish  Community  in 
Palestine.  The  !Maccabean  Struggle.  Life  of  the  Jews  of  the  Dis- 
persion. 

III.  Sermons,  Epistles,  and  Apocalypses  of  Israel's  Prophets. 

{Now  Ready.) 

Introduction.  The  Prophets  of  the  Assyrian  Period.  Prophets  of 
Judah's  Decline.  Prophets  of  the  Babylonian  Exile.  Prophets  of  the 
Persian  Period.     Prophets  of  the  Greek  and  Maccabean  Periods. 

IV.  Israel's  Laws  and  Legal  Precedents.     (Now  Ready.) 

Introduction.  Constitutional  Laws.  Criminal  Laws.  Private 
Laws.     Humanitarian  Laws.     Religious  Laws.     Ceremonial  Laws. 

V.    The  Songs,  Hymns,  and  Prayers  of  the  Old  Testament. 

(Noic  Ready.) 

Introduction.  Tribal  and  National  Songs.  Songs  of  Lamentation. 
Songs  of  Love  and  Marriage.  The  Kingly  and  Messianic  Psalms. 
Hymns  of  Praise  and  Thanksgiving.  Hymns  of  Adoration  and  Trust. 
Prayers.     Reflective  and  Didactic  Psalms. 

VI.    Proverbs  and  Didactic  Poems. 

Introduction.  Practical  and  Ethical  Observations  and  Precepts. 
Religious  Proverbs.  Gnomic  Essays.  Numerical  Enigmas.  Dis- 
cussions of  the  Problem  of  Evil.  Discussions  Regarding  the  Value  of 
Life  and  Its  Wise  Enjoyment.     Poems  Describing  Wisdom. 


SOURCES,    GROWTH,   AND  APPROXIMATE  DATES  OF  TH] 


IMPORTANT   EVENTS 


»37 


Division  of  the  Hebrew  Empire. 
Invasion  of  Shishak. 

Work  of  Elijah. 

Campaigns  of  Shalmaneser  II. 


^'^     Jehu's  Tribute  to  Shalmaneser  II. 
^1<J     Joash's  Tribute  to  Hazael. 


781-74'> 
TSO-T-I" 

745-73^ 
787-8&-. 
722-721 


Reign  of  Jeroboam"  II. 
Preaching  of  Amos. 

Work  of  Hosea, 
Work  of  Isaiah. 
jDapture  of  Samaria. 


686-641      Reactionary  Eeign  of  Manasseh. 
^''^ '     Ashurbanipal's  Capture  of  Thebes. 

Earlier  Sermons  of  Zephaniah  and  Jeremiah. 
Great  Reformation  of  Josiah. 

The  First  Captivity.    Work  of  Ezekiel. 
^^'      The  Final  Captivity. 
^^     Expulsion  of  Foreigners  from  Egypt. 

538     Capture  of  Babylon  by  Cyrus. 
520-51-!      Rebuilding  of  the  Temple. 

Reorganization  of  Persian  Empire. 


520-516 


4  Til 


33r'. 


217 
165 


Battle  of  Marathon. 

"Battles  of  Thermopylae  and  Salamis. 

Expulsion  of  Persians  from  Europe. 

Rebuilding  the  Walls  of  Jerusalem. 
Nehemiah's  Second  Visit. 

Adoption  of  the  Priestly  Law  by  the  Judean 
Community. 

Devastation  of  Palestine  by  Ochus. 
Conquest  of  Sjria  by  Alexander. 
Battle  of  Ipsus. 

Death  of  Pyrrhus. 

Beginning  of  Translation  of  Greek  0.  T. 

Battle  of  Raphia. 

Conquest  of  Palestine  by  Seleucids. 
Persecution  of  the  Jews. 
Rededication  of  the  Temple. 


1^»      Election  of  Simon  High  Priest,  General,  and 
Governor  of  the  Jews. 
Renewal  of  Treaty  with  Rome. 

Subjugation  of  Moab  and  Ammon. 
Seizure  of  Judea  by  Rome. 


Ji(*v  ^-foRres 


^<'.*KI.v  .Saui.  Stories 

x,;^  ~T     KTEm&AVip  SroR'   i 


,AV1>    T>i\'n>    ''•r.H?.  vTfVF_5 


Popular  Jude.'LN 


Latek  Ephbaimite 


!      T>ivn^  >»Ti)iiik> 


/ 


T        z^EKY  Late  1   1 


FIRST   EDITION 
OP  I.   II  SAMUEL 


FLNAL  BEYIStON  C 


/ 


—f- 


\ 


MIDHI 

/  THE  BOOK  I  i 

/       OF  ISRAEli 


\       / 
V— - 


BOOKS   OF   CHRONICLES  }  CH»n 


I  MACCABEES 


Kaowv  ovtT  TBSouoH  QcotATiova. 


EXPLANATION  ( 
REFERRED  TO  BY^ 


ILD  TESTAMENT  AND  APOCRYPHAL  HISTORICAL  BOOKS 


1            ■                 '                    ■        ' 

HON               EaKLV 

A 

lEMPUE    KHORI'S              A 

/                              'AM      X 

/       '     ;^ 

N               rp 

/             — r — 

/ 

■St 

r  0 

7^    TTfP    APT^              \ 

Early  Ei"" >"-' 

EuSHA    Na 

/ 

SOLOMON                   \     ,. 

■T \              « 

N,                                                                \      R            ,<         y 

/  Samaria  Cycle 
/     "P  EttsHA  Stories 

-  L, 

X            4''        / 

CHRONICLES  QF  THE 
KINOS  OF  ISRAEL    , 

iAH 

-v._.   ,,    ,. 

\i/ 

CHRONICLES  'o'f'THE  KINGS  OF  JVDAH 

FIRST  EDITION  OP 
I.   II  KINGS 

aUEL  AND  KINOS 

HAGGAI  1 

BOOK  OF  JEREMIAH 

^ 

-** 

J^KHtiH.-. 

_ 

\  OF                                                             \ 
IE' KINGS 
1  JUDAH 

\     /         ^- 

1  'iVR 

I.ER'S    ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY  {  EZ 

RA— N^UEMIAH 

B( 

>0K  OF  ESTHER 

BISTORT  OF  THE  MACCABEAN 

STRUOOLE  BY  JASON  OF  CYRENE 

_                                   ■  ■ — ' _     _ 

\ 

PE  AND  COLOR; 
\sB  BUT  NOW  LOST.                          BOOKS  STILL  EXTANT. 

C6e  ^tunent's  2DID  Cestament 


ISRAEL'S 
HISTORICAL    AND    BIOGRAPHICAL 

NARRATIVES 

FROM  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  HEBREW  KINGDOM 
TO  THE  END  OF  THE   MACCABEAN  STRUGGLE 


BY 

CHARLES    FOSTER    KENT,    Ph.D. 

Woolsey  Professor  of  Biblical  Literature  in  7'ale  University 


WITH  MAPS  AND  CHRONOLOGICAL  CHARTS 


HODDER     AND     STOUGHTON 

LONDON    TORONTO    NEW  YORK 


•,u.,  ..;  • 


V 


PREFACE 


It  is  a  significant  fact  that  nearly  half  of  the  entire  Old  Testament  con- 
sists of  historical  and  biographical  narratives.  These  represent  the  oldest, 
the  simplest,  and  the  most  concrete  record  of  God's  revelation  of  Himself 
"through  life  to  life."  That  revelation  is  real  ana  iiiteiiigiblc,  and  the  faith 
that  grew  up  about  it  possesses  a  permanent  and  universal  value,  because 
its  foundations  were  the  actual  experiences  of  men  who  lived  and  struggled, 
amid  trying  circumstances,  with  the  ever-recurring  problems  of  human 
existence.  In  a  very  true  sense  Israel's  unique  faith  was  the  substance 
of  things  seen  and  felt.  Not  in  the  garden  of  Eden  but  in  the  fiery  furnace 
of  adversity  were  the  rude,  primitive  Hebrew  tribes  trained  and  given  that 
divine  message  which  made  them  Jehovah's  chosen  people— his  witnesses, 
called  to  conquer  the  world,  not  by  the  sword  but  by  unselfish  service  and 
the  compelling  power  of  truth. 

Their  later  historians  were  inclined  to  invest  the  earlier  periods  and  char- 
acters with  a  halo  and  to  ignore  the  evidence  of  their  elemental  barbarity; 
but  embedded  in  Judges,  Samuel,  and  Kings  are  found  extracts  from  older 
narratives  that  faithfully  reflect  those  conditions  which  are  the  true  back- 
ground, and  which  make  clear  by  contrast  the  real  nature  and  significance 
of  that  marvellous  development  and  revelation,  the  consummation  of  which 
is  recorded  in  the  later  chapters.  Israel's  faith  and  ethical  standards  grad- 
ually unfolded  under  the  divine  teaching  in  the  school  of  national  experience, 
as  did  its  political  and  social  institutions.  It  is  because  they  were  con- 
stantly developing  that  they  are  significant.  Along  the  same  paths  each 
individual  must  proceed  from  the  comparative  ignorance  and  barbarism 
of  childhood  to  the  maturity  and  strength  of  manhood.  The  Old  Testament 
histories  are  unique,  not  merely  because  they  record  important  events,  but 
because  the  causes,  the  meaning,  and  the  consequences  of  these  are  con- 
stantly interpreted  by  Israel's  inspired  historians.  Hence  the  narratives, 
which  begin  with  Samuel  and  end  with  I  Maccabees,  are  the  natural  gateway 
through  which  to  enter  the  broad  fields  represented  by  the  Bible.  Because 
of  their  vividness  and  concretene-ss  the  stories  of  Samuel,  of  Saul,  and  of 
David  at  once  attract  and  hold  the  attention  of  young  and  old  alike.  Studied 
in  their  logical  order ^which  is  the  order  of  events— the  historical  narratives 
introduce  the  student  in  succession  and  in  their  true  relations  to  the  sig- 
nificant characters  and  factors  in  Israel's  remarkable  history.  Thus  a 
definite,  systematic  basis  is  established  for  all  subsecjueiii  study.  In  the 
light  of  this  knowledge,  the  noble  work  and  messages  of  Israel's  teachers 
at  once  become  real  and  possessed  of  a  vital,  personal  interest  and  value. 


illl?.rr"^^^"^^ 


PREFACE 

The  remarkable  success  that  has  attended  the  few  initial  experiments  is 
convincing  evidence  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  elementary,  as 
well  as  advanced,  Bible  classes  will  abandon  the  unsystematic  and  largely 
fruitless  methods  still  in  vogue  and  enter  upon  a  graded,  unified  course  of 
study,  which  will  in  the  end  give  a  complete  and  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
contents  of  both  Testaments.  In  one  year  of  systematic  study  it  is  possible 
to  become  acquainted  with  the  essential  outlines  and  facts  of  Israel's  history; 
in  another  with  the  strong  personality  and  noble  messages  of  the  prophets; 
then,  intelligently  and  with  greatest  profit  the  fascinating  narratives  of  the 
beginnings  of  Hebrew  history,  which  come  largely  from  the  pens  of  the 
early  prophets,  can  be  studied,  with  the  assurance  that  the  intricate  problems 
which  they  present  will  vanish  when  viewed  from  the  vantage-points  already 
gained.  Similarly,  as  in  succeeding  years  the  great  messages  of  the  psalmists, 
priests,  and  sages  are  considered,  they  will  each  yield  their  wealth  of  in- 
spiring truth,  and  in  the  end  the  entire  Old  Testament  will  be  as  familiar 
ground  as  the  Gospel  of  Luke  or  the  twenty -third  psalm.  This  is  not  a 
distant  ideal,  but  an  easily  attainable  goal,  provided  our  Bible  teachers 
will  set  it  definitely  before  their  classes  and  inspire  zeal  and  enthusiasm  in 
steadily  advancing  toward  it.  They  will  soon  find  that  various  parts  of 
the  Old  Testament  are  of  very  different  values;  but  each  stage  in  the  study 
will  reveal  unsuspected  beauties  and  vital  truths  which  will  kindle  interest 
and  arouse  the  sense  of  definite  work  and  conquest  and  personal  growth. 
Also,  when  they  pass  at  times  from  the  Scriptures  which  Jesus  studied  so 
deeply,  and  from  which  he  and  his  apostles  drew  those  truths  and  illus- 
trations and  expressions  which  they  wove  into  all  their  teachings,  to  the 
New  Testament,  they  will  find  that  it  has  an  entirely  new  meaning  and 
significance. 

Modern  scholarship  furnishes  most  valuable  aid  in  restoring  the  original 
text,  in  explaining  the  obscurities  and  contradictions,  in  interpreting  events 
in  the  light  of  universal  history,  and  in  supplementing  the  often  meagre 
biblical  narrative  by  the  testuuony  of  contemporary  monumental  literature; 
but  modern  Old  Testament  histories,  however  excellent,  should  never  be 
substituted  for  that  vivid,  clear,  dramatic  history,  written  by  Israel's  own 
historians.  It  has  been  said,  with  much  truth,  that  the  Bible  was  never  moi;e 
studied  and  less  read  than  to-day.  Knowledge  of  its  history,  structure,  and 
contents  is  essential;  but  it  cannot  without  great  loss  take  the  place  of  per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  the  exalted  ideas  and  records  of  the  original  writers, 
expressed  in  their  own  unrivalled  literary  form.  The  supreme  aim,  there- 
fore, in  this  volume,  as  in  the  series  of  which  it  is  a  part,  has  been  to  facili- 
tate the  intelligent  reading  and  personal  study  of  the  Bible  itself.  Introduc- 
tions and  foot-notes  are  simply  intended  to  indicate  the  chief  reasons  for  the 
faith  that  is  rapidly  becoming  the  common  possession  of  all  Bible  students. 
Fortunately,  wlaile  the  Hebrew  text  of  Samuel,  Kings,  and  Ezra-Nehemiah 
is  in  many  places  obscure  or  defective,  the  Greek  and  other  early  versions 
have  preserved  a  large  number  of  original  readings  and  in  some  cases  long 
passages,  so  that  it  is  now  possible  to  place  at  the  disposal  of  English  readers 
a  much  more  lucid  and  complete  text  of  these  important  books.     In  adding 

vi 


PREFACE 

a  new  translation  of  I  and  II  Maccabees,  it  is  also  felt  that  a  real  and  growing 
need  will  be  met. 

Through  the  generous  and  efficient  co-operation  of  the  publishers  it  has 
also  been  possible  to  furnish  within  the  compass  of  this  volume  an  unusually 
complete  equipment  for  the  study  of  Old  Testament  history.  The  debt 
which  I  owe  to  the  hundreds  of  scholars  who  have  made  this  work  possible 
is  too  great  to  acknowledge  in  detail;  the  classified  list  of  books  of  reference 
in  Appendix  I  gives  the  titles  of  those  most  often  used.  I  am  under  deep 
obligation  to  mv  colleasues,  Professor  Torrev  for  suggestions  m  connection 
with  chapters  V  and  ^  I  of  the  Introduction,  to  the  Reverend  Frederick 
Lent,  M.  A.,  for  important  collaboration  in  the  translation  of  I  Maccabees, 
and  to  the  Reverend  George  D.  Castor,  M.  A.,  in  the  translation  of  II  Mac- 
cabees. The  Reverend  A.  A.  Madsen,  M.  A.,  has  also  placed  at  my  dis- 
posal the  valuable  results  of  his  detailed  investigations  in  the  fields  of  biblical 
geography  and  chronology,  while  Professor  McFadyen,  of  Knox  College, 
Toronto,  has  generously  contributed  at  each  point  his  most  admirable  criti- 
cisms. Last  of  all  I  wish  to  acknowledge  the  large  debt  which  I  owe  to  the 
members  of  my  biblical  and  Hebrew  seminars,  whose  practical  discussions  and 
sane  conclusions  have  thrown  clear  light  upon  many  difficult  problems. 

C.  F.  K. 

Yale  College, 
Easter,  1904. 


vu 


CONTENTS   AND   CLASSIFICATION 

INTRODUCTION 

THE   HISTORY   OF  ISRAEL'S   HISTORICAL  AND   BIOGRAPHICAL 

NARRATIVES 

PAO.J 

I.   The  Origin  and  Present  Literary  Form  of  the  Old  Testament  His- 
torical AND  Biographical  Narratives 3 

II.   The  Earlier  Histories  and  Biographies  Incorporated  in  Samuel  and 

Kings 10 

1.  The  Early  Judean  Saul  and  David  Narratives 10 

2.  The  Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 12 

3.  Very  Late  Popular  Prophetic  Traditions   13 

4.  Popular  Judean  David  Stories 14 

5.  The  Book  of  the  Acts  of  Solomon 14 

6.  The  Israelitish  and  Judean  Royal  Chronicles 16 

7.  The  Early  Ephraunite  Elijah  Stories 17 

8.  The  Gilgal  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 18 

9.  The  Samaria  Cycle  of  Popular  Elisha  Stories 19 

10.  The  Isaiah  Stories 20 

11.  The  Final  Editing  of  the  Books  of  Samuel  and  Kings 20 

III.  The  Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Judah  and  the  Temple.  .  " 

IV.  The  Original  Sources  and  Historical  Value  of   Ezra-Nehemiah 'z^ 

V.  The   Records  of  the  Maccabean   Age 35 

VI.  The  Recovery  of  the  Original  Text  of  the  Historical  Books 41 


IX 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 
THE    UNITED    MONARCHY 


I.   The  Work  of  Samuel  and  the  Es- 

^  TABLISHMENT    OF   THE    KiNGDOM. 

§  1.  The  Birth  and  Consecration  of 
Samuel 


S  2.  Doom  of  the  House  of  Eli  and 
the  Call  of  Samuel 


§  3.  Capture   of    the   Ark    and   the 
Fall  of  the  House  of  Eli 


§  4.  Fortunes    of    the   Ark  among 
the  Philistines 


§  5.  Secret   Anointing   of    Saul    by 
Samuel 

§  f)    Events  Connected  with   Saul's 
Election  as  King 


§  7.  The    Great    Deliverance    from 
the  Philistines 


§  8.  Saul's    Disobedience    and    Re- 
jection  

§  9.  Smnmary  of  Saul's  Reign  . .  .  . 


CLASSIFICATION 

Earhj  Judean  Saul 

Narratives 


ISam.  4ib.  2b,3a, 
4a,  5a,  c,  6b,  7b,  9b, 
10a,  c 


52-lla     (llb_6l),  2- 
4    /5^     6-14    /15)     16 
/17,  18a\    18b_72a_ 

91 -8  (9)^   10_io7.  9- 
16 


1027b,   lll-8a   (8b)^ 
9-11    (12-14\     15 


13   (1)^  2-4a,  5a,  6, 
7a,    15b-18    (•19-22') 
23_i436a  r36h\   37- 
46,52 

(108,    134b-    5b,   7b 

15a\ 
(1447-51) 


OF    THE   SOURCES 
Later  Ephraim- 

ite  Samuel 

Narratives 


PAGE 

I  Sam.  11-5(0),* 

7a     /7b\      7c-28, 
211.18-21    51 


3I2-I7,    22a     /22b) 
23-31      (32a)      32b 
(33a)  ^  33b-35a 


(35b,    36)^    3I-2I 
(41a)    ..'......' 

4.1c,  2a,  3b,  4b,  5b, 
6a,  7a,  8,  9a,  10b, 
11-14  (-15)^  16-18a 
(18b)     19-21    (22) 

51..'. .' 


54 


57 


59 


62 


715-87      (8),    9-22^ 
1017-24,       ]  21-11 
(12a)     12b-14  (15)    16- 
20a     (20b,     21)      22-25 
(l025-27a) 65 

>^2b-13a    (13b)     14  79 


jgla  ('lb'\    lc-35a.  yg 

79 


*  References  in  parentheses  are  to  later  additions  to  the  earlier  narratives.    Minor  additions  of 
a  word  or  short  clause  are  not  indicated. 


CONTEXTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


II.   The  Decline  of  Saul  axd  the  Rise 
OF    David. 

§  10.  David's  Introduction  to  Pub- 
lic Life 

§  11.  His  Growing  Popularity  and 
Saul's  Insane  Jealousy 

§  P2.  David  as  a  Fugitive 

§  13.  Saul's  Vengeance  upon  the 
Priests  of  Nob 

§  14.  Saul's  Pursuit  and  David's 
3Iagnaniiiiity 

§  15.  David  and  Abigail 

§  16.  David  among  the  Philistines. 

§  17.  David  and  the  Philistine  In- 

^   vasion 

§  18.  His  Pursuit  and  Defeat  of  the 
Amalekites 

§  19.  Saul's  Visit  to  the  Medium  of 
Endor 

§  20.  Defeat  and  Death  of  Saul  and 
Jonathan  


III.    D.wid's  Reign  A.S  King  oveu  Judah 

AND    OVKR    ATX    IsR.VET.. 

§  21.  David's  Reception  of  the  News 
of  the  Death  of  Saul  and  Jonathan. 


CLASSIFICATION 
Earhj  J  ltd  eon  Da- 
vid Xarratives 


I  Sam.  1614-1711 

32-40,  42a  (^42b-\   43- 
4Sa,  49,  51-54 

jg6-8a    (^Sb-s     9,    12a 
C12b'\    13-16,  20,  21a 
('2 lb-)    22-26a  (26b \ 
27-29a'^   191    (2,  3)' 
4-17 

20lb-39   (40-42)^   21 
1-9,  221-4  (5) 

226-18   nQ\    20-23  _  _ 
23I-5        (6)^        7-14a 

(14b),  26 
25lb-26a    (2Cb)^    27- 

44 

27 

281  •  2,  29 

301-4        (5)^       6-18a 
nSh\    19-31 

31 


II  Sam.  11-4(5-10), 

11,     12     (13-lC)      17 
(18a)^  18b-27 


OF    THE   SOURCES 
Popular     David 
Stories 


(lo35b-16l3),    17 
12-31,  41,  4Sb,  50,   p^^j. 
55-58 80 

l<^l-5,     17-19,     29b, 
30,10,11 85 

23  (15)^16-18  (1918_ 
20ia) 89 

94 

23l9_244a,   6,  7a, 
4b,5,7b-22 95 

100 

2110-15    (1    ciir. 

121-22) 102 

105 

106 

Late  Popular  Pro- 
phetic Narratives 

25l^   283-16    (17. 
18),  19-25 109 

(IChr.  10) 110 

.  .- 112 


XI 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


III.    David's  Reign  as  King  over  Judah 
AND  OVER  ALL  IsRAEL — Continued. 
§  22.  David   King    at    Hebron   and 
Ishbaal  at  Mahanaim 

§  23.  Hostilities  between  the  Two 
Kingdoms 

§24.  Abner's  Disaffection  and 
Deatli 

§  25.  Assassination  of  Islibaal .... 

§  26.  David's   Election  as   King  of 

all  Israel 

§  27.  War  with  the  Philistmes 

§  28.  Capture  and  Establishment  of 
Jerusalem  as  the  Capital 

§  29.  Establishment  of  the  Ark  and 
the  Davidic  Dynasty  at  Jerusalem . 

§  30.  David's  Family  and  Court .  . 

§  31.  Public  Execution  of  the  Sons 
of  Saul 

§  32.  David's  Treatment  of  the  Son 
of  Jonathan 

§  33.  Census  and  Preparations  for 
the  Temple 

§  34.  David's  Illustrious  Warriors  . 

§  35.  His  Wars  of  Conquest 


§  36.  His  Double  Crime 

§  37.  His  Condemnation  and   Pun- 
ishment  

§  38.  Birth  of  Solomon 

§  39.  Crime  of  Amnon 

§  40.  Absalom's  Revenge 

§  41.  Pardon  and  Return  of  Absa- 
lom  


CLASSIFICATION 
Early  Judean  Da- 
vid Narratives 


11  Sam.  3I-9  (loa), 

lOb  /11\  

212-31 

3(6a),6b-16(17-19)^ 

20-29  (30 \    31-39_  _ 
4.1,  2a  (^2b,  3\    5-12  _ 

5  (1.2), 3  (4.5).. 

517    (2313-17)^    5I8- 
25  (2115-22^  gl)  .  . 

56a  (6b -\    7a  (7b  \    8a 
(8b\    9-12 

6l.2a  (2b)^3-23  (7) 

(32-5,    513-I6,    815- 

18,3023-26) 

311  (2),  3-6  (7),  8-14 

4*,  9 

24I-I6  (17)^  18-25.  . 
238-12,  18-39 

(82),  101-19,  8  (3-6), 
7-10  (11,  12\    13,  14a 

(14b),  111,  1226-31 

112-27 

12  (l-15a-\    15b-23 

1324, 25 . ; ■ ; 

I3I-8  (9)_  10-17  (18a)^ 

18b-22  

1323-39 

I4I-24  (25-27)    28-33 


OF    THE   SOURCES 
Chronicler  s    Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 


PAGE 

114 

115 

116 

118 

I     Chr.     Ill  3, 

1223-40 119 

1115-19         148-17 

181,20^-8 120 

114-9  141,2  .  123 

13,  151-167.  37_ 

1727 124 

3I-9,   143-7,    1814- 

17,  3725-34  ....  131 

132, 

133 

21,  22 134 

1110-14,   20-47^   27  i 

1-24 139 

182,     19^     183-13^ 

20I-3 142  _ 

144 

146 

148 

148 

150 

151 


xn 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


David's  Reign  as  King  over  Judah 

AND  OVER  ALL  IsRAEL — Continued. 

§  42.  Absalom's  Rebellion 

§  43.  David's  Return 

§  44.  Sheba's  Rebellion  and  the 
Murder  of  Amasa 

§  45.  Adonijah's  Attempted  Usurpa- 
tion and  Solomon's  Establish- 
ment on  the  Throne 

Early  Judean 
David  Nar- 
ratives 
§  46.  David's  Fmal 
Injunctions     and 
Death 

The  Splendors 
AND  Building  En- 
terprises OF  Solo- 
mon's  Reign. 

§  47.  Removal  of 
His  Opponents .  . . 

§48.  His  Wisdom. 


§  49.  Organization 
and  Glories  of 
Solomon's  King- 
dom   


§  50.  Preparations 
for  His  Building 
Enterprises 


CLASSIFICATION 
Early  Judean  Da- 
vid Narratives 


151-1832  .  . 
1833-1943 .  . 

301-22.  .  .  .^ 
I  Kgs.  1 .  . . 


Popular 
Solomon 
Traditions 


2l,  2a  (2b-4'\     5-9 
(10.  II) 


I  Kgs.  2  (12),  13- 

27a  (27b)     28-46 


Annals  of 
Solomon 

IKgs.  4i-4a(4b)^ 

5-19,27,  28,  22,23 
(24,  25,  20,  21)^ 
31,  9I6.  17a 


51.  2  (3.  4)^  5a 
(.5b),  6  (7),  8-11 
(12a),  12b-18 


I  Kgs.  3  (3.  2), 
4-6a(6b),7(8), 
9-12a  (12b),  13a 
(13b,  14),'  15a 
(15b)  16-28  (429- 
34) 

Temple 
Records 


OF    THE    SOURCES 
Chronicler's    Er 

clesiastical 

History 

VaUK 

153 

160 

.' 162 

I  Chr.  33I 164 


281-3930 167 


II  Chr.  li 

12-13 


171 
174 


114-17, 


176 


178 


xin 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


rV.    The     Splendors 
AND  Building  Enter- 
prises OF  Solomon's 
Reign — Continued. 
§  51.  Building     tlie 
Temple 


§  52.  Ornamenta- 
tions and  Fur- 
nishings of  the 
Temple 


§  53.  Dedication  of 
the  Temple 

§  54.  So  lomon'  s 
Palace 

§  55.  H  i  s  Re- 
sources and 
Wealth 


§  56.  Visit  of  the 
Queen  of  Sheba. 

§  57.  Solomon's 
Idolatry 


Annals  of 
Solomon 


6    <la),    lb-6    (7)^ 
8,  9 


I  KgS.  7I-8,  924a, 
79-12 


9  (10,  lla\,  llb-15, 
17b-19  (20-22 \  23, 
26-28  10^  1-  12, 
14-22  (23,  24  \  25, 
26  (27) ,  28,  29 


Ilia  (2)^  3a  (3b)^ 
4a  (-lb),  7,  5,8  (6, 
9-13\ 


Temple 
Records 


gl5,  16a  (16b\  17 
(18,  19\  20a 
(20b N  20c  (21, 
22^)  29  (SON  23a, 
26,  23b,  24,  25, 
27,  28,31-36(11- 
14)^  37,38 


7I3  (14a-\^  14b-17, 
18b,  20b,  18c  (19, 
20a\  21  (22^  23, 
24,26,25,27-30a, 
32-36,  30b,  31, 
37-45,  47,  46,  48a 
(48b -49  \  51 

gla  (Ib)^  Ic  (2, 
Sa-)  3b  (4a-\  4b- 
9a  (9b -)  ^  10-13 
(14_99,  25) 


Popidar  Solo- 
mon Traditions 

IKgs.  10i-i0'i3 


Chronicler's  Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 


31-14 


PAGE 

180 


315-5I 184 


52.710^  812-16  ..  .    187 


IlChr.  811 193 


gl-lO,   17,   18^  9IO, 
11.  13-28.  _'...,     193 


91-9-12 195 

196 


XIV 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


Annals  of 

Jeroboam 

Chronicler's  Ec- 

Solomon 

History 

clcsiastical 

^.    The    Splendors 

History 

AND     Building     En- 

terprises   OF    Solo- 

mon's Reign — Cont'd. 

§  58.  His   Adver- 

PAGE 

saries  and  Death . 

jjl4,   15a,    c,    17b, 
19a,    20b,    21,    22, 
25b,  15b,    16,   17a, 
18,     19b,    20a,     c, 
23-25a 

I  KgS.      1126  31 
(■32-39\   40  /41-43) 

929-31 

197 

HISTORY    OF    NORTHERN    ISRAEL 


I.  From  Jeroboam  to  Omri. 

§  59.  Rejection  of  Rehoboam 
and  tlie  Election  of  Jero- 
boam   

§  60.  Jeroboam's  Institution  of 
the  Calf  Worship  at  Betliel 
and  Dan 

§  61.  Prophecy  against  the 
Altar  at  Bethel 

§  62.  A  h  i  j  a  h  '  s  Prophecy 
against  Jeroboam 

§  63.  Death  of  Jeroboam  and 
Reign  of  Nadab 

§  64.  Baasha's  Reign 

§  65.  Elah's  Reign 

§  66.  Brief  Reign  of  Zunri 


II.   Rule  of  the    House  of    Omri 
AND  THE  Work  of   Elijah. 
§  67.    Omri's     Accession     and 
Reign 


Jeroboam 
History 


I    KgS.  132.   1   (3a)  ^ 
3b-20  (21-24)    25 


1326-32. 


1527 -29a  (29b-31-\ 

Annals 
of    Israel 


16   (8),  9.   lOa   (lOb)^ 

11,  12a  (12b-14) 
IQ    (i5a.\     15b-18   (19, 

20) 


I  KgS.  1621.22(23)^ 
24  (25-28) 


Late  Prophetic 
Narratives 

PAGE 

(II  Chr.  10) 203 

205 

(1333-1334) 205 

I4I-I8.  . 208 

1419.20^1525,26..,.  209 


1532-167 209 

210 

210 

Early  Ephraimite 
Elijah  Stories 


211 


XV 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


II.  Rule  of  the  House  of  Omri  and 

THE  Work  of  Elijah — Continued. 

§  68.  Ahab's     Accession     and 

Policy 

§  69.  Tlie  Drought  Announced 
by  Elijah 

§  70.  Jehovah's  Vindication  on 
Mount  Carmel 

§  71.  Revelation  to  Elijah  at 
Horeb 

§  73.  Call  of  Elisha 

§  73.  Murder  of  Naboth  and  Eli- 
jah's Condemnation  of  Ahab. 

§  74.  Deliverance  of  Samaria 
from  the  Arameans 

§  75.  Ahab's  Victory  over  the 
Arameans  at  Aphek 

§  76.  Message  of  the  Unknown 
Prophet 

§  77.  Predictions  of  Micaiah 
and  the  Four  Hundred  False 
Prophets 

§  78.  Death  of  Ahab  at  Ra- 
moth  in  Gilead 

§  79.  Ahaziah's  Reign  and  Fa- 
tal Illness 

§  80.  Jehoram's  Reign 

III.  Popular      Traditions      about 
Elisha. 

§  81.  Translation  of  Elijah  and 
Consecration  of  Elisha 

§  82.  The  Widow's  Oil 

§  83.  Miraculous  Provision  of 
Food  for  the  Sons  of  the 
Prophets 

§  84.  Recovery  of  the  Lost  Ax. 


Annals  of 
Israel 


I  Kgs.  16  (29-31), 

32,  33a    /33b  ■)    34    _  _ 

Ahah  History 

201-25 

2026-34 

(2035-43) 

221  28  (II  chr.  181- 

2T\ 

2229-37  (38-40) 

(2251-53) 

n  Kgs,  (31-3) 

Samaria  Cycle 
xvi 


Early  Ephraimite 
Elijah  Stories 


PAGE 

212 

I  Kgs.  17 212 

lgl-3a  (3b,  4\  5-19a 
(19b)^  19C-30  (31,32a'\ 
32b-46 '213 

19l-9a  (9b-lla\    llb-18     216 
I919-21 '......    217 

2ll-20a       (20b -22  ^        23 
(24-26)^  27  (28,  29)     _     gjg 

219 

221 

222 

223 

225 

HKgS.  1    (l),2-8   (9- 
16),  17a  (17b,  18),  ...     225 

227 

Gilgal  Cycle 

II  Kgs.  2 227 

4I-7 229 

438-44 229 

61-7 230 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


III.  PopuiuUi      Traditioxs     about 
Elisha — Contitiucd. 

§  85.  Restoration  of  the  Shu- 
naniniite's  Son 

§  86.  Restoration  of  the  Shu- 
nammite's  Land 

§  87.  Healing  of  Naaman  the 
Leper 

§  88.  War  with  Moab 

§  89.  Deception  of  the  Ara- 
means 

§  90.  Siege  and  Deliverance  of 
Samaria 

§  91.  Elisha  and  Hazael 

§  92.  Elisha's  Farewell  Bless- 
ing and  Death 

IV.  From    Jehu    to    the    Fall   of 
Samaria. 

§  93.  The  Prophetic  Revolu- 
tion Led  by  Jehu 

§  94.  Jehu's  Reign 

§  95.  Jehoahaz's  Reign 

§  96.  Events  of  Jehoash's  Reign 

§  97.  Jeroboam  II's  Reign 

§  98.  Reigns  of  Zechariah, 
Shallum,  Menahem  and  Peka- 
hiah 

§  99.  Reign  of  Pekah  and  the 
Invasion  of  Tiglath-Pileser  III 

§  100.  Reign  of  Hoshea  and 
the  Fall  of  Samaria 

§  101.  Causes  of  the  Downfall 
of  Northern  Israel 

§  102.  Origin  and  Religion  of 
the  Samaritans 


Samaria  Cycle 


U  Kgs.  48  37 

81-6 

5 

34-27 

68-23 

g24_7l7   (18-20)     _  _ 
87-15 ['..'. 

1314-21 

Annals 
of  Israel 

1324  ."2V  148-14;;;; 

I5IO,  14;  16,  19,20,25 

1529,30a 

173.4 


GUgal  Cycle 


PAGE 

230 

232 

232 

234 

236 

237 

240 

240 

Prophetic 
Jehu  History  ' 

II  Kgs.  9I-6   (7-iOa)^ 

10b-1027 241 

Late  Prophetic 
Summaries 

II  Kgs.  1028-36 246 

I3I-9 246 

I3IO,  11  CI2,  13-\    22.23 

I415.I6 ' 247 

1423-29 248 

158,  9,  11-13,  15,  17,  18, 
21-24,26 249 

1527.28.  30b.  31 250 

171.2,5.6^189-12  250 

177-16a  /10b,  17a-\    17b, 
18  (19,  20\    21-23  251 

1724-34a  (34b-40)^  41     ,     252 


xvn 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


HISTORY   OF 

JUDAH 

I.  From    Rehoboam     ro 
Ahaz. 
§  103.    Rehoboam's 

Reign 

§  104.  Shishak's  In- 

vasion 

Annals 
of  Judah 

Late  Prophetic 
Summaries 

I  KgS.  1421-24.  . 

Chronicler's  Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 

II  Chr.  115-23.  . 
13 

13i_14ia 

14lb-15l5 

1519-1614 

17,  194  11,  3031- 

34  .                

I8I-I93. ...... 

301-30 

3035-311 

312-20 

33I-9 

PAGE 

257 

1      KgS.      1425-28 
(29),   30  (31) 

259 

§  105.  Abijah's(Abi- 
jam's)  Reign  .... 

§  106.   Asa's    Piety 
and  Might 

§  107.  His  War  with 
Baasha 

§  108.  The    Benign 
Rule  of  Jehosha- 
phat 

§  109.  Jehoshaphat's 
Alliance    with 
Ahab  against  the 
Arameans     

I5I-8 

159-11-  14 

1523.24 _ 

3241-46 

260 

I5I2,  13,  15 

I5I6-22 

262 
264 

Annals 
of  Israel 

334,29-36 

Annals 
of  Judah 

3347-49(50) 

II  KgS.  820-22.  .  . 

265 

267 

§  110.    His    War 
against  the  Mo- 
abites,     Ammon- 
ites, and  their  Al- 
lies 

268 

§  111.  His    Disas- 
trous Commercial 
Enterprises 

§  112.  Jehoram's 
Reign 

§  113.  Ahaziah's 
Brief  Reign 

§  114.  Overthrow  of 
Athaliah  and  the 
Accession  of   Jo- 
ash 

270 

816-19,  23-24 
825-29,927,28   .. 

271 

272 

Temple   Records 

111-5  (6),  7-9  (10), 
11-20 

33IO-332I 

274 

XVUl 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 

Temple   Records 


I.     From   Rehobo.oi    to 

Ahaz — Continued. 

§  llo.  Joash's Reign 

and  Repair  of  the 

Temple 


§  116.  Amaziah's 
Reign 

§  117.  Reign  of  Aza- 
riah  (Uzziali) .... 

§  118.  Jot  ham's 
Reign 


II  KgS.  134  21a. 

Annals 
of  Jiidah 

j_|.5,  6a  (6b\    7 
155 


Late    Prophetic 
Summaries 


H21_l33,21b,19 


J4.1-4,  17-21  _ 

151-4, 

156.  7. 


14 


22 


1532-38. 


Chronicler's  Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 


II  Chr.  34 


35 

36 

37 


PAGE 

277 


280 


284 


II.   The    Assyrian    Pe- 
riod:   From    Ahaz 
to  josiah. 
§  119.  Tlie  Reign  of 
Ahaz    and    His 
Homage    to    Tig- 
latli-Pileser 

§  120.  The  Reign  of 
Hezekiali  and  His 
Reforms 


§121.    His    Illness 
and  Recovery.  . .  . 


§  122.  The  Embassy 
of  Merodach-Bal- 
adan 


Temple 
Records 


II  KgS.  16 

10-18 


Late 

Prophetic 

Summaries 


II  KgS.  16 

1-4,  19,  20 


l§l-4a,  5-7 


Isaiah 
Stories 

301-7(8-11), 

Is.  381-8' 
21,22 


II   KgS. 

3012-19, 

Is.  39.  .  . 


Chronicler's  Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 


II  Chr.  38.    285 


39I-31I6. 

n7-i9)    20, 
21,3327-29.   289 


332-1-26 295 


296 


XIX 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


II.    The    Assyrian    Pe- 
riod:  From  Ahaz 
TO  JosiAH — Cont'd. 
§  123.  Sennacherib's 
Invasion  of  Judah 
§  124.  Sennacherib's 
Demand  and  Isa- 
iah's Prophetic 
Counsel 


§  125.  Reactionary 
Reigns  of  Manas- 
seh  and  Amon .  . . 


III.    The     Babylonian 
Period  :     Froai     Jo- 

SIAH  TO  THE    RiSE  OF^ 

Cyrus. 

§  126.  Discovery  of 
the  Book  of  the 
Law  in  the  Days 
of  Josiah ....... 

§  127.  The  Great 
Reformation  un- 
der Josiah 

§  128.  Jo  si  ah' s 
Death 

§  129.  Jehoahaz's 
Reign 

§  130.  Jehoialiim's 
Reign 


Annals 
of  Judah 


II  Kgs.  18 

13-16 


3329,30.  _ 
2331b,  33-35 
34la,7,  lb. 


Hezekiah 
History 


II  Kgs.  18 

17_J99a,36, 
37        (2020. 

21),  Is.  36- 
379a,  37,  38 


Temple 
Records 


II  Kgs.  22 

3-16(17\    18- 
20 


23l-3a  (3b)  ^ 
3c  (4,  5\  6- 
13  (14\  15 
(16-20\  21- 
23  (24-27  \ 


Isaiah 
Stories 


II  Kgs.  19 

9b-35,     Is. 
379b -36 

Late 
Prophetic 
Summaries 


II  Kgs.  21 

1-6    (7-16\ 
17-26 


22l'2. 


2328, 


2331a.32  .  . 

2336.37^24 
2-6 


Chronicler's  Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 


PAGE 

II  Chr.  33 

1-8 297 


329-23,32,33.    393 


33 


303 


341-28 306 


3429-3519.  .  309 


3520-361  .  .    313 

362-4 314 

365-8 314 


XX 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


The     B.vbyloxlvn 
Period  :     From    Jo- 

SIAH  TO  THE  RiSE  OF 

Cyrus — Continued. 

§  131.  Jeremiah's 
Preaching  and 
Trial 

§  132.3Iartyrdomof 
the  Prophet  Uriali 

§  133.  First  and  Sec- 
ond Collections  of 
Jeremiah's  Ser- 
mons  

§  134.  The  First 
Captivity   

§  135.  Zedekiah's 
Reign  and  Rebel- 
lion against  Bab- 
ylon   

§  136.Perfidy  of  the 
Hebrews  during 
the  Siege 

§  137.  Jeremiah's 
Imprisonment 
and  Deliverance. 

§  138.  The  Final 
Capture  of  Jeru- 
salem and  the  De- 
portation of  its  In- 
habitants   


§139.  Jeremiah's 
Liberation 

§140.  Brief  Rule 
and  Death  of  Ge- 
daliah 


Annals 
of  J  lid  ah 


Baruch's 

Biography 

of  Jeremiah 


Jer.  361-19 , 

3620-24.... 

36 


34la  (lb)^2- 
22 


37,381 -28a 
3915-18..., 


3828b,  39(1. 

2),  3  (4-10) 


Jer.     3911- 
40^ 


407-4118 


Late 

Prophetic 

Summaries 


248-12    (13- 
14\    15-17  . 


34I8-352, 
Jer.531-5. 


II  Kgs.  25 

3-15      (16. 
17),    18-21^ 

Jer.  536- 

27(28-30) 


II  Kgs.  35 

22-20 


Chronicler's  E&- 
clesiastical 
History 


PAGE 

315 

316 

316 

II  Chr.  369' 
10 319 

36il-i<5 319 

320 

322 


3617-21 325 


328 


328 


XXI 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


III. 


Annals  • 

Baruch's 

Late 

Chronicler's  Ec- 

of Judah 

Biography 

Prophetic 

clesiastical 

of  Jeremiah 

Summaries 

History 

The     Babylonian 

Period  :     From    Jo- 

SIAH  TO  THE  RiSE  OF 

Cyrus — Continued. 

§141.    The    Jewish 

PAGE 

Refugees  in  Egypt 
§  li'i.  Jehoiachin's 

Jer.  43-44. 

331 

Liberation 

II  Kgs.  35 

27-30,  Jer. 

5331-34  .  . 

335 

THE    RE-ESTABLISHMENT    OF    THE    JEWISH  *  COMMUNITY 

IN    PALESTINE 


I.   The  Rebuilding  of  the  Temple. 
§  143.  Cyrus's  Decree  Regard- 
ing the  Temple  at  Jerusalem . 

§  144.  The  Return  of  Certain 
Jews  with  the  Vessels  of  the 
Temple 

§145.  Re-establishment  of  Wor- 
ship at  Jerusalem  and  the 
Laying  of  the  Foundation  of 
the  Temple 

§  146.  Beginning  of  the  Re- 
building of  the  Temple  in  the 
Days  of  Darius 


§  147.  Unsuccessful  Opposition 
to  the  Building  of  the  Temple 

§  148.  Dedication  of  the  Temple 
and  the  Observation  of  the 
Passover ; 


Aramaic 
Document 


Ezra  63-5 


5I4,  15, 


Prophecy 
of  Haggai 


Hag.  1I-12  (13),  14. 

15 

Aramaic 
Document 

Ezra  53-«14a   (14b)  ^ 
14c  (14d,  15) 


Chronicler's  Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 


II    Chr.    3622.    23^     p^GE 
Ezrali-4 339 


15-11,  I  Esdr.  447a. 

48,51-56,62,63    5l-6_     349 


Ezra  32-46- 24 342 


51- 2 


344 


616-22. 


345 


348 


XXII 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


The  Work  of  Nehe^hah  in  Re- 
storing THE  WalLvS  of  Jerusa- 
lem AXD  IX  Reforming  the 
JuDEAN  Community. 
§  149.  Xehemiah's  Interest  in 
the  Afflicted  Judean  Com- 
munity  

§  150.   His    Leave   of   Absence 

and  Arrival  at  Jerusalem.  .  . 

§  1j1.  The    Rebuilding   of  the 

AValls 

§  152.  Hostile  Opposition  and 
Xehemiah's       Precautionary 

Measures 

§  153.  Xehemiah's  Social  Re- 
forms  

§  154.  Unsuccessful  Plots 
against  Xehemiah 

§  155.  An  Appeal  to  Artaxerxes 
to  Stop  the  Rebuilding  of 
Jerusalem 


§  156.  Measures  to  Insure  the 
Protection  of  Jerusalem.  .  .  . 

§  157.  Dedication  of  the  Walls 
of  Jerusalem 

§    158.   Xehemiah's  Later  Re- 


ligious Reforms. 


The  Work  of   Ezra  and   the 

Institution    of    the    Priestly 

IvAW. 

§  159.  Artaxerxes's  Commission 

to  Ezra 

§  100.   Return  of  Ezra  and  his 

Company 


Nehemiah's 
Memoirs 


Neh.  li-iib 

illc_«>20 

4 

5 

6 

Aramaic 
Document 

Ezra  4  (7),  8a,  9,  10, 
8b,  11-23 

N  ehemiah"  s 
Memoirs 

Xeh.  1^-'"^ 

12  (27-30-)  ^  31 ,  32  (33- 
36N    37-40  (41-43y 

I^A,    5a     (.5b  N      6-13a 
(13b -j^    13C-21    (22a\ 
22b-3l' 

Ezra   Narrative 
Ezra  7" -26 

727_8l9     (20^      21-36^ 

Xeh.  7'0-7^  Q^^) .  .' 
xxiii 


Chronicler^ s  Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 


PAGE 

349 

350 

Xeh.  3 352 

354 

355 

357 

358 

111- 2 360 

361 

1244_i33 362 


Ezra  7 


1-10 


367 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 

Ezra  Narrative 


III.  The  Work  of  Ezra  and  the 
Institution  of  the  Priestly 
Law — Cont  inned. 

§  161.  Public  Reading  of  the 
Law  and  the  Observation  of 
the  Feast  of  Tabernacles .... 

§  162.  Ezra's  Crusade  Against 
Mixed  Marriages 

§  163.  Public  Confession  of 
Guilt 

§  164.  The  Covenant  and  its 
Terms 

IV.  Organization  of  the  Restored 
JuDEAN   Community. 

§  165.  Census  of  the  Jews  in 
Palestine 

§  166.  Population  of  Jerusalem 
and  the  Villages 

§  167.  Genealogy  of  the  Priests 
and  Levites 


Neh.  773b  (73c)  ^  gi- 
6  (7-9aN    9b-I8 


Ezra  9, 10 . 
Neh.  91-37. , 


938,   10   (l-28a)^  28b- 
39 


Chronicler's  Ec- 
clesiastical 
History 


PAGE 

369 
371 
374 

377 


Neh.  76-69  (Ezra  2^- 

67) 379 

Neh.  113-36 382 

131-26 383 


THE    MACCABEAN    STRUGGLE 


I.  Causes  of  the  Maccabean 
Struggle. 

§  168.  Alexander  and  his  Suc- 
cessors  

§  169.  Seleucus's  Futile  Attempt 
to  Rob  the  Temple 

§  170.  Atrocities  of  the  Jewish 
Hellenizing  Leaders 

§  171.  Repeated  Sackings  of  Je- 
rusalem by  Antiochus  Epiph- 
anes 

§  172.  Antiochus's  Measures  to 
Root  out  Judaism 

§  173.  The  Martyrs  for  the  Law. 

§  174.  The  Uprising  of  Matta- 
thias  and  his  Sons 

§  175.  Fortunes  of  the  Fugitives 

§  176.  Death  of  Mattathias 


History  of 
the  Hasmoneans 


I  Mac.  11  9. 


31-28. 

329-48. 

349-70 


Traditional 

History  of  the 

Maccabean  Struggle 


PAGE 

387 


II  Mac.  3 388 


390 


394 

397 

398 

402 
403 
405 


527,81-7. 


XXIV 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


325-37^  , 

338_427, 
428-35  _  ^ 


436-6 1_ 


II.  The  Wars  and   Achievements 

OF  Judas  Maccabeus. 

§  177.  Judas's  Victory  over 
ApoUonius 

§  178.  Departure  of  Antiochus 
Epiphanes  for  Persia  and 
his  Appointment  of  Lysias 
as  Regent 

§  179.  Defeat  of  the  Syrian 
Generals 

§  180.  Victory  over  Lysias  at 
Bethsura 

§  181.  Purification  of  the  Tem- 
ple and  the  Restoration  of  its 
Service 

§  182.  Successful  Campaigns 
against  the  Surroundmg  Na- 
tions   

§  183.  Death  of  Antiochus 
Epiphanes  and  the  Accession 
of  Eupator 

§  184.  The  Disastrous  Battle  of 
Beth-zacharias 

§  185.  The  Treaty  Establishmg 
Religious  Freedom 

§  186.  Appointment  and  Rule  of 
Alcimus  as  High  Priest 

§  187.  Defeat  and  Death  of  Ni- 
canor 

§  188.  The  Treaty  with  Rome.  . 

§  189.  Death  of  Judas 


III.  The  Attainment  of  Political  Independence  under 

JON.VTHAM. 

§  190.  Jonathan's  Contests  and  Final  Treaty  with 
Bacchides 

§  191.  Concessions  by  the  Syrian  Rivals,  Demetrius  I 
and  Ale.vander  Balas 

§  192.  Honors  Bestowed  upon  Jonathan  by  Alexander 
Balas 

§  193.  Jonathan's  Victory  over  ApoUonius 

§  19 1.  Overthrow  of  Alexander  by  Ptolemy  and  De- 
metrius U 


History  of 
the  Hasmoneans 


I  Mac.  31  24. 


Traditional 
History  of  the 
Maccabean  Struggle 


PAGE 

406 


408 

II  Mac.  88-36 408 

III-I3I 413 


101-9. 


415 


1014-38^132-45 417 

9, 109-13 425 

131-22 429 

1323-26 432 

I4I-14 433 

I415-I536 435 

441 

443 

History  of 
the   Hasmoneans 

PAGE 

I  Mac.  923-73 444 

101-47 447 

1048-66 449 

1067-89 450 


111-19 


451 


XXV 


CONTENTS  AND  CLASSIFICATION 


III.  The  Attainment  of  Political  Independence  under 
Jonathan — Cont  inued . 

§  195.  Jonathan's  New  Honors  and  Privileges  under 
Demetrius  II 

I  196.  Jonatlian's  Transfer  of  Allegiance  from  De- 
metrius II  to  Antiochus 

§  197.  Jonathan's  Alliances,  Victories,  and  Building 
Operations 

§  198.  Tryphon's  Treacherous  Capture  and  Murder 
of  Jonathan 

IV.  Simon's  Prosperous   Reign. 

§  199.  Peace  with  Demetrius  and  the  Capture  of 
Gazara  and  the  Citadel  at  Jerusalem 

§  200.  Peace  and  Prosperity  under  Simon 

§  201.  Renewal  of  the  Treaty  with  Rome 

§  202.  Honors  Conferred  upon  Sunon  by  the  Jews.  . 

§  203.  Early  Promises  and  Later  Demands  of  An- 
tiochus Sidetes 

§  204.  Defeat  of  the  Syrian  Army 

§  205.  The  Treacherous  Murder  of  Simon 


History  of 
the  Hasvioneans 


PAGE 

I  Mac.  1120-40 452 

1141-74. 453 

131-38 455 

1339-1330 457 

1331-53 459 

I4I-15 461 

I4I6-24 461 

1425-49 462 

I5I-37 464 

1538-1610 465 

1611-24 466 


THE    LIFE    OF    THE    JEWS    OF    THE     DISPERSION 


The  Story  of  Esther. 

§  206.  Repudiation  of  Queen  Vashti  by  Ahasuerus 

§  207.  Choice  of  Esther  as  Queen  and  Mordecai's 
Service  to  King  Ahasuerus 

§  208.  Haman's  Purpose  and  the  King's  Permission 
to  Put  to  Death  all  the  Jews  in  the   Empire .... 

§  209.  Esther's  Successful  Efforts  to  Avert  the  Ca- 
lamity and  the  Ignominious  Death  of  Haman . .  . 

§  210.  The  Royal  Decrees  for  the  Protection  of  the 
Jews 

§211.  Destruction  of  the  Enemies  of  the  Jews . ,  .  - 

§  212.  Institution  of  the  Feast  of  Purim 

§  213.  The  Greatness  of  Mordecai 


Book  of  Esther 

PAGE 

Esth.  1 471 

3 473 

3 474 

4-7 475 

8 478 

9I-I6 480 

917-32 480 

10 4«2 


XXVI 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS 


APPENDIX 

PAGE 

I.  Selected  Bibliography  and  Detailed  References 485 

II.  Hebrew   Chronology 492 

III.  Shishak's   List  of  Palestinian   Cities 494 

IV.  The   Moabite  Stone 494 

V.  The  Western   Campaigns  of  Shalmaneser  II 496 

VI.   Tigl.\th-Pileser  Ill's   Conquests  in  Palestine 497 

VII.   Sargon's   Capture  of  Samaria 498 

VIII.  The  Siloam   Inscription 499 

IX.  Sennacherib's  Inv.\sions  of  Judah 499 

X.   The   Babylonian   Chronicle  (B) 502 

XI.  Contemporary   Accounts  of  the   Conquest  of   Babylon  by   Cyrus...  503 

XII.   The  Gadatas  Inscription 505 

XIII.    The  Hebrew,   Babylonian  and   IVIacedonian  Months 506 


CHRONOLOGICAL  CHARTS   AND   MAPS 

Sources,  Growth,  and  Approximate  Dates  of  the  Old  Testament  and  His- 
torical   Books Frontispiece 

The  Hebrew  Empire  under  David Opposite  page    49 

Restoration  of  Solomon's  Temple Opposite  page  180 

Plan  of  Solomon's  Palace Opposite  page  193 

Hebrew  and  Contemporary  Chronology  from  the  Division  of  the  Hebrew 

Empire  to  the  Babylonian  Exile After  page  199 

The  Assyrian  Empire Opposite  page  248 

Israel  and  Judah  after  the  Division  of  the  Hebrew  Empire  ....  Opposite  page  255 

Jewish  and  Contemporary  Chronology  from  597  to  165  b.c After  page  335 

The  Jerusalem  of  Nehemiah Opposite  page  349 

The  Empires  of  Babylonia,  Persia  and  Alexander Opposite  page  365 

The    Jewish    Community    in    Palestine     during    the    Persi.\n    and    Greek 

Periods Opposite  page  379 

Palestine  during  the  Maccabean  Period Opposite  page  385 


INDEX  OF   BIBLICAL  PASSAGES Pages  xxix,  xxx 

Explanation  of  Typographical  Symbols  and  Abbreviations Page  xxxi 

xxvii 


INDEX   OF   BIBLICAL   PASSAGES 


I  Samuel 

CHAPTERS  PAGES 

li-72a 51-62 

72b-i4 70-74 

715-822 65-67 

91-10^ 62-64 

108 76,77 

109-16 65 

10i'-24 67,  68 

1025-27a 70 

102"b-lli5 65-68 

12i_134a 68-71 

13^b 77 

135a 71 

135b 77 

136.  "a 71 

13"b-i5a 77,  78 

13i5b_i446 71-76 

14-*"-5i 79 

1452 76 

15i-35a 76-79 

1535b-l6l3 80-82 

16i-»-19i7 80-88 

19i8-20ia 92,93 

20ib_2i9 89-93 

2110-15 102,  103 

22I-2314 92-97 

2315-I8 91,92 

2319-25^4 95-102 

26 97-100 

271-282 102-105 

28'^-25 109,  110 

29,30 105-108 

31 110,  111 

II  Samuel 

II-3I 112-116 

32-5 131 

36-43 116-118 

4^* 133 

45-55 118,  119 

56-12 123,  124 


II  Samuel 

CHAPTERS  PAGES 

513-I6 131 

5i"-25 120-122 

6,7 124-130 

8i 122 

82-14 142-144 

815-18 131 

9 133,  134 

101-1225 142-148 

1226-31 144 

I3I-2022 148-164 

2023-26 131 

211-14 132^  133 

2115-22 122 

238-12 139^  140 

2313-17 121 

23I8-39 140 

24 134-138 

I  Kings 

1,2 164-173 

3I 178 

32-419 174-177 

420.21 178 

422-25 177^  178 

427.28 177 

429-34 176 

5,6 178-184 

71-12 193 

713-99 184-192 

910-15 193,  194 

9I6.  17a 178 

9l7b-23 194 

924 193 

925 192 

926-28 194 

lOi-io 195,  196 

1011-12 194 

1013 196 

1014-29 194,  195 

11 196-199 

xxix 


I  Kings 

CHAPTERS  PAGES 

I2I-I420 203-209 

I42I-I524 257-265 

1525-1921 209-217 

20 219-223 

21 218,219 

221-40 223-225 

2241-46 .'265,266 

2247-50 270 

2251-53 225 

II  Kings 

1 226 

2 227-229 

3I-3 227 

34-27 234-236 

4I-7 229 

48-37 230-232 

438-44 229,230 

5 232-234 

6l-7 230 

68-720 236-239 

8i-6 232 

87-15 240 

816-29 271-273 

91-1036 241-246 

11,12 274-280 

I3I-13 246,247 

I314-21 240,241 

1322-25 247 

I4I-7 280,281 

I48-I6 247,248 

I4I7-22 282,283 

1423-29 248 

I5I-7 282,283 

158-31 249,250 

1532-1620 284-289 

17 250-253 

181-3 289 

184-6 293 

187'  8 294,295 


INDEX   OF   BIBLICAL   PASSAGES 


II  Kings 

CHAPTERS  PAGES 

189-12 250,251 

1813-1937 297-303 

301-19 295-297 

20-0-24" 303-314 

348-352 319,  320 

353-21 325-327 

3522-26 328,329 

3527-30 335 

I  Chronicles 

10 110,  111 

III-3 119 

11^-9 123 

1110-14 139 

1115-19 120,  121 

1120-47 140 

131-22 103-105 

1323-40 119^  120 

13 124-128 

141-2 123,  124 

143-7 131 

148-17 121 

151^167 126-128 

1637-1727 128-130 

18i 121 

182-13 142,  143 

1814-17 131 

I9I-203 143,  144 

204-8 122 

31,33 134-139 

33I 164 

371-24...: 141 

3725-34 131,  132 

38,29 .  .167-171 

II  Chronicles 

li 171 

12-722 -174-192 

81-10 193,  194 

811 193 

812-16 192 

817-18 193,  194 

9I-9 195,  196 


II  Chronicles 

CHAPTERS  PAGES 

910.11 194 

912 196 

913-28 194,195 

929-31 199 

10 203-205 

11^-179 257-266 

I8I-I93,  223-225,  267,  268 

194-11 267 

201-368 268-314 

369-16 319,320 

3617-21 325-327 

3622.23 339 

Ezra     ' 

1 339-341 

21-67 379-381 

268-3I 369 

32-46 342-344 

47-23 358-360 

424 344 

5I.2 344,345 

53-622 345-348 

71-836 365-369 

9,  10 371-374 

Nehemiah 

1-6 349-358 

7I-5 360 

76-69 379-381 

770-8I8 369-371 

9,  10 374-378 

111.2 360 

113-1326 382-384 

1327-1331 361-364 

Esther 
1-10 471-482 

Isaiah 

36,  37 298-303 

381-8.21,22 295,296 

39 296,  297 


Jeremiah 

CHAPTERS  PAGES 

36 315,  316 

34 320,321 

37,38 322-325 

39I-14 325-328 

3915-I8 325 

40I-4430 328-335 

53I-5 319 

536-30 325-327 

5331-34 335 


Haggai 

1 344,345 

I  Esdras 

447a,  48,  51-56,  62,  63    5I-6 

341,342 

I  Maccabees 

II-9 387,  388 

110-15 391,392 

116-64 394-398 

21-617 402-428 

618-1624 429-467 

II  Maccabees 

3I-526 388-397 

527 403,  404 

6I-742 397-402 

8l-7 404,  405 

88-36 408-412 

9I-29 425-428 

IOI-8 415-417 

109-13 428 

1014-23 417,418 

1024-38    421,422 

III-I2I 413-415 

122-25 418-421 

1226-45 422-425 

I3I-I536 429-440 


XXX 


EXPLANATION    OF    TYPOGRAPHICAL    SYMBOLS    AND 

ABBREVIATIONS 

Text  in  roman  type. 

Supplemental  and  editorial  additions  to  an  older  section  in  smaller  type. 

Superscriptions  iv  small  capitals. 

Poetical  passages  are  distinguished  by  smaller  type  and  broken  lines. 

Explanatory  clauses,  found  in  the  original,  in  (  ). 

English  equivalents  of  the  more  significant  Hebrew  proper  names  in  [  ]. 

Words  implied  by  the  context  or  supplied  to  restore  the  original  narratives, 
where  these  have  been  abridged  in  the  process  of  editorial  fusion,  in  italics. 

Foot-notes,  presenting  the  reasons  for  the  analysis  and  classification  of  the  mate- 
rial, significant  alternate  readings,  and  explanatory  material,  in  small  roman 
tjTe- 

Interpretative  side-headings,  giving  a  condensed  summary  of  the  accompanying 
text,  on  the  margins  in  small  roman  type. 

Chapter  numbers  in  arable  figures.  Verse  numbers  in  small  figures  placed 
above  the  line.  Successive  portions  of  a  verse  indicated  by  "■  ^  or  •=,  placed 
after  the  verse  number.  Thus,  Genesis  II.  4  (second  part  of  the  verse)  to 
IV.  6  (first  half)  inclusive  is  written  2^^-4^^\ 

Complete  stories  or  literary  units  (with  their  parallels,  if  any)  are  numbered  with 
arable  numerals  successively  throughout  the  entire  volume  and  are  referred  to  as 
sections.  Thus,  §  2  refers  to  §  2,  The  Primitive  Story  of  Man's  Creation 
and  Fall,  pp.  53-^6, 


AmRV  =  American  Revised 
Version  (1901). 

AV  =  Authorized  Version 
(1611). 

Apocr.  =  Apocrypha  or  apoc- 
ryphal. 

Aram.  —  Aramaic. 

Assyr.  =  Assyrian. 

Bab.  ~  Babylonian. 

cf.  =  compare. 

e.  g.  =  for  example. 

f.  =  and  following. 

Gk.  =  Greek  B  (Vatican) 
text  of  the  O.T. 


General  Abbreviations 

Gk.A  =  Alexandrian  Gk.  text 

of  the  O.T. 
Gk.  S  =  Sinaitic  Gk.  text  of 

the  O.T. 
Heb.  =  Hebrew, 
i.  e.  =  that  is. 
.fos.  =  Josephus. 
Lat.  =  Latin  (Vulgate)  text 

of  Jerome.  . 
Lit.  —  literally. 
Luc.  =  Lucian's     Recension 

of  the  Greek  O.T. 
N.T.  =  New  Testament. 


Old  Lat.  =  Old  Latin  Version 

of  the  O.T. 
Origen  =  Reading    found   in 

Origan's  Hexapla. 
O.T.  =  Old  Testament. 
Pent.  =  Pentateuch. 
RV=  Revised  Version  (1885). 
Sam.  =  Samaritan  Version  of 

the  Pent. 
Sem.  =  Semitic. 
Syr.  =  Syriac  Version  of  the 

O.T. 
Targ.  =  Targum. 
Vs.  =  verse. 


Abbreviations  for  the  Old  Testament  and  Apocryphal  Books 


Gen.  =  Genesis. 

Is.  =  Isaiah. 

Esdr.  =  Esdras. 

Ex.  =  Exodus. 

Jer.  =  Jeremiah. 

Wisd.  Sol.  =  Wisdom  of  Solo- 

Lev. =  Leviticu.s. 

Lam.  =  Lamentations. 

mon. 

Num.  =  Numbers. 

Ezek.  =  Ezekiel. 

B.  Sir.  =  Ben  Sira  or  Ecclesi- 

Dt.  =  Deuteronomy. 

Dan.  =  Daniel. 

asticus. 

Josh.  =  Joshua. 

Hos.  =  Hosea. 

Bar.  =  Baruch. 

Judg.  =  Judges. 

Am.  =  Amos. 

Sg.  of  Three  —  Song  of  tha 

Sam.  =  Samuel. 

Ob.  =  Obadiah. 

Three  Children. 

Kgs.  =  Kings. 

Jon.  =  Jonah. 

Sus.  =:  Susanna. 

Chr.  =  Chronicles. 

Mic.  =  Micali. 

Pryr.    of    Man.  =  Prayer  of 

Neh.  =  Nehemiah. 

Nah.  =  Nahum. 

Manas.ses. 

Ksth.  =  Esther. 

Hab.  =  Hahukkuk. 

Mac.  =  Maccabees. 

Ps.  =  Psalms. 

Zeph.  =  Zephaiiiah. 

I'.nooh  =  Book  of  Enoch. 

Pr.  =  Proverbs. 

Hag.  =  Haggai. 

Ps.  of  Sol.  =  Psalms  of  Solo- 

Ecc. =  Ecclesiastes. 

Zech.  =  Zccliariah. 

mon. 

8g.  of  Sg3.  =  Song  of  Songs, 

Mai.  =  Malachi. 

XXXI 


THE   HISTORY   OF   ISRAEL'S   HISTORICAL 
AND   BIOGRAPHICAL   NARRATIVES 


INTRODUCTION 


THE  ORIGIN  AND  PRESENT  LITERARY  FORM  OF  THE  OLD 
TESTAMENT  HISTORICAL  AND    BIOGRAPHICAL 

NARRATIVES 

Israel's  national  and   literary  history  begins  with  the  establishment  of  The 
the  Hebrew  monarchy  under  Saul.     LTp  to  this  time  the  only  records  of  the  nfngs" 
past  appear  to  have  been  disconnected  popular  traditions,  recounted  be-  of  isra- 
side  the  camp  fire,  in   the  secret  of  the  harem,  at  marriage  feasts,  at  the  tional 
local  sanctuaries,  diuing  the  annual  feasts,  at  the  wells,  or  beside  the  city  "'*'^°'"^ 
gates,  wherever  men  or  women  were  gathered  together  and  the  story-teller 
could  find  an   audience  (cf.  Vol.  I,  p.  13).     These  early  stories,  many  of 
which  are  found  in  the  first  eight  books  of  the  Old  Testament,  undoubt- 
edly preserve  a  great   number  of   significant   historical  facts,  but   they  do 
not  constitute  a  national  history,  for  the  oldest  and  most  authentic  stories 
originated  before  the  Israelitish  tribes  had  yet  crystallized  into  a  nation, 
and  the  narratives  furnish  only  occasional  pictures  of  the  more  important 
acts  and  actors  in  that  great  drama  which  later  unfolded  on  the  soil  of  Pales- 
tine.    They  represent  rather  the  prologue  to  the  subsequent  history,  since 
they  record  the  movements  of  the  nomadic  ancestors  of  the  Hebrews  and 
the  early  struggles  of  the  individual  tribes  to  secure  and  maintain  possession 
of  the  much-contested  land  of  Canaan.     Through  these  varied  traditions 
the  historian  is  able  to  trace  in  outline  at  least  the  beginnings  of  Hebrew 
history. 

Before  there  can  be  a  history  in  the  generally  accepted  sense  of  that  term,  Con- 
there  must  be  historians  possessed  of  the  facilities  for  recording  their  facts  and  'f^y^^y^ 
events  worthy  of  record  and  calculated  to  inspire  them  to  write.     In  ancient  aWe  for 
Israel   these  two  conditions  were  first  met  and  then  fully  supplied  during  willing 
the  brilliant  reigns  of  David  and  Solomon.     The  assimilation  of  the  highly  tory* 
developed  civilization  of  the  Canaanites  and  the  diplomatic  and  commercial 
relations  with  other  centres  of  literary  culture,  such  as  Egy])t,  Phoenicia, 
and  Damascus,   gave  the  Hebrew  historians  their  system   of  writing  and 
also  precedents  to  follow.     From  the  days  of  David  recorders  and  scribes 
figure  among  the  court  officials.     The  dramatic,  epoch-making  events  of  the 
reigns  of  Saul  and  David  gave  them  themes  well  worthy  of  the  pen  of  patri- 
otic historians.     The  national  pride,  and  splendor,  and  comparative  peace 
of  the  reign  of  Solomon  also  afforded  them  the  atmosj)here  and  op|)ortunity 
which  undoubtedly  gave  rise  to  the  earliest  Hebrew  historical  records. 

3 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

Liter-         These  were  either  very  brief  annals  of  important  events,  such  as  the  suc- 
?orinof  cessions  of  kings,  wars,  building  enterprises,  treaties,  and  alliances,  or  else 
'iie         oral  traditions  which  recounted  the  deeds  of  important  religious  or  military 
tecords  leaders,  like  Samuel  and  Saul  and  David.     Both  of  these  very  different 
types  of  sources  underlie  the  narrative  of  Samuel  and  Kings.     As  the  his- 
tory unfolded,  the  tendency  became  marked  to  weave  these  various  sources 
into  a  continuous  narrative.     Naturally,  later  historians  would  also  further 
supplement  the  older  records  with  current  traditions  regarding  the  earlier 
period.     Thus  it  is   that  the  narratives  of  Samuel  and  Kings  have  all  the 
literary   characteristics — absence   of   technical   details,    the   few    characters, 
the  striking  contrasts,  the  vividness,  and  the  dramatic  action — of  the  primi- 
tive traditions  regarding  the  beginnings  of  Hebrew  life.     The  story  of  David's 
family  history,  for  example,  is  presented  in  II  Samuel  9-20  in  a  literary 
form  that  suggests  the  great  tragedies  of  Greece.     The  dramatic  dialogue 
is  also  effectively  employed,  as  in  the  more  primitive  traditions,  to  make  the 
history  realistic.     The  result  is  that  the  characters  live  and  move  and  speak 
before  the  awakened  imagination  of  the  reader. 
The  in-       When  the  Hebrew  prophets  became  preachers  and  statesmen,  swaying 
tlon"''"  public  opinion  by  the  power  of  their  voice  and  by  the  divine  messages  which 
ofser-     they  proclaimed  in  the  form  of  public  addresses,  the  historians  also  intro- 
and  ad-  duced  sermons  and  long  orations  into  their  narratives.      This  literary  form 
dresses   j^  common  to  all    literature.     Mark  Antony's  famous    address  in  Shake- 
speare's Julius  Cccsar  is  perhaps  the  most  familiar  modern  example.     This 
effective  form  of  narration  was  in  Hebrew  literature  but  the  natural  out- 
growth of  the  ancient  oracle,  as  for  example  Jacob's  blessing  in  Genesis  49, 
and  of  the  dialogue.     It  appears  first  and  most  prominently  in  the  writings 
of  the  later  Ephraimite  school,  which  bore  the  stamp  of  Hosea's  strong,  in- 
spiring personality,  and  was  still  further  developed  by  its  Judean  heir,  the 
late  prophetic  or  Deuteronomic  school  (cf.  Vol.  I,  Introd.,  pp.  37-42).    The 
most  striking  examples  in  the  opening  books  of    the    Old  Testament  are 
the  farewell  addresses  of  Moses  in  Deuteronomy  and  Joshua  in  Joshua  23 
and  24.     In  Samuel  and  Kings  there  are  also  many  examples :  Samuel's  long 
sermons  in  I  Samuel  8  and  12,  Nathan's  in  II  Samuel  7,  Solomon's  speech 
at  the  dedication  of  the  temple  in  I  Kings  8,  and  Ahijah's  warnings  in  Ip'-'^ 
and  14'"'^     In  each  case  the  language  and  ideas  indicate  that  these  are 
from  the  later  schools  of  writers.     In  the  didactic  stories  in  Chronicles,  which 
are  based  on  the  earlier  narratives  of  Samuel  and  Kings,  these  hortatory  ad- 
dresses are  still  more  common.     They  are  in  fact  the  favorite  literary  form 
of  the  later  Jewish  writers,  as  is  shown  by  the  long  prayers  in  Ezra  9  and 
Nehemiah  9,  and  even  by  the  speeches  attributed  to  Judas  and  his  fellow- 
leaders  in  the  more  strictly  historical  books  of  I  and  II  INIaccabees. 
Promi-       Israel's  historians  were  always  more  interested  in  individual  men  than 
of  per-  iu  movements.     Since  their  chief  sources  were  also  current  traditions  re- 
sonal      garding  popular  heroes,  the  texture  of  their  histories  largely  consists  of  per- 
phies      sonal  biographies,  which  they  have  woven  together  into  a  larger  whole. 
Remove  from  the  historical  books  the  biographies  of  Samuel,  Saul,  David, 
Solomon,  Jeroboam,  Ahab,  Elijah,  Elisha,  Jehu,   Hezekiah,  Isaiah,  Jere- 

4 


THEIR  ORIGIN  AND  PRESENT  LITERARY  FORM 

miah,  Nehemiah,  and  Ezra,  and  little  besides  bare  statistics  and  the  record 
of  three  or  four  important  events  in  the  history  of  the  temple  remain.  It 
is  this  prominent  personal  element  that  constitutes  the  chief  charm  of  the 
narratives;  while  their  vital  touch  with  actual  men  and  real  life  is  the  main 
source  of  their  permanent  and  practical  value. 

The  prominence  of  the  biographical  element  is  likewise  due  fo  the  fact  Domi- 
that  the  authors  of  the  so-called  historical  books  were  not  primarilv  his-  ahn*not 
torians,  but  rather  religious  teachers  seeking  apt  and  familiar  illustrations  bistori- 
of  the  spiritual  truths  which  impelled  them  to  write.     From  Israel's  history  reiig-" 
as  a  whole  they  drew  many  valuable  lessons,  but  even  more  from  the  life  of  ^°"^ 
a  hero  like  David,  or  of  an  intrepid  chamj^ion  of  righteousness  like  Elijah. 
Hence  the  Old  Testament  records  lack  historic  proportion.     David's  final 
epoch-making  victory  over  the  Philistines  is  only  meagrely  described,  while 
to  his  private  family  history  many  chapters  are  devoted.     Omri's  important 
reign  is  dismissed  with  a  few  verses,  while  four  chapters  are  given  to  de- 
scribing the  work  of  the  Tishbite  prophet.     This  fact  is  the  basis  of  the  com- 
mon assertion   that  there  is  strictly  speaking  no   real   history  in  Hebrew 
literature  until  we  reach  the  Maccabean  period.     The  books  which  are  des- 
ignated as  historical  are  either  collections  of  historical  illustrations,  which 
enforce  prophetic  principles,   or  else  traditions  regarding  the  temple  and 
the  origin  of  its  later  ceremonial  institutions. 

The  amount  of  authentic  data  which  such  books  as  Samuel,  Kings,  and  Indi- 
Ezra-Nehemiah  contain  at  once  place  them  in  the  first  rank  among  the  his-  that'"^ 
torical  records  coming  from  antiquity,  but  the  historical  facts  are  neverthe-  the  ear- 
less incidental,  although  for  this  reason  none  the  less  valuable.     It  is  ex-  torical 
ceedingly  important,  therefore,  always  to  remember  the  higher  ethical  and  p^n^i^t 
religious  purpose  which  determined  the  form  and  contents  of  these  books,  chiefly 
This,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  they  consist  largely  of  quotations  from  earlier  tations 
works,  explains  their  lack  of  unity  and  the  presence  of  occasional  contradic- 
tions.    These  are  but  the   guide-posts    which    point  the  way  back  to  the 
original  sources  and  make  it  possible  to  trace  the  complex  literary  history 
of  these  composite  books  and  thus  to  do  the  work  of  reconstruction  which 
is  necessarA^  before  they  can  be  fully  appreciated  as  literature,  as  history, 
and  above  all  as  illustrations  of  those  eternal  principles  which  regulate  the 
life  of  nations  and  men. 

The  fact  that  the  aim  of  Samuel  and  Kings  was  primarily  prophetic  rather  History 
than  historical  was  recognized  by  the  Jews  who  formed  the  Old  Testament  Cookl 
canon,  for  thev  classified  them,  together  with  Joshua  and  Jiulffes,  as  The  "f  Sam- 

xiel  and 

Former  Prophets.  In  reality  the  two  books  of  Sanniel,  together  with  those  Kings 
of  Kings,  constitute  one  continuous  narrative,  bound  together  by  closest 
bonds.  The  Greek  translators  .so  treated  them,  calling  them  the  Books  of 
the  Kingdoms,  dividing  flicm  into  their  present  divisions.  Jerome  gave 
them  the  title  of  Kings,  and  in  the  case  of  the  seconil  two  he  has  been  fol- 
lowed by  the  English  translators,  while  the  first  two  retain  their  Hebrew  title. 

The  books  of  Samuel  trace  the  history  of  the  Hebrews  from  the  latter  Con- 
part  of  the  period  of  the  Judges  to  the  accession  of  Solomon,  and  therefore  I'^'nfin 
represent  approximately  one  century.     In  the  present  form  they  consist  of  Sanmcl 

5 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

five  general  divisions:  (1)  Samuel  and  Saul  narratives,  I  Samuel  1-15;  (2) 
stories  regarding  the  rise  of  David  and  the  decline  and  death  of  Saul,  16-31; 
(3)  the  account  of  David's  rule  first  over  Judah  and  then  over  all  Israel, 
II  Samuel  1-8;  (-i)  David's  family  history,  9-20;  (5)  an  appendix,  21-24. 
Prin-  In  I  Samuel  the  principle  of  arrangement  is  in  general  chronological.     In 

of'ar-     1-15,  however,  two  very  different  portraits  of  Samuel  are  given:  in  the  one 
range-    (Q^  jQ)  he  is  the  local  seer  of  Ramah,  who  finds  Saul  and  encourages  him 
I  Sam-   to  become  king,  but  in  the  other  (7,  8,  12),  the  prophet-judge,  who  protest- 
ingly  at  the  demand  of  the  people  turns  over  the  supreme  authority  to  their 
first  king.     In  the  one  also  (13,  14),  the  Philistines  are  defeated  by  Saul  in 
a  fierce  engagement,  but  in  the  other  (7)  they  are  miraculously  smitten  in 
response  to  Samuel's  prayer.     The  duplicate  versions  in  16-31  of  certain  of 
the  more  important  incidents  also  indicate  that  the  book  is  composite  through- 
out, and  that  its  literary  unity  and  chronological  arrangement  are  due  to 
the  careful  work  of  the  editor. 
In  II  In  II  Samuel  the  material  is  grouped  according  to  subject  matter.     In 

1-8  the  most  important  political  events  in  David's  reign  are  briefly  out- 
lined, beginning  with  his  accession  to  the  throne  of  Judah  and  concluding 
with  a  summary  of  his  foreign  wars.  The  events  recounted  in  9-20  are  in 
part  contemporary  with  those  recorded  in  1-8,  but  they  trace  the  series  of 
crimes  in  his  family  and  court  which  so  sadly  dimmed  the  lustre  of  his  reign. 
Their  natural  and  probably  original  sequel  is  found  in  I  Kings  1  and  2. 
The  last  division  contains  a  heterogeneous  group  of  narratives,  which  were 
evidently  taken  from  various  sources,  and  probably  added  to  the  original 
book  of  Samuel  after  it  was  separated  from  Kings.  It  includes  an  account 
of  the  fate  of  Saul's  sons  (21'"'^),  which  is  closely  related  in  theme  to  9,  a 
description  of  the  exploits  of  David's  heroes,  21'^"-^  23^"^",  into  the  midst  of 
which  at  a  comparatively  late  date  Psalm  18  and  David's  traditional  "Last 
Words"  were  introduced,  and  finally  the  record  of  a  census,  which  appears 
to  belong  to  the  period  of  David's  foreign  wars.  In  the  character  of  its 
contents,  and  in  their  relation  to  the  narratives  in  the  rest  of  the  book  this 
appendix  closely  resembles  that  found  at  the  end  of  Judges  (17-20).  Unlike 
Judges  and  Kings,  the  books  of  Samuel  have  received  few  editorial  addi- 
tions. Aside  from  a  few  chronological  notes,  the  earlier  material  has  simply 
been  grouped  without  being  fitted  into  an  editorial  framework. 
Con-  In  the  books  of  Kings  the  work  of  the  editor  is  much  more  prominent. 

tents  of  I3eginning  with  the  accession  of  Solomon  and  the  death  of  David  about 
books  97j  B.C.,  he  traces  the  double  thread  of  Hebrew  history  to  the  Babylonian 
Kings  exile  and  Jehoiachin's  liberation  in  561  B.C. ;  the  books  therefore  represent  a 
period  of  about  four  centuries.  The  principle  of  arrangement  is  prevail- 
ingly chronological,  although  groups  of  stories,  as  for  example  the  Elisha 
traditions  (II  Kgs.  2'-8'^),  are  introduced  as  a  unit.  Three  general  divi- 
sions may  be  distinguished:  (1)  the  records  of  Solomon's  reign,  I  Kings  1-11; 
(2)  the  parallel  history  of  Israel  and  Judah,  I  Kings  12-11  Kings  17;  (3) 
the  history  of  Judah,  II  Kings  18-25. 

In  the  first  division  the  editor's  contributions  appear  chiefly  in  11,  where 
he  condemns  Solomon's  foreign  marriages  and  the  toleration  of  heathen 

6 


THEIR  ORIGIN  AND  PRESENT   LITERARY  FORM 

cults  in  Israel.  Beginning  with  the  history  of  the  two  kingdoms  after  the  The 
division,  he  incorporates  his  data  regarding  each  reign  in  a  regular  frame-  rjaf**" 
work,  consisting  of  an  introductory  and  concluding  formula.  The  opening  <''ame- 
one  always  defines  the  synchronism  with  the  neighboring  kingdom  and  the 
length  of  the  reign  (cf.  Appendix  II  for  a  fuller  treatment  of  Hebrew  chro- 
nology). To  tliis  is  added  in  the  case  of  the  kings  of  Judah  the  name  of 
the  queen-mother.  It  concludes  with  a  general  judgment  upon  each  king. 
Upon  the  rulers  of  Israel  this  is  always  adverse,  for  the  basis  of  the  con- 
demnation appears  to  be  the  ruler's  attitude  toward  the  religion  of  Jehovah, 
and  in  the  opinion  of  the  editor  the  northern  cult  was  altogether  wrong 
because  it  centred  about  the  high  places  selected  by  Jeroboam  I  to  rival 
the  temple  at  Jerusalem  (I  Kgs.  l^-**"^^).  Occasionally  detailed  reasons  for 
the  condemnation  are  also  given  (cf.  I  Kgs.  14^^"",  15""'^  16^°"^^).  The 
concluding  formula  includes  a  reference  to  the  editor's  source  and  a  record 
of  the  death  of  the  king  and  the  name  of  his  successor.  To  this  is  added, 
in  the  case  of  the  kings  of  Judah  who  did  not  come  to  a  violent  end,  the 
statement  that,  he  slept  with  his  fathers. 

Parallel  to  the  narrative  of  Kings  and  for  the  most  part  simply  quoted  Histor- 
from   it   are   the   historical   sections  in   the  book  of   Isaiah    (36-39).     Far  uonsTn 
more  important  are  the  corresponding  passages  in    Jeremiah   (26,  34,  36-  Isaiah 
45),  for  they  richly  supplement  the    narrative    of    Kings,  which  unfortu-  Jere- 
nately  has  only  a  brief  account   of  the  events   immediately  preceding  and  ""'^ 
following  the  fall  of  Jerusalem   in  586   B.C.     These  historical   sections  in 
Jeremiah  are  doubly  valuable  because  they  appear  to  be  taken  from  a  prac- 
tically contemporary  biography  of  Jeremiaii,  probably  written  by  his  faithful 
scribe  liaruch. 

It  is  a  striking  and  fortunate  fact  that  with  few  exceptions  the  most  im-  Parallel 
portant  events  and  epochs  in  the  biblical  history  are  recorded  in  two  or  ^'^^° 
more  distinct  books.     The  beginnings  of  Israel's  history  and  the  work  and 
teachings  of    the  Founder  of  Christianity   are   presented    in   four  parallel 
strands  of  narrative.     For  the  period  beginning  with  Saul  and  extending  to 
the  Babylonian  exile  there  are  two,  and  at  certain  points  three  distinct  records. 

The  .second  continuous  history  of  Israel  is  found  in  the  books  of  Chron-  Con- 
iclcs.     They  begin  with  a  group  of  genealogical  tables,  which  goes  back  to  ^f^l  ®  ° 
Adam,  and  carry  the  history  down  to  the  decree  of  Cyrus  permitting  the  books 
Jews  to  return  after  the  Babylonian  exile.     Their  dependence  upon  the  older  Chron- 
books  of  Samuel  and  Kings  is  clearly  shown  by  the  presence  of  many  ver-  "^  °^ 
butim  (|Uotations.     To  these  are  added  long  sections  which  give  this  later 
history  its  distinctive  form.     Although  it  traces  the  genealogy  of  the  race 
back  to  Adam,  the  narrative  really  begins  with  the  death  of  Saul  and  hence- 
forlh  focusses  the  attention  on  Judah,  the  temple,  and  especially  the  religious 
institutions  which  grew  up  about  it.     The  books  of  Chronicles  consist  of 
four  general  divisions:  (1)  An  introduction  containing  genealogical  lists,  in- 
terspersed with  brief  narratives,  I  Chronicles  1-9;  (2)  the  history  of  David's 
reign,    10-29;   (3)   an   account  of  Solomon's  reign,   II   Chronicles   1-9;   (4) 
the  history  of  Judah  to  the  fall  of  Jerusalem,  with  an  appendix  containing 
the  decree  of  Cyrus,  10-30. 

7 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

History      The  immediate  sequel  to  Chronicles  is  found  in  the  books  of  Ezra  and 
Ezra-     Nehemiah.     In  the  original  Jewish  and  Greek  canon  they  form  a  single 
Nehe-    book.     The  separation  of  the  book  of  Nehemiah  under  its  distinct  title  was 
probably  the  work  of  Alexandrian  scholars,  and  was  adopted  by  Jerome. 
This  division  is  not  only  artificial  but  also  misleading,  for  as  will  be  shown 
later  (p.  32)  parts  of   the  original  Ezra  narrative  are  also  found  in  Nehe- 
miah.   The  original  book  therefore  is  best  designated  as  Ezra-Nehemiah.     It 
begins  with  the  decree   of   Cyrus  in  538  B.C.,  and   traces   the   priestly  gen- 
ealogy down  to  the  close  of  the  Persian  rule  in  332,  and  therefore  represents 
a  period  of  a  little  over  two  centuries. 
Tts  A  satisfactory  analysis  of  it  in  its  present  form  is  impossible,  for  its  con- 

tents stituent  parts  have  evidently  been  disarranged.  Thus  for  example,  the  con- 
clusion of  the  Ezra  narrative  is  found  in  Nehemiah  7^0-10^°  in  the  midst  of 
Nehemiah's  account  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  walls,  which  begins  in  1-6  and 
is  concluded  in  12""^^.  Nehemiah  12^'^*  also  contains  a  list  of  the  priests 
and  Levites  wJio  went  uj)  tvith  Zcrubhahel  and  Jeshua,  which  has  no  ob- 
vious connection  with  its  context.  As  it  now  stands  Ezra-Nehemiah  con- 
sists of  six  general  divisions:  (1)  an  account  of  the  events  which  resulted 
in  the  restoration  of  the  temple,  Ezra  1-6;  (2)  a  description  of  the  expedition 
of  Ezra  and  his  preliminary  reforms,  7-10;  (3)  Nehemiah's  history  of  his 
work  in  rebuilding  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  and  restoring  the  Judeah  com- 
munity, Nehemiah  V-7^^;  (4)  an  account  of  the  reading  of  the  law  by  Ezra 
and  the  public  confession  which  was  followed  by  the  acceptance  of  the  new 
code  by  the  Jewish  community,  7'''-10^*;  (5)  a  census  of  the  Jews  in  Palestine, 
with  a  list  of  the  priests  and  Levites,  11^-12^*;  (6)  Nehemiah's  description 
of  the  dedication  of  the  walls  and  of  his  later  reform  measures,  12"-13^^ 
Period  The  narrative  of  Israel's  history  is  taken  up  where  Ezra-Nehemiah  leaves 
covere  jj.  ^^  j  Maccabees,  which  begins  with  Alexander's  Asiatic  conquests  in 
I  Mac-  333-332  B.C.  and  ends  with  the  death  of  the  Hasmonean  ruler  Simon,  in 
135  B.C.  Like  Ezra-Nehemiah  it,  therefore,  represents  a  period  of  about 
two  centuries.  The  events  preceding  the  reign  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes 
(176  B.C.)  are  passed  over  briefly,  but  from  this  time  on  they  are  recorded 
in  chronological  order  and  with  a  fulness  and  historic  proportion  unsur- 
passed in  any  other  Jewish  narrative. 
Its  ?on-  It  consists  of  four  general  divisions-  (1)  an  introduction  briefly  describing 
the  origin  of  the  Seleucid  empire  and  the  attempt  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes 
to  abolish  the  Jewish  religion,  1 ;  (2)  the  history  of  the  successful  struggle  for 
religious  freedom  led  by  Judas  Maccabeus,  2-6;  (3)  the  record  of  the  wars 
and  alliances  by  which  the  Jews  finally  secured  political  independence,  7-12; 
(4)  the  history  of  Simon's  benign  rule,  13-16. 
Period  Second  Maccabees  is  parallel  to  I  Maccabees,  but  deals  with  a  much 
by  briefer  period.  It  begins  with  the  accession  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes  and 
cabees°"  ^^^^^^  wiih.  the  restoration  of  the  temple  service  and  the  death  of  Nicanor 
in  161  B.C.  It  pictures  in  great  detail  the  horrors  of  the  religious  persecu- 
tion and  the  bravery  of  the  martyrs  for  the  law.  The  parallels  with  I  Macca- 
bees are  closest  in  the  accounts  of  the  wars  of  Judas,  which  occupy  the  second 
half  of  the  book  (8-15). 

8 


tent 


THEIR   ORIGIN  AND   PRESENT   LITERARY  FORM 

In  its  present  form  it  contains  five  general  divisions:  (1)  two  letters  pur-  Its  con- 
porting  to  have  been  sent  by  the  Jews  of  Palestine  to  the  Jews  of  Egypt  urging  ^^^^^ 
them  to  observe  the  feast  of  Dedication,   l'-2'*;  (2)  the  author's  preface, 
019-32.  ^3^  jj  description  of  the  events  which  led  up  to  the  persecution,  3-5; 

(4)  an  account  of  the  persecution  and  the  endurance  of  the  faithful,  6,  7; 

(5)  the  history  of  Judas's  wars  and  victories,  8-15. 

Although  it  is  a  popular  story  rather  than  a  history,  the  book  of  Esther  Theme 
may  also  be  included  with  Israel's  historical  and  biographical  narratives,  char- 
because  it  reflects  the  pride  and  hatred  with  which  the  Jews  during  the  ^^^er  of 
Maccabean  period  regarded  their  heathen  neighbors,  with  whom  they  were  book  of 
constantly  brought  into  close  and  painful  contact.     Like  the  apocryphal  ^®*"®'" 
book  of  Tobit,  which  also  belongs  to  the  same  class  of  literature,  it  throws 
light  indirectly  upon  the  life  of  the  Jews  of  the  dispersion,  among  whom 
were  probably  to  be  found  in  the  later  centuries  fully  half  of  the  members 
of  that  persecuted  race.     The  story  is  a  closely  knit  literary  unit,  is  viv- 
idly told,    and  abounds  in  dramatic  contrasts  and  the  effective  dialogues 
which  constitute  the  charm  of  the  earlier  Old  Testament  narratives. 

Viewed  as  literature,  the  historical  and  biographical  narratives  as  a  whole  General 
constitute  an  exceedingly  attractive  and  important  department  of  the  Old  acfer  of 
Testament  library.     They  are  concrete,  vivid,  realistic  portraits  of  the  com-  J^e  Old 
plex  life  of  ancient  Israel.     Their  literary  forms  are  almost  as  varied  as  ment 
their  themes.     Brief  annals,   genealogical   lists,   personal   memoirs,   impas-  ical°'' 
sioned  orations,  songs  of  lamentations,  popular  traditions,  didactic  stories,  ''J^""- 
and  historical  romances  are  all  represented.     Viewed  as  the  record  of  nine 
centuries  of  Israel's  national  experiences  they  are  unique  among  the  writings 
of  antiquity  because  of  the  relative  completeness  and  exactness  of  the  picture 
which  they  present.     The  important  events  and  epochs  are  usually  portrayed 
with  great  fulness,  while  the  unimportant   are    passed  over  rapidly  or  in 
silence.     The  duplicate  narratives  make  it  possible  to  study  the  vital  facts 
from  very  different  points  of  view.     The  significant  characters  in  the  history 
and  their  acts  also  stand  out  in  clear  relief.     Intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  men  who  made  Israelitish  history  discloses  the  dominant  tendencies  of 
each  age  and  the  forces  which  influenced  it.     Above  all,  these  Old  Testa- 
ment narratives  at  every  f)oint  call    attention  to  the  divine  guidance   and 
purpose  which  moulded  Israel's  history  and  made  it  not  merely  the  record 
of  the  life  of  an  insignificant  race,  but  a  transccndently  important  chapter 
in  the  history  of  humanity,  for  through  the  life  of  that  race  God  was  reveal- 
ing his  character  and  will  to  the  world. 


II 

THE   EARLIER   HISTORIES   AND    BIOGRAPHIES   INCOR- 
PORATED   IN   SAMUEL   AND   KINGS 

The  The  historical  value  of  the  great  prophetic  record  in  the  books  of  Samuel 

growth  ^^^  Kings  is  due  to  the  fact  that  it  consists  for  the  most  part  of  verbatim 
Sam-  quotations  from  earlier  histories  and  biographies.  The  determination  of 
Kings  their  character  and  date  is  therefore  not  only  interesting  but  also  absolutely 
essential  before  they  can  be  used  in  reconstructing  the  true  outlines  of  Israei- 
ilish  history.  The  growth  of  these  books  was  gradual  and  the  process 
nearly  as  complex  as  in  the  case  of  the  opening  books  of  the  Old  Testament. 
No  sharp  hne  of  demarcation  sejjarates  the  one  group  from  the  other.  Con- 
temporaneously and  as  the  result  of  similar  forces,  each  took  form.  They 
drew  their  data  from  the  same  fund  of  common  tradition,  and  doubtless  in 
many  cases  the  same  authors  or  at  least  school  of  authors  contributed  to 
each.  The  following  chapter  aims  simply  at  giving  a  clear  outline  of  the 
conclusions  presented  in  this  volume  regarding  the  nature  of  the  sources 
which  underlie  Samuel  and  Kings,  and  their  literary  history.  The  detailed 
reasons  and  analyses  will  be  given  in  connection  with  the  text  (for  a  graphic 
representation  of  the  different  sources  and  their  relations  to  each  other  and 
to  the  completed  book,  compare  the  Frontispiece  to  this  volume). 

I.    The  Early  Judean  Saul  and  David  Narratives 

The  The  original  book  of  Judges  closed  abruptly  in  chapters  13-16  with  an 

stories  account  of  the  Philistine  advance  and  Samson's  ill-organized  and  futile 
counter-attacks.  The  original  sequel  to  these  in  the  early  Judean  pro- 
phetic narratives  appears  to  be  embedded  in  I  Samuel  4,  which  tells  of  the 
repeated  defeats  of  the  Israelites  by  the  Philistines  and  of  the  loss  of  the  ark. 
The  subsequent  fortunes  of  this  sacred  palladium,  which  already  has  figured 
most  prominently  in  the  Judean  narratives  (cf.  Vol.  I,  §§79,  86),  and  which 
found  its  final  resting  place  in  the  southern  capital  and  sanctuary,  are  re- 
counted in  5'-7^  Possibly  these  popular  narratives  were  once  taken  from 
a  cycle  of  stories  which  centred  about  the  ark  itself,  but  their  present  lan- 
guage, picturesque  literary  form,  and  natural  representation,  reveal  their 
relationship  to  the  products  of  the  early  Judean  prophetic  school. 
Saul  From  the  same  point  of  view  and  in  the  same  literary  style  are  written 

sfories°^the  vivid  stories  in  9'-10'^  II'-"'  l^^  13^~U*\  They  also  assume  precisely 
the  conditions  pictured  in  4-6.  They  tell  of  the  natural  steps  whereby 
Saul  was  made  king  and  wrested  from  the  Philistines  the  independence 
lost  when  the  ark  fell  into  the  hands  of  those  strong  foes.  These  Saul  stories 
constitute  a  closely  knit  literary  unit.     The  character  and  work  of  Israel's 

10 


EARLIER   HISTORIES  IX   SAMUEL  AND   KINGS 

first  king  are  presented  sympathetically  and  appreciatively.  Samuel  does 
not  oppose,  but  rather  works  earnestly  for  the  establishment  of  the  kingdom. 
Circumstances  force  the  people  to  take  the  successive  steps  which  ultimately 
led  to  union  and  national  independence.  As  in  the  case  of  the  different 
groups  of  the  patriarchal  stories  (Vol.  I,  pp.  22,  23),  these  traditions  were 
probablv  found  originally  in  the  form  of  a  Saul  cycle  and  then  incorporated 
in  their  larger  history  of  Israel  by  the  early  Judean  historians.  They  may 
therefore  be  appropriately  designated  as  the  earhj  Judean  Saul  narra- 
tives. 

With   16'^--^  the  point  of  view  perceptibly  changes.     Henceforth  David  EarL 
is  the  central  object  of  interest  and  Saul  suffers  by  contrast.     The  facts  and  narra- 
conditions,   however,   presented   in   the  preceding  early  Judean   narratives  ti^'es 
are  assumed.     The  same  vivid  style  and  picturesque  words  and  expressions 
recur.     The  representation  is  natural  and  the  historical  motive  is  prominent. 
Again  the  conviction  deepens  that  the  group  of  stories  which  from  this  point 
run  through  II  Kings  2,  picturing  realistically  the  fortunes  and  achievements 
of  David,  is  the  sequel  of  the  preceding  Judean  narratives,  but  that  originally 
thev  were  drawn  from  that  largest  and  most  important  cycle  of  stories  in 
the  Old  Testament,  which  gathered  about  the  character  of  Israel's  popular 
hero  and  conqueror-king.     They  may  therefore  be  designated  as  the  early 
Judean  David  narratives. 

These  narratives  are  found  in  I  Samuel  lG'^-17"'  ''-'°'  «""■  ='-^  18«-«'  Their 
12-16.  :o-29:.^  191-17^  201-39^  2V'\  22'~23''\  2.3=-28%  29-31,  II  Samuel  l^"*'  "•  '"-  Hlf^ 
i7_3i.7_5i3.  17-24^  g^  g7-io^  9'-21'*,  23'-^^  24,  I  Kings  1,  2'^-^^  Many  of  them  unity 
stand  alone  by  themselves  as  complete  stories,  and  it  is  possible  that,  as  is 
maintained  by  some  scholars,  those  found  in  II  Samuel  9-20  originally  con- 
stituted an  independent  group,  but  the  unity  of  the  David  stories  as  a  whole 
is  very  marked.  Not  only  are  they  written  in  the  same  style  and  char- 
acterized by  the  same  familiar  idioms,  but  the  same  conceptions  of  the 
events  of  the  history  and  of  the  chief  characters  constantly  recur.  David 
in  his  declining  years,  overshadowed  by  his  great  sin,  is  not  so  attractive 
as  the  hero  of  the  earlier  struggles,  but  he  is  still  the  object  of  the  nation's 
love,  the  great  king  whose  earlier  achievements  the  people  cannot  forget 
(II  Sam.  19).  The  Joab  of  II  Samuel  18  and  20  is  identical  with  the  bold, 
unscrupulous  general  of  II  Samuel  3.  The  unique  friendship  between 
David  and  Jonathan  and  its  dark  background,  the  hatred  and  jealousy  of 
the  house  of  Saul,  run  through  and  bind  together  all  these  stories. 

A'iewed  either  as  literature  or  as  historical  sources,  the  early  Judean  David  Their 
narratives   are   unsurjiassed   by   any   others   in   the   Old   Testament.     The  acter 
pictures  which  they  give  of  the  actors  and  events  in  this  epoch-making  period  j'fjjg^y 
in  Israel's  history  are  not  only  interesting  and  full  of  life  and  local  color, 
but  they  may  be  accepted  as  substantially  true,  even  in  detail,  to  the  histor- 
ical facts.     They  and  the  related  Saul  stories  prol)ably  represent  the  first 
extensive   Hebrew   writings.      The    impressions   which    the   stirring   events 
recorded   made  upon   the  p()f)nlar  mind   were  exceedingly  vivid.      It  was 
dr)ii})fless  because  of  their  great  iiiiporlance  and  universal  interest  that  the 
iiiijjulse  to  commit  them  to  writing  was  first  felt  by  Israel's  patriotic  his- 

11 


date 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

torians.  This  conclusion  is  fully  confirmed  by  their  character.  As  the 
earliest  product  of  the  Judean  prophetic  school,  they  naturally  have  certain 
characteristics  pecuhar  to  themselves,  partly  due  to  their  priority  and  partly 
to  the  nature  of  the  original  traditions  which  they  embody.  They  appear  to 
have  shaped  the  ideas,  determined  the  methods,  and  given  the  inspiration 
to  the  early  Judean  writers,  which  led  them  subsequently  to  collect  the 
traditions  regarding  the  period  of  the  Judges  and  then  of  each  preceding 
period,  until  they  traced  their  history  back  to  the  first  man  in  the  Garden  of 
Eden  (cf.  Vol.  I,  pp.  18,  19). 
Their  From  their  themes  and  literary  character,  as  well  as  from  their  relation 
to  the  longer  Judean  narrative,  it  may  be  fairly  inferred  that  the  Saul  and 
David  histories  were  written  not  very  long  after,  if  not  before,  the  division 
of  the  Hebrew  empire  at  the  death  of  Solomon.  There  is  in  them  no  reflec- 
tion of  the  hostility  between  the  North  and  South  which  immediately  fol- 
lowed that  event.  The  later  reign  of  Jehoshaphat  (876-851  B.C.),  when 
the  armies  of  the  two  kingdoms  again  fought  side  by  side  and  when  the  polit- 
ical, commercial,  and  probably  the  intellectual  life  was  very  active,  furnishes 
a  most  natural  background  for  the  work  of  the  prophets  who  gleaned  them 
from  the  mouth  of  the  people  and  committed  them  to  writing. 

2.     The  Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

Ab-  In  view  of  the  division  of  the  Hebrew  empire  at  the  death  of  Solomon 

oMlfe     ^^"^  ^^^^  bitterness  engendered  in  the  North  against  the  house  of  David, 
early      the  Northern  or  Ephraimite  historians  had  little  desire  or  incentive  to  record 
imite      the  glories  of  the  united  kingdom.     These  belonged  in  a  peculiar  sense  to 
tiveTin  ^^^^  South.     Moreover,  the  Judean  records  were  so  complete  that  there  was 
Samuel  no  necessity  for  the  late  prophetic  editors  to  draw  from  the  traditions  of 
the  North,  which  perhaps  presented  the  darker  side  of  these  reigns  in  a 
manner  not  altogether  agreeable  to  the  conceptions  of  later  Judean  editors. 
Whatever  are  the  real  reasons,  there  is  no  clear  evidence  of  citations  in  Samuel 
and  Kings  from  the  early  Ephraimite  prophetic  narratives.  With  the  accounts 
of  the  achievements  of  the  northern  heroes  recounted  in  Judges,  the  quo- 
tations in  the  Old  Testament  from  this  early  source  apparently  cease,  except 
as  the  stories  of  Elijah  (corresponding  to  the  Saul  and  David  stories  in  their 
relation  to  the  Judean  narratives)  probably  represent  the  prototype  of  the 
writing  of  this  school  (cf.  p.  18). 
The  Side  by  side,  however,  with  the  Judean  account  of  the  establishment  of 

narra-^*  the  monarchy  is  a  connected  series  of  narratives  which  have  all  the  character- 
tives  istics  of  the  later  Ephraimite  source.  They  recount  the  deeds  of  a  prophet 
— Samuel  of  Ramah  in  the  North.  In  these  later  narratives  he  is  conceived 
of  as  judging  the  people,  as  did  Moses  according  to  the  related  tradition  of 
Exodus  18.  Like  his  great  predecessor,  he  rules  as  Jehovah's  regent  over  all 
Israel  (cf.  Vol.  I,  pp.  38,  39).  TMien  the  people  confess  their  sin  (7^  12'"; 
cf.  Num.  14",  Judg.  lO'"'  '^),  Samuel  intercedes  for  them  (7^  8";  cf.  Gen. 
207.  27.  ]S[um.  ll^  21"),  and  Jehovah  miraculously  delivers  them  from  their 
powerful  foes. 

12 


EARLIER  HISTORIES  IN  SAMUEL  AND   KINGS 

In  the  early  Judean  narratives  the  kingship  is  regarded  as  so  desirable  Evi- 
that  Samuel  persuades  Saul  to  assume  the  leadership,  and  in  the  late  pro-  ^^°j® 
plietic  or  Deuteronomie  as  a  necessary  institution,  the  abuses  of  which  must  ^^^y 
be   carefully  guarded  against  (Dt.  IT^^-^").     In  I    Samuel  8  and  12,  how-  from 
ever,  it  is  absolutely  condemned  in  almost  the  same  terms  as  were  the  kings  Ephra- 
of  his  day  by  the  Ephraimite  prophet  Hosea  (cf.  I  Sam.  8  and  Hos.  8*\  '^"jj^^j 
13'').     Many  other  minor  indications,  as  for  example,  the  reference  to  a 
sacred  stone  or  pillar  (I  Sam.  7'-),  still  regarded  as  I'-gitimate  in  the  Ephraim- 
ite narratives  (Vol.  I,  p.  40),  but  sternly  forbidden  in  the  late  prophetic, 
leave  little  doubt  that  this  peculiar  conception  of  the  history  and  the  work 
of  Samuel  originated  in  the  Northern  prophetic  guilds. 

These  narratives  are  found  in  I  Samuel  V-5\  T^^-S",  W'',  12  and  15.  Their 
The  interest  throughout  is  rehgious  rather  than  political.     The  purpose  is  1°^l^ 
didactic  rather  than  historical.     The  whole  is  a  popular  biography  of  Samuel  and^^ 
rather  than  a  parallel  history  of  the  period.     It  begins  with  the  account  of 
his  birth,  consecration,  early  life  at  Shiloh,  and  call  to  be  a  prophet;  but 
throughout  the  stories,  the  attention  is  focussed  on  Samuel,  the  man  of  God, 
rather  than  on  Samuel,  the  individual.     That  all  Israel  was  led  by  a  prophetic 
representative  of  Jehovah,  as  in  the  days  of  Moses,  is  assumed.     The  super- 
natural is  prominent.     The  same  peculiar  conceptions  and  point  of  view 
reappear  in  the  Elijah  and  Elisha  stories  of  I  Kings  20-11  Kings   15.     The 
kinship  of  these  three  groups  of  traditions  is  clearly  very  close.     They  were 
undoubtedly  cherished  in  the  same  prophetic  circle  in  the  North — probably 
many  of  them  at  the  sanctuary  of  Gilgal  near  Shiloh,  which  appears  to  have 
become  the  inheritor  of  its  traditions  when  the  older  shrine  was  destroyed 
by  the  Philistines  (Jer.  19\  cf.  note  §  3). 

Some  time  after  the  days  of  Hosea  and  before  Josiah's  reformation  in  Their 
621  B.C.  the  cycle  of  Samuel  stories,  together  with  kindred  products  of  the  ^^*^ 
later  Ephraimite  prophetic  school,  was  committed  to  writing.     Whether  or 
not  it  originally  existed  independently  for  a  period  is  a  question  which  can 
never  be  absolutely  decided,  and  which  is  of  only  secondary  importance. 

3.     Very  Late  Popular  Prophetic  Traditions 

In  I  Samuel  1535b_i6i3,  19'»-20'%  I  Kings  W-}3'\  20''-'\  II  Kings  p-'"  char- 
are  found  certain  stories  which  are  related  in  many  ways  to  the  preceding  f^fj"' 
groii{)s.     They  illustrate  the  later  belief  in  the  dominant,  almost  supernatural  and 
position  assumed  by  the  earlier  proi)hets  in  the  life  of  the  nation.     They  the  late 
were  evidently  retold  for  generations  in  i)rophetic  circles.     While  related,  {^",',1"''^'' 
this  group  evidently  reflects  a  still  later  conception  of  the  proph(>ts  than  phet^c 
the  Samuel  cycle.     Their  real  ethical  and  religious  work  is  almost  forgotten  tions 
and  the  men  of  God  are  conceived  of  as  mere  wonder-workers.     Thus  for 
example  in  I  Samuel  19'^-"  the  messengers  of  Saul,  and  later  the  king  him- 
self, fall  down  in  ecstasy  before  Samuel,  or  in  II  Kings  l^-'"  the  military  com- 
panies sent  by  Ahaziah  are  consumed  by  fire  from  heaven  at  the  command 
of  VAi'y.ih.     Evidently  the  popular  iinaginalion  has  contributed  nuicli  to  the 
stories.     They  recall  the  midrashim  or  late  Jewish  didactic  tales  (cf.  p.  26). 

18 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

While  it  cannot  be  maintained  that  they  are  all  from  the  same  school  or 
date,  they  reflect  the  same  very  late  point  of  view. 

4.     Popular  Judean  David  Stories 

Con-  From  the  lips  of  the  people  also  doubtless  came  the  variant  versions  of 

and*''      the  more  important  incidents  in  David's  early  life,  as  for  example,  his  con- 
history  ^psj  ^y[i\i  Goliath,  his  marriage  with  Saul's  daughter,  the  king's  futile  attempt 
popular  to  kill  him,  and  his  magnanimity  in  sparing  Saul's  life.     A  comparison  shows 
l^vici'^  that  they  are  clearly  duplicates  of  the  corresponding  early  Judean  narratives, 
stones    })ut  here  the  stories  are  told  with  slight  variations;  details  and  names  are 
usually  forgotten,  the  coloring  is  heightened,  and  the  language  illustrates 
the  effects  of  their  having  been  retold  from  generation  to  generation.     The 
same  love  and  admiration  for  David  are  revealed,  only  he  has  been  so  com- 
pletely idealized  that  his  faults  and  sins  have  been  forgotten.     The  scenes 
are  most  of   them  laid  in  Southern  Judah.     It  is  difficult   to  conceive  that 
they  originally  came  from  any  other  source  than  the  memories  of  his  fellow- 
clansmen  in  the  South.     The  popular  version  of  the  story  of   his   contest 
with  Goliath,  which  was  probably  added  to  the  Hebrew  text  at  a  very  late 
date,  since  it  is  not  found  in  the  earliest  Greek  version,  may  well  have  been 
cherished  at  Bethlehem  in  Judah. 
Their         The  popular  David  stories  are  found  in  I  Samuel  IT'^-^^'  "■  ="•  ^^-^\  18'-'- 
date       ,0.  u.  17-19.  29b.  30^  ^V'-'"',  23"^-24",  II  Samuel  P"^".     Most  of  these  were  evi- 
place      dently  committed  to  writing  before  the  late  prophetic  editor  compiled  his 
books     history  of  the  period — that  is  before  the  first  capture  of  Jerusalem  in  597  b.c. 
Samuel  ^^  his  zeal  to  preserve  everything  known  regarding  David,  he  made  the 
early  Judean  narratives  the  basis  of  his  history  from  I  Samuel  16  on,  and 
then  supplemented  them  by  the  popular  traditions,  not  welding  the  dupli- 
cates closely  together  as  is  often  done  by  early  editors  in  the  first  seven  books 
of  the  Old  Testament,  but  giving  each  a  different  setting.     The  one  excep- 
tion to  this  rule  is  found  in  I  Samuel  17  and  18,  and  is  clearly  the  work  of  a 
still  later  editor. 

5.     The  Book  of  the  Acts  of  Solomon 

The  With  the  reign  of  Solomon  a  new  era  in  Hebrew  history  opened.     The 

acti'vity  alliances  with  neighboring  peoples,  and  especially  the  Phoenicians,  intro- 
in  Sol-    (Juced  foreign  culture.     The  ambition  of  the  king  was  to  brine;  his  people 

omon  s  ....  .. 

reiga  and  kingdom  into  line  with  those  of  contemporary  Semitic  potentates.  The 
emphasis  was  placed  on  the  development  of  his  court  and  capital  rather 
than  upon  conquest.  Literature,  as  well  as  art,  was  probably  encouraged 
by  him.  In  addition  to  the  chancellor  or  recorder,  two  scribes  were  counted 
among  the  important  officials  of  his  court  (I  Kgs.  4').  Their  duty  was 
probably  primarily  to  conduct  the  royal  correspondence,  but  for  diplomatic 
reasons,  if  for  no  other,  a  record  of  the  most  important  events  of  each  reign 
would  also  be  needed  for  reference.  Hence  from  the  days  of  Solomon  it 
appears  that  the  Hebrew  historians  were  not  dependent  upon  popular  memory 
and  tradition,  but  had  access  to  brief  contemporary  annals  for  the  more 

14 


EARLIER  HISTORIES  IN  SAMUEL  AND   KINGS 

important  political  facts.  Here,  therefore,  the  Judean  prophetic  history 
properly  ends,  for  the  task  of  its  authors  was  to  collect  and  put  in  literary 
form  the  inherited  traditions  regarding  the  period  antedating  that  of  con- 
temporary records.  At  the  same  time  it  is  clear  that  the  connection  Avas  very 
close  between  the  work  of  the  southern  annalists  and  that  of  the  Judean 
historians,  for  the  one  was  the  virtual  successor  of  the  other. 

The  compiler  of  Kings  refers  his  readers  for  further  details  to  what  ap-  Refer- 
pears  to  have  been  three  distinct  historical  works.     They  must  have  been  earfy  *^*' 
extant  and  accessible  in  his  day,  and,  we  may  infer  from  the  form  of  his  Hebrew 
references  that  they  were  well  known.     They  are  the  Book  of  the  Acts  (or  tories 
Events)  of  Solomon  (I  Kgs.ll"),  the  Chronicles  (lit..  Book  of  the  Acts  of 
Days)  of  the    Kings  of  Israel,  and  the   corresponding  Chronicles  of  the 
Kings  of  Judah.     It  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that  these  histories,  to  which 
he  frequently  refers,  were  also  among  the  chief  sources  from  which  he  him- 
self drew  his  political  facts  regarding  the  earlier  periods.     The  character 
and  aim  of  his  work  and  the  form  of  his  allusions  to  them  further  indicate 
that  he  simply  quoted  from  them  that  which  was  adapted  to  his  more  dis- 
tinctively religious  and  pragmatic  purpose. 

That  these  older  histories  were  more  than  mere  annals  is  clearly  indicated.  Their 
The  reference  in  I  Kings  11"  is  to  the  point:  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  acter 
Solomon  and  all  that  he  did  and  his  wisdom,  are  they  not  recorded  in  the 
Book  of  the  Ads  of  Solomon?  The  same  inference  is  confirmed  by  the  al- 
lusions to  the  contents  of  the  Chronicles  (cf.  p.  16).  The  term  Book  in  this 
connection  also  implies  a  continuous,  more  or  less  expanded  history.  The 
Chronicles  recorded  the  events  of  many  different  centuries.  Their  his- 
torical value  depended  upon  the  fact  that  they  were  compiled  from  older 
sources.  The  work  of  other  authors  appears  to  have  been  simply  to  com- 
bine and  expand  the  earlier  material.  The  state  annals  appear  to  have 
been  the  basis  of  their  work  and  the  expansion  at  important  points  to  have 
been  accomplished  by  introducing  long  ciuotations  from  existing  histories 
of  important  kings  and  reigns  like  those  of  Jeroboam,  Ahab,  and  Jehu. 

For  the  Book  of  the  Acts  of  Solomon,  two  and  possibly  three  sources  ap-  Earlier 
pear  to  have  been  utilized.     The  detailed,  annalistic  material,  for  example  fn^or-^^ 
i^  41-19.  22.  23,  26-28^  5i_7i2^  910-29^  iQiu  12-1125^^^8  prcsumably  taken  from  the  P^\^^'^ 
annals  of  his  reign.     Only  written  records  would  preserve  many  of  the  rec-  Acts  of 
ondite  facts  there  found.     From  the  same  source  may  have  come  the  detailed  ^o°" 
data  regarding  the  ornamentation,  furnishing,  and  dedication  of  the  tem- 
ple in  7"-8'\  but  they  would  more  naturally  be  kept  in  the  temple  records, 
citations  from  which  appear  later  in  Kings  (cf.  p.  17).     With  these  may  be 
comf)ared  the  Babylonian  temple  accounts  which  come  from  a  very  early 
period  (cf.  Johns,  Bab.  and  Assyr.  Laxcs,  Contracts,  and  Letters,  p.  295). 
Finally  there  are  found   in  I   Kings  3^"^^  and  lO'"'"-  ^^  certain  po[)ular  tradi- 
tions, evidently  of  early  origin,  which  illustrate  Solomon's  wisdom.     If  the 
reference  to  the  record  of  the  king's  wisdom  in  11"    is  original  it  would 
strengthen  the  conclusion  that  those  traditions  were  found   in  the  Book  of 
the  Acts  of  Solomon,  although  these,  like  the  popular  David  stories,  may 
well  have  been  added  by  the  late  prophetic  editor. 

15 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

Its  In  I  Kings  3-11  are  found  also  many  late  prophetic  passages  evidently 

acfer  riot  from  the  Book  of  the  Acts,  but  the  original  quotations  from  it  suggest 
^^'^  its  general  character.  It  was  a  reasonably  comprehensive  history  dealing 
with  the  political  and  religious  events  of  Solomon's  reign.  Its  primary  aim 
was  not  religious  but  rather  to  record  facts.  The  tendency,  however,  to 
idealize  Solomon  and  his  reign,  which  became  very  marked  in  later  genera- 
tions, is  apparent.  The  author  was  evidently  a  Judean  and  probably  lived 
not  earlier  than  800  B.C.  He  may  well  have  belonged  to  the  early  Judean 
prophetic  school.  His  purpose  was  to  carry  the  Judean  history  down  to 
the  division  of  the  Hebrew  kingdom.  Repetition  of  the  same  notices  in 
different  settings  further  suggests  that  his  work  was  supplemented  and  pos- 
sibly rearranged  before  it  was  used  by  the  late  prophetic  editor. 

6.     The  Israelitish  and  Judean  Royal  Chronicles 

Char-  The  author  of  the  present  book  of  Kings  always  refers  to  the  Chronicles 
the  °  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  and  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Jiidah  as  if  they 
chron-  ^^^^  distiiict  books.  Their  titles  also  suggest  that  they  were  originally  in- 
icles  dependent.  This  conclusion  is  confirmed  hj  the  fact  that  the  same  events, 
as  for  example  the  campaign  of  Hazael  (II  Kgs.  10^-,  13^  cf.  12'^'  ^'),  are 
recorded  twice  in  quotations  apparently  taken  from  these  histories,  each 
describing  the  invasion  as  it  affected  one  of  the  two  Hebrew  kingdoms  and 
ignoring  its  effects  upon  the  other.  The  character  and  contents  of  the 
Chronicles  appear  to  have  been  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Book  of  the  A  cts 
of  Solomon.  Their  exact  title,  Book  of  the  A  cts  of  Days  of  the  Kings,  sug- 
gests that  they  were  histories  containing  detailed  records  of  events,  arranged 
in  chronological  order,  and  that  their  chief  sources  were  the  older  annals 
of  the  two  kingdoms.  The  thirty-one  references  which  the  editor  of  Kings 
makes  to  them  and  their  contents  and  the  quotations  which  he  evidently 
cites  from  them  establish  their  character.  In  the  first  place  they  included 
a  continuous  and  complete  history  of  all  the  difi"erent  reigns.  In  the  case 
of  all  the  kings  except  Jehoram,  Ahaziah,  Hoshea,  Jehoahaz,  Jehoiachin, 
and  Zedekiah,  who  met  untimely  fates,  the  editor  explicitly  states  that  the 
Chronicles  recorded  the  deeds  of  each. 
Their  For  twenty-three  distinct  items  the  reader  is  referred  for  information  or 
tents  fuller  details  to  the  Chronicles.  Some  of  these  facts  are:  Jeroboam's  wars, 
the  mighty  deeds  of  Baasha,  the  treason  of  Zimri,  Ahab's  ivory  house,  the 
cities  built  by  Asa,  Hezekiah's  construction  of  the  pool  and  conduit,  and 
Manasseh's  sin.  They  deal  chiefly  with  secular  subjects,  such  as  the  wars, 
building  enterprises,  successes,  and  the  material  splendors  of  each  reign. 
Their  attitude  toward  most  of  the  kings  appears  to  have  been  commenda- 
tory— in  striking  antithesis  to  the  adverse  judgment  passed  upon  them  for 
religious  reasons  by  the  author  of  Kings.  The  implication  of  his  references 
to  these  histories  is  that  they  contained  many  more  details  than  he  saw  fit 
to  introduce  in  his  brief  summaries.  Like  the  A  cts  of  Solomon,  they  doubt- 
less contained  quotations  from  older  sources.  These  were,  as  in  the  Acts 
of  Solomon,  the  independent  annals  of  the  two  kingdoms.     The  citations 

16 


E.\RLIER  HISTORIES  IN  SA:MUEL  AND  KINGS 

were  probably  in  most  cases  transcribed  verbatim  and,  having  been  again 
quoted  by  the  editor  of  Kings,  found  a  place  in  our  present  books.  They 
can  be  recognized  by  their  brief  sententious  form  and  by  their  use  of  certain 
expressions,  as  then  or  at  that  time,  and  the  pecuhar  use  of  the  personal  pro- 
noun (for  the  corresponding  Babylonian  synchronistic  chronicle,  compare 
Appendix  X). 

The  author  of  the  Chronicles  of  tJie  Kings  of  Judah  appears  also  to  have  Their 
had  access  to  temple  records.  Extracts  from  these  are  found  in  IJ  Kings  11,  tempfe 
12,  IG*"-!*  and  22^-23^^  In  these  passages  the  attention  is  focussed  not  on  records 
the  king  and  the  fortunes  of  the  kingdom,  but  upon  the  temple  and  its  ritual. 
As  in  ancient  Babylonia,  many  of  the  priests  were  probably  scribes,  and 
that  they  would  keep  a  record  of  the  more  important  events  in  the  temple 
history  was  most  natural.  The  desire  to  expand  these  brief  records  into 
fuller  narratives  would  also  later  be  felt.  They  represent  the  antecedent? 
of  the  much  later  temple  and  institutional  history  found  in  Chronicles  and 
Ezra-Nehemiah.  That  quotations  from  the  temple  records  had  already 
been  incorporated  in  the  Chronicles,  to  which  the  editor  of  Kings  refers 
as  his  main  source,  is  at  least  probable,  although  not  certain.  It  is  also 
significant  that  the  citations  in  II  Kings  16  are  joined  immediately  to  material 
taken  from  the  state  annals,  with  no  trace  of  the  harmonistic  or  introductory 
clauses  which  the  editor  usually  adds  when  he  himself  unites  quotations 
from  different  sources. 

The  authors  of  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel,  on  the  other  hand.  Also 
appear  to  have  drawn  from  the  older  private  histories  of  important  kings  ^[gj^  ® 
Hke  Jeroboam  (I  Kgs.   iP^-^i.  ",  12i-'^),  Ahab  (20'-'\  22'""),  Jehu  (II  Kgs.  tories 
9'-10-').     These  personal  histories  correspond  very  closely  to  the  early  Saul 
and  David  histories  in  Samuel.     They  were  probably  not  written  during 
the  lifetime,  but  a  generation  or  two  after  the  death  of  the  given  king.     They 
give  a  natural  and  at  the  same  time  sympathetic  and  favorable  portrait  of 
him  and  the  events  of  his  reign.     The  resulting  picture  is  often  in  striking 
contrast  to  the  very  different  estimates  found  in  the  prophetic  sources  and 
in  the  epitomes  of  the  editor  of  Kings. 

Quotations  from  the  Chronicles  and   references  to  them  cease  with  the  Period 
reign  of  Jehoiakim  (II  Kgs.  24'').     They  contain  none  of  the  expressions  ^y^fhe*^ 
and  ideas  peculiar  to  the  late  prophetic  school  which  dominated  the  thought  (y'ron- 
of  the  exile.     It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  they  were  composed  some  time 
not  long  after  597  B.C.,  between  the  first  and  second  captivities.     Possibly 
the  work  was  begun  earlier,  and  the  data  regarding  the  later  reigns  added 
as  appendices  by  subsequent  writers.     The   Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of 
Israel  probably  attained  their  final  form  shortly  after  the  fall  of  Samaria  in 
722  B.C.     Together  fhey  carried  the  two  great  histories  of  the  North  and 
South  practically  down  to  the  final  destruction  of  both  kingdoms. 

7.     The  Early  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

With  I  Kings  17  is  suddenly  introduced  a  unicpie  form  of  narrative.     The 
brief  quotations  and  annalistic  style  of  the  preceding  chapters  are  supplanted 

17 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

Char-     by  a  picturesque,  detailed  story.     Interest    is    centred  not  in  the  kings  of 


acter 
and 


Israel,  but  in  Elijah  the  Tishbite;  not  in  the  insurrections  and  wars,  but  in 
date  of  the  religious  and  social  life  of  the  nation.  Towering  above  the  king  and 
EUjah  dominating  the  history  is  the  commanding  personahty  of  the  great  prophet 
stones  ^j£  Gilead.  As  the  spokesman  of  Jehovah,  hke  Moses  in  the  early  prophetic 
or  Samuel  in  the  later  Ephraimite  narratives,  he  moulds  the  history.  At 
the  same  time  there  is  a  freshness,  a  concreteness,  a  directness  in  the  lan- 
guage, and  a  naturalness  and  reserve  in  the  representation  which  stamp 
the  stories  as  comparatively  early.  The  worship  at  the  public  shrines  like 
Bethel  and  Dan,  with  their  golden  calves,  receives  no  censure,  as  it  does  in 
the  sermons  of  Amos  and  Hosea.  The  toleration  and  popular  identification 
of  the  Baal-cult  with  that  of  Jehovah  are  the  chief  objects  of  attack.  They 
therefore  clearly  antedate  750  B.C.,  when  Amos  appeared  at  Bethel  with  his 
revolutionary  message.  On  the  other  hand,  the  character  of  Elijah  has 
begun  to  be  clothed  with  a  certain  mystery.  The  tone  of  the  narratives 
suggests  that  the  traditions  which  they  embody  were  not  committed  to  writing 
until  a  generation  or  two  after  the  great  prophet  had  passed  away.  Their 
approximate  date  may  accordingly  be  fixed  not  long  after  800  b.c. 
Their  The  stories  were  doubtless  treasured  in  prophetic  circles  and  later  kept 

history  -^^  written  form.  The  spirit  and  point  of  view,  as  well  as  the  direct  refer- 
ence to  Judah  in  19^  as  a  foreign  nation,  demonstrate  that  they  came  from 
Northern  Israel.  Occasional  expressions,  like  ajter  these  things  {W\  21'), 
the  designation  of  the  sacred  mountain  as  Horeh  (19-),  and  above  all  the 
commanding  role  attributed  to  the  prophet  proclaim  the  kinship  of  these 
with  the  early  Ephraimite  prophetic  narratives  in  the  opening  books  of  the 
Old  Testament  (cf.  Vol.  I,  37-40).  Of  the  two,  however,  the  Elijah  stories 
seem  to  be  the  more  primitive.  They  were  probably  the  nucleus  about 
which  gathered  the  similar  narratives  which  ultimately  traced  the  history  of 
the  theocratic  people  back  to  the  days  of  Abraham.  In  their  light  it  is  for 
the  first  time  possible  fully  to  understand  why  this  school  conceived  of  the 
earliest  prophets  as  clothed  with  almost  omnipotent  authority  and,  like 
Elijah  and  Isaiah  of  a  later  and  very  different  age,  shaping  from  the  first 
the  history  of  the  Israelitish  race. 
Their  In  the  Greek  version  the  narratives  of  17-19  are  continued  immediately 

exte'nt^  by  21,  and  in  this  order  they  probably  stood  in  the  original  text.  Extracts 
from  the  same  source  appear  in  II  Kings  1.  That  they  are  but  extracts 
from  a  more  complete  biography  of  Elijah  is  clearly  shown  by  the  abruptness 
with  which  he  is  introduced  in  17 — many  facts  being  assumed  which  are 
nowhere  stated  in  the  fragments  which  have  been  preserved — and  by  the 
incompleteness  of  the  biography  as  it  stands.  Following  his  usual  method 
only  those  sections  were  quoted  which  conserved  the  broad  purpose  of  the 
prophetic  editor  of  Kings. 

8.     The  Gilgal  Cycle  of  Popular  Elisha  Stories 

In  II  Kings  2'-8'',  13'^-^'  is  found  a  collection  of  narratives  which  centre 
about  Elisha.     They  have  all  the  characteristics  of  stories  long  transmitted 

18 


EARLIER  HISTORIES  IN  SAMUEL  AND   KINGS 

from  mouth  to  mouth.     Details  regarding  the  exact  setting  and  the  names  De- 
of  the  reigning  kings  have  been  lost.     The  supernatural  elements  are  promi-  p®"*^ 
nent  and  the  ethical  motives  are  often  obscured.     In  these  Elisha  figures  of  the 
as  the  man  of  God,  the  great  wonder-worker.     That  they  are  later  and  storie; 
modelled  after  the  early  EHjah  narratives  is  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that  ^1^°^ 
the  same  elements  and  in  some  cases  almost   the    identical    stories    reap-  Elijah 
pear  in  enlarged  proportions.     Thus  for  example,  the  story  of  the  widow's  ^^°^^ 
meal  and  jar  of  oil  that  failed  not  (I  Kgs.  17-""')  reappears  in  the  account  of 
the  widow's  pot  of  oil  which  did  not  fail  until  she  had,  at  Elisha's  command, 
drawn  enough  from  it  to  defray  all  her  debts  (II  Kgs.  4'"').     Closely  similar 
to  the  account  of  the  reviving  of  the  widow's  son  by  Elijah  (I  Kgs.  l?"-^^) 
is  the  story  of  his  resuscitating  the  Shunamniite's  son  (II  Kgs.  4*"^').     It 
would  seem  that  just  as  the  same  tale  of  deception  regarding  his  wife  was 
twice  told  about  Abraham  in  different  settings  and  once  about  I.saac  (cf. 
Vol.  I,  §13),  so  in  popular  tradition,  not  only  the  mantle,  but  also  the  repu- 
tation of  Elijah  fell  upon  his  chief  disciple. 

The  Elisha  stories  are  not  as  closely  knit  together  as  are  the  Elijah  narra-  The 
tives.     They  are  rather  a  bundle  of  anecdotes,  each  complete  in  itself.   Minor  (iYc.°inct 
inconsistencies  also  indicate  that  they  were  originally  taken  from  at  least  two  cycles 
distinct  groups.     Thus  for  example  in  5"  Gehazi  is  a  leper  and  therefore  Elisha 
an  outcast,  but  in  8^  he  is  introduced  conversing  with  the  king  and  is  still  ^*"''"^ 
the  trusted  ser\'ant  of  the  man  of  God.     There  is  not  the  slightest  reference 
to  the  incurable  disease  with  which,  according  to  5",  he  was  afflicted.     In  one 
cycle  of  stories  Elisha  is  represented  as  residing  at  Gilgal.     This  is  evidently 
not  the  Gilgal  near  Jericho  but  the  sanctuary  southeast  of  Shiloh  (cf.  2'"^). 
There  he  lives  in  close  association  with  the  guild  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets 
which  was  located  at  that  place  (4'*"").     In  this  cycle  there  are  frequent 
references  to  these  sons  of  the  prophets  and  their  wives.     Furthermore,  the 
stories  without  exception  all  relate  to  the  events  of  private  life,  and  they  re- 
semble most  those  found  in  the  early  Elijah  group.     Evidently  they  were 
treasured  on  the  lips  of  the  people  living  in  the  West  Jordan  valley,  not 
far  from  Elisha's  home  at  Abel-^Ieholah,  and  were  probably  first  collected 
by  some  member  of  the  pro{)hetic  guild  at  the  neighboring  town  of  Gilgal. 

In  the  Gilgal  cycle  may  be  included  II  Kings  2,  4''''  ^'*"",  6''.     It  is  im-  Date  of 
possible  to  fix  their  date  exactly.     Several  generations  have  evidently  trans-  oUsal 
mitted  them  orally.     They  have  the  Northern  Israelitish  stamp,  but  since  ''y^^^ 
the  fall  of  Samaria  in  722  B.C.  did  not  mean  the  deportation  of  the  bulk  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Israel,  it  is  possible  that  they  were  not  put  in  literary  form 
until  after  that  event.     This  later  date  also  best  accords  with  their  general 
character. 

9.     The  Samaria  Cycle  of  Popular  Elisha  Stories 

In  the  ofluT  cycle,  whicli  included  the  reinniiiirig  stories  in  II  Kings  .3-8'*, 
to  which  may  be  added  14**'",  Elisha  is  conceived  of  as  residing  at  Samaria, 
the  capital  (5^,  6^*-  ^^),  and  as  being  in  close  touch  with  the  king  and  court 
(3",  4",  5",  a"-  ^^).  Mo.st  of  the  .stories  reflect  his  activity  not  in  private 
but  in  public  life,  and  especially  in  the  wars  with  Moab  and  Aram.     The 

19 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

Con-      Arameans  in  fact  figure  in  six  out  of  nine  stories  belonging  to  this  cycle.     No 
and^      references  are  found  to  the  sons  of  the  prophets,  but  instead  Gehazi  is  the 
acfer      servant,  ever  attendant  upon  the  prophet  (4'-'  "•  "-36^  520-27^  gis^  8^).     Like  a 
of  the     king,  Elisha  is  usually  represented  as  simply  giving  directions  or  else  sending 
maria     his  servant  with  his  potent  staff  to  work  the  wonders  recorded.     The  earlier 
cycle      stories  here  reflected  are  found  not  only  in  the  Elijah  group  but  also  in  the 
early  Ahab  history.     Thus  for  example  the  parallel  between  I  Kings  22  and 
II  Kings  3  extends  even  to  similar  scenes  and  language  (cf.  II  Kgs.  3'"  and 
I  Kgs.  22^"^).     Close  analogies  may  also  be  traced  with  certain  of  the  pa- 
triarchal stories,  as  for  example  the  prediction  that  the  Shunammite  woman 
should  have  a  son  before  a  year  had  passed  (cf.  4'^  and  Gen.  18'^). 
Its  It  is  difficult  to  determine  which  of  these  cycles  is  the  older.     They  doubt- 

less grew  up  contemporaneously.  The  Samaria  group,  however,  clearly 
embodies  more  historical  data  and  probably  was  committed  to  writing 
before  the  fall  of  that  city  in  722  e.g.  The  fact  that  Samaria  was  a  literary 
centre  would  facilitate  the  process.  These  tvvO  cycles  of  popular  Elisha 
stories  were  apparently  combined — citations  being  taken  alternately  from 
each — before  they  were  incorporated  as  II  Kings.  The  fact  that  they  are 
all  introduced  together  and  have  received  practically  no  editorial  revision 
probably  indicates  that  they  were  among  the  latest  additions  to  the  book. 
It  is  more  than  possible  that  they  came  into  the  possession  of  the  late  prophetic 
editor  as  a  result  of  the  conquests  and  reforming  expeditions  of  Josiah,  which, 
according  to  II  Kings  23'^'  ^"j  extended  to  the  sanctuaries  of  Samaria. 

ID.     The  Isaiah  Stories 

Con-  It  was  most  natural  that  in  later  generations  among  Isaiah's  disciples 

and        there  should  also  grow  up  a  cycle  of  stories  associated  with  him  and  preserv- 

'^'^f''"    p  ing  in  traditional  form  the  memory  of  his  work.     Three  stories  from  such 

the        a  group  are  found  in  II  Kings  18''-20^^  (cf.  ^§  122,  124).     They  are  again 

stories    quoted   by  the  editor  of   the    book    of   Isaiah    in    36-39,  with    the  further 

addition  of  a  psalm  which  is  attributed  to  Hezekiah  (SB'"'-").     The  first  of 

these  narratives  is  evidently  a  duplicate  of  the  extract  in  II  Kings  IS'^-IO^""' 

36.   37^  which  was  apparently  taken  from  a  Hezekiah  history.     In  popular 

transmission  the  details  of  the  incident  have  been  partially  forgotten  ;  while 

in  the  expansion  of  the  story  in  20^"",  Isaiah  like  Elisha  is  conceived  of  as  a 

wonder-worker.     The  references  to  the  Babylonian  exile  in  20'^'  "  indicate 

that  these  stories  were  committed  to  writing  after  586  b.c 

II.     The  Final  Editing  of  the  Books  of  Samuel  and  Kings 

Work         This  brief  study  of  the  sources  of  Samuel  and  Kings  has  sufficed  to  show 

pre-       that  many  very  early  elements  enter  into  these  composite  books,  and  that 

editors   ^^eir  growth  was  gradual,   representing  a  period  of  fully  four  centuries. 

Their  real  author  or  authors  selected  the  quotations  from  the  older  annals, 

biographies,  and  temple  records,  arranged  them  in  their  present  order  and, 

in  the  book  of  Kings,   fitted  them  into  a  stereot^-ped   framework    (cf.  p.  1  j- 

20 


EARLIER  HISTORIES  IN   SAMUEL  AND   KINGS 

The  language,  the  expressions,  and  the  distinctively  rehgious  ideas  of  these 
editorial  sections  are  those  of  the  late  prophetic  group  of  writers  who  were 
inspired  by  the  book  of  Deuteronomy  and  the  great  reform  of  Josiah  in 
621  B.C.  (for  a  detailed  list  of  their  words  and  expressions,  cf.  Driver, 
LOT,  pp.  200-203,  Hast.  DB  II,  pp.  859-861).  The  original  editor  of  Kings 
carried  his  history  down  to  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim,  but  apparently  writes 
from  the  point  of  view  of  Palestine,  and  while  the  Judean  state  was  still 
standing  (cf.,  e.g.,  to  this  den/,  II  Kgs.  8=^  16^  W'-''). 

The  exile,  which  quickly  followed,  transformed  the  thought  of  Israel's  Work 
religious  teachers  so  completely  that  a  later  editor,  writing  probably  in  Baby-  final 
Ionia  not  long  after  561  B.C.,  gave  to  the  book  of  Kings  its  final  form.     He  ^''"'o"" 
likewise  belonged  to  the  late  prophetic  school,  so  that  it  is  not  always  easy 
to  distinguish  his  work  from  that  of  his  predecessor.     He  certainly  added 
the  account  of  the  final  destruction  of  Jerusalem  and  the  liberation  of  Je- 
hoiachin  in  561  B.C.      The  conception  of  Jehovah  in  I  Kings  8"'^°  and  of  the 
temple  as  a  place  of  worship  for  all  peoples  is  closely  akin  to  that  found  in 
Isaiah  40-56.     Also  ^^'  ^*  seem  to  imply  the  point  of  view  of  the  exile.     This 
is  also  true  of  II  Kings  21'"^'.     It  is  probable  that  in  their  present  form  the 
prophetic  addresses  in  I  Kings  8'^-9''  and  II  Kings  21  ^-'\  as  well  as  certain 
other  minor  additions,  are  from  the  latest  editor.     Later  priests  and  scribes 
added  occasional  notes,  but  by  540  B.C.  the  prophetic  historical  books  of 
Samuel  and  Kings  were  practically  complete. 


SI 


Ill 

THE  CHRONICLER'S  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  JUDAH 

AND    THE   TEIVIPLE 

Con-  Excepting  in  the  three  or  four  quotations  from  the  temple  records,  the 

of'ifhe     books  of  Samuel  and  Kings  are  throughout  national  and  prophetic  in  their 
late        interests.     Their  final  editors  were  clearly  prophets,  and  to  the  same  group 
siasti-     of  religious  patriots  belonged  the  authors  of  most  of  the  older  sources  which 
Mstorv  ^^^  quoted.     It  was  natural  that  the  other  prominent  class  of  Israel's  teachers, 
the  priests,  whose  interests  were  distinctly  ritualistic  and  ecclesiastical,  should 
also  write  their  own  version  of  the  history.     Closely  corresponding  in  spirit 
and  purpose  to  the  late  priestly  narratives  in  the  Pentateuch  is  the  parallel 
history  of  Judah  found  in  the  books  of  Chronicles  and  their  direct  contin- 
uation Ezra-Nehemiah.     Identity  in  literary   style  and  point  of  view,   as 
well  as  the  repetition  of  the  opening  verses  of  Ezra  (1''^)  at  the  close  of  Chron- 
icles (36-^'  ^^),  leaves  no  doubt  that  the  books  are  all  from  the  same  author 
or  editor,   and  originally  constituted  one  continuous  narrative,  beginning 
with  Adam  and  concluding  with  the  account  of  the  great  priestly  reformation 
associated  with  Ezra  (about  400  B.C.). 
Its  The  fact  that  the  author  of  this  extensive  history  speaks  of  the  days  of 

Nehemiah  and  Ezra  as  though  they  belonged  to  the  distant  past  (Neh. 
J228.  47^  g^j^j  l^jjg  kings  of  Persia  as  though  he  lived  under  a  different  rule 
(Ezra  !'•  ^'  ''  3')  at  once  suggests  that  he  wrote  at  least  from  the  point  of 
view  of  the  succeeding  Greek  period.  Nehemiah  12"  ■  ^^  also  mentions 
Jaddua  who  was  high-priest  in  332  b.c,  when  Alexander  conquered  Pal- 
estine. The  awkward  Hebrew  which  he  used,  and  the  highly  developed 
ceremonial  institutions  with  which  he  is  familiar,  as  well  as  his  general  point 
of  view,  indicate  that  he  wrote  not  earlier  than  300  B.C.,  probably  about  the 
middle  of  the  third  century. 
Method  Again  the  historical  value  of  the  work  turns  largely  upon  whether  the 
author  author  depended  for  his  facts  merely  upon  the  traditions  current  in  his  own 
day  or  upon  written  sources,  and  also  whether  he  recast  the  information, 
which  he  collected,  in  his  own  language,  or  quoted  it  practically  verbatim 
from  much  earlier  sources.  An  examination  of  his  work  at  once  demonstrates 
that  his  method,  like  that  of  the  editors  of  Samuel  and  Kings,  was  primarilj/ 
compilation.  Nearly  half  of  the  books  of  Chronicles  consists  of  exact  or 
slightly  variant  quotations  from  the  Old  Testament  books  of  Samuel  and 
Kings.  Variations  in  style,  point  of  view,  and  even  minor  inconsistencies 
in  representation  clearly  indicate  that  the  greater  part  of  Ezra-Nehemiah, 
and  probably  certain  of  the  remaining  portions  of  Chronicles,  were  taken 
bodily  from  older  written  sources.  The  real  work  of  the  writer  of  Chronicles 
and  Ezra-Nehemiah  was  therefore  not  primarily  that  of  an  original  author 

22 


THE  CHRONICLER'S  ECCLESL\STICAL  HISTORY 

but  of  a  compiler  and  editor.  An  appreciation  of  this  fact  is  essential  to  an 
understanding  of  his  unique  history.  It  also  tends  to  enhance  its  historical 
value,  for  it  is  obvious  that  in  general  the  nearer  the  records  stand  to  the 
events  the  greater  their  accuracy  and  authenticity. 

Since  his  name  is  not  known,  the  final  editor  of  this  extensive  history  may  Point 
be  conventionally  designated  as  the  Chronicler.  From  his  modifications  of  and  *^^ 
the  older  narrative  of  Samuel-Kings,  from  his  systematic  omissions,  as  well  pequl- 
as  from  the  jiassages  which  came  originally  from  his  pen,  it  is  possible  to  de-  of  the 
termine  definitely  his  point  of  view  and  distinctive  peculiarities.  Like  the  f  ig°°' 
writers  of  the  late  priestly  school,  his  interests  are  ecclesiastical  rather  than 
national,  ritualistic  rather  than  prophetic,  and  didactic  rather  than  historical. 
He  was  interested  in  Judah,  because  in  it  was  the  temple,  and  in  the  temple, 
because  about  it  gathered  the  ceremonial  institutions  which  he  regarded  as 
the  beginning  and  end  of  existence.  History  was  to  him  important  simply 
because  it  gave  the  background  and  recorded  the  beginnings  of  these  insti- 
tutions, and  because  it  furnished  apt  illustrations  of  the  peculiar  ethical  and 
religious  principles  which  were  uppermost  in  his  mind.  In  common  with 
that  post-exilic  Judaism  whose  point  of  view  is  likewise  reflected  in  the  non- 
canonical  writings,  which  he  quotes,  he  was  dominated  by  the  natural 
and  irresistible  tendency  to  idealize  the  past  and  project  back  into  it  the 
conditions  and  institutions  existing  in  his  day.  Thus  a  comparison  with 
the  older  parallel  narratives  of  Samuel  and  Kings  at  once  shows  that  num- 
bers are  often  raised  from  hundreds  to  thousands  (cf.  I  Chr.  22'^  II  Chr. 
133.  17^  148.  9^  17H-19,  gS"'  *),  gold  takes  the  place  of  brass,  the  priest  of  the 
warrior,  and  a  miracle  of  the  victory  won  by  the  swords  in  the  hands  of 
Israel's  gallant  defenders.  David  is  regarded  by  him  as  the  founder  of  the 
post-exilic  guilds  of  singers  and  the  organizer  of  the  elaborate  temple  ritual, 
even  though  the  sanctuary  itself  was  not  built  until  the  days  of  Solomon 
and  did  not  attain  its  dominant  religious  prestige  until  centuries  later.  In 
I  Chronicles  2G  he  ajjy^ears  even  to  have  forgotten  this  fact  and  refers  to  the 
gates  of  the  temple  (designated  by  their  Persian  name)  as  already  existing 
in  the  day  of  David. 

The  Chronicler  lived  in  an  age  when  zeal  for  the  ritual  had  almost  com-  Mo<li- 
pletely  obscured  the  historical  perspective.     Certain  accepted  theories  were  of  liiT" 
also  regarded  as  more  authoritative  than  recorded  facts.     It  was  therefore  earlier 
doubtless  in  all  honesty  that  he  at  times  modified  his  older  sources.     Thus 
the  later  idealization  of  Solomon  led  him  to  invert  the  testimony  of  I  Kings 
9""'*  and  represent  the  builder  of  the  temple  as  receiving  certain  cities  from 
Hiram  of  Tyre  rather  than  ceding  them  to  him  (II  Chr.  H-).     The  later  con- 
ception of  Jehovah's  rule  and  the  new  belief  in  a  personal  adversary  led  him 
to  state  that  David  was  influenced  by  Satan,  not  by  Jehovah,  to  lunnber  the 
pef)p]e  (cf.  II  Sam.  24'  and  I  Chr.  21').     To  reconcile  the  story  with  the  more 
familiar  version  in  I  Sannicl  1 7,  he  represents  Elhanan  as  slaying,  not  (ioliath, 
as  in  II  Samuel  21'^,  but  the  brother  of  Goliath  (I  Chr.  20^).     Some  of  the 
variations  from  the  narrative  in  Samuel  and  Kings  are  doubtless  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  Chronicler  followc'd  a  diirercut  tradition,  as  for  example,  when 
he  states  that  Jehoshaphat  joined  with  Ahaziah  in  a  commercial  enterprise 

23 


sions 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

(II  Chr.  20^^),  while  according  to  I  Kings  22"  he  refused  to  unite  with  him. 
Sometimes  his  quotations  from  distinct  sources  introduce  absolute  contra- 
dictions into  his  narrative,  as  for  example,  when  he  affirms,  following  Kings, 
that  Asa  and  Jehoshaphat  did  not  remove  the  high  places  (I  Kgs.  15'\  22", 
II  Chr.  15",  20^^),  although,  quoting  from  late  traditions  which  idealized 
these  kings,  he  had  already  stated  that  they  did  remove  the  high  places 
(II  Chr.  14^  17^).  In  every  case  the  reason  for  the  variation  is  transparent 
and  reveals  his  peculiar  point  of  view  and  aim. 
Omis-  His  omissions  are  equally  suggestive.  Those  facts  which  did  not  suit 
his  purpose  or  were  contrary  to  his  theory  of  the  history  were  omitted.  Thus 
nothing  is  said  of  David's  crimes  and  the  national  disasters  that  followed 
in  their  train,  for  in  his  thought  David  was  the  man  after  God's  own  heart, 
to  whom  was  due  the  conception  and  organization  of  the  temple.  Many 
references  to  the  primitive  idolatry  which  survived  in  Judah  until  the  Baby- 
lonian exile  (e.g.,  I  Kgs.  14^-"-*,  II  Kgs.  18^)  are  passed  over  in  silence;  no 
mention  is  made  of  Hezekiah's  tribute  to  Assyria  (II  Kgs.  18""^").  Most 
significant  of  all  is  the  almost  complete  absence  of  the  Northern  Israelitish 
history  which  figures  so  prominently  in  Kings.  Saul  is  only  introduced  on 
the  fatal  battle-field  of  Gilboa,  and  then  to  be  condemned.  For  the  Chron- 
icler the  chosen  people  are  those  of  the  South,  and  Jehovah  is  not  icith  Israel 
(II  Chr.  25').  Judah,  Benjamin — which  he  always  associates  with  the 
southern  kingdom — and  Levi  are  the  three  tribes  which  command  his  first 
attention  in  the  opening  genealogies  and  throughout  his  history.  The 
northern  kingdom  has  so  completely  vanished  from  his  vision  that  Israel 
is  frequently  used  as  a  designation  of  Judah  (e.g.,  II  Chr.  21^,  28'^).  The 
reason  for  this  omission  is  obvious.  According  to  his  retributive  philosophy 
of  history  the  early  fall  of  the  northern  kingdom  was  conclusive  evidence 
of  its  rejection  by  Jehovah.  More  important  still  was  the  historical  fact 
that  the  antecedents  of  the  later  Judean  community  and  the  temple,  which 
alone  interested  the  Chronicler,  all  went  back  to  Judah,  not  to  Israel. 
His  His  aim,  however,  was  not  to  give  an  ordinary  history  of  Judah.     Many 

^?™te°    incidents  of  great  political  significance  are  ignored.     Nor  was  it  to  write 
an,    .    the- history  of  Israel's  religion,  else  he  would  not  have  passed  over  without 

ecclcsi-  o        '  1 

astical    mention  the  great  work  of  Elijah,  Amos,  and  Hosea.     It  was  rather  to  record 

mstory  ^^^  history  of  Judah,  conceived  of  from  the  first  as  a  sacred  state  centring 

about  the  temple,  with  the  priests,  the  Levites,  and  earlier  the  king  and  his 

court,  as  its  officials.     Although  the  words,  chtirch  and  ecclesiastical,  are  in 

a  sense  anachronisms,  the  Judah  which  the  Chronicler  knows  and  pictures 

is  nothing  more  than  an  ecclesiastical  state,  and  his  narrative  as  a  whole  may 

best  be  designated  as  the  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Judah  and  the  Temple. 

His  The  prominence  which  he  gives  to  the  Levites  and  the  frequency  with 

tUmin    which  he  introduces  into  his  quotations  from  earlier  sources  detailed  de- 

the         scriptions  of  the  temple  music  and  especially  of  the  levitical  guilds  of  singers, 

munity  strongly  suggest  that  he  belongs  to  one  of  these.     Connection  with  the  ruling 

class  in  the  Jewish  hierarchy  put  him  in  possession  of  the  current  priestly 

traditions  and  doubtless  enabled  him  to  consult  the  then  extant  histories  of 

his  race. 

24 


THE  CHRONICLER'S  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 

The  references  of  the  Chronicler  at  first  glance  give  the  impressioo  that  His 
in  writing  I  and  II  Chronicles  he  had  before  him  a  large  number  of  writings  encesto 
in  addition  to  those  now  included  in  the  Old  Testament.     Of  these  sixteen  earlier 

nis- 

distinct  titles  are  given.  Four  of  these,  the  Book  of  the  Kings  of  Judah,  tories 
the  Book  of  the  Kings  of  Judah  and  Israel,  the  Book  of  the  Kings  of  Israel, 
and  the  Affairs  of  the  Kings  of  Israel,  are  without  much  doubt  variant  titles 
of  the  same  work.  To  these  may  be  added  in  all  probability  the  title  Mid- 
rash  of  the  Book  of  the  Kings  (II  Chr.  24"),  for  it  is  referred  to  in  II 
Chronicles  24  as  containing  a  group  of  facts  kindred  to  those  found  in  the 
work  bearing  the  preceding  titles.  Furthermore,  as  has  been  acutely  urged, 
it  is  difiicult  to  see  why,  if  distinct  and  yet  relating  to  the  reigns  of  all  the 
kines,  it  should  be  referred  to  but  once  bv  the  Chronicler. 

Moreover,  as  will  be  shown  later,  most  of  his  quotations  from  non-canon-  Words 
ical  sources  evidently  came  from  what  might  most  appropriately  be  desig-  prop^. 
nated  a  Midrash  (cf.  p.  26).     When  the  Chronicler  at  the  conclusion  of  a  etsand 

SGGFS 

reign  does  not  refer  his  readers  for  further  information  to  a  book  having 
one  of  the  five  titles  cited  above,  he  substitutes  some  special  authority,  as 
for  example  the  ]]'ords  of  the  Seer  Samuel,  the  Prophet  Nathan  and  the 
Seer  Gad  (I  Chr.  29-'),  or  the  Words  of  Nathan  the  Prophet  and  the  Prophecy 
of  Ahijah  the  Shilonite  and  the  ^^isions  of  Iddo  the  Seer  (II  Chr.  9^"). 
Each  of  these  titles  is  connected  with  the  name  of  some  prophet  or  seer 
mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  period.  The  fact  that  they  are  always  in- 
troduced as  substitutes  for  the  titles  of  the  more  comprehensive  work,  and 
never  appear  with  them  in  connection  with  the  same  reign,  seems  to  indicate 
that  they  simply  refer  to  sections  of  the  greater  Book  of  the  Kings  in  which 
these  prophets  figured.  This  conclusion  is  strongly  confirmed  by  such 
passages  as  II  Chronicles  20^\  Now  the  other  acts  of  J ehoshaphat,  the  earlier 
as  icell  as  the  later,  have  already  been  recorded  in  the  Words  of  Jehu  the 
son  of  Ilanani,  which  is  inserted  in  the  Book  of  the  Kings  of  Israel,  and 
by  the  Hebrew  version  of  II  Chronicles  32^^  Now  the  acts  of  Hezekiah 
as  well  as  his  pious  deeds  have  already  been  recorded  in  the  Vision  of  the 
Prophet  Isaiah  the  son  of  Amoz,  in  the  Book  of  the  Kings  of  Judah  and 
Israel.  The  natural  implication  of  these  statements  is  that  possibly  the 
Words  and  Vision  were  once  originally  distinct,  but  that  they  then  consti- 
tuted a  section  of  the  larger  work.  The  remaining  title,  the  Midrash  of  the 
Prophet  Iddo  (II  Chr.  13"),  may  have  been  distinct,  but  it  is  also  possible 
that  the  Chronicler  employed  it  as  synonym  of  the  work  attributed  to  the 
same  author  and  in  II  Chronicles  9^'  and  12'^  refers  to  it  under  the  vari- 
ant titles,  the  Visions  of  Iddo  the  Seer  and  the  Words  of  Iddo  the  Seer. 

The  contents  of  the  books  of  Chronicles  supi)ort  in  general  the  inferences  His 
drawn  from  the  references  to  earlier  sources.     The  many  verbatim  (juota-  samuel- 
tions  from  the  canonical  books  of  Samuel  and  Kings  and  especially  from  the  I'^'^ks 
.sections  which  came  from  the  lute  prophetic  editor  leave  little  doubt  that 
they,  like  the  earlier  pentateuchal  books,  were  before  the  Chronicler  and 
were  made  by  him  the  basis  of  liis  work. 

The  history  of  the  Book  of  the  Kings  of  Judah  and  Israel,  to  which  he  so 
often  refers,  mu.st  necessarily  remain  largely  a  matter  of  conjecture.     It  is 

25 


ISRAEL'S   HISTORICAL   RECORDS 

The        certain  from  the  references  and  probable  quotations  from  it  that  it  was 
Book  of  <^ig^jj^pt  from  the  Old  Testament  books  of  Samuel  and  Kings.     It  may 
Kings    possibly  have  been  based  on  these,  but  it  also  contained  much  else.     This 
dahand  additional  material  may  in  part  have  come  from  the  larger  Chronicles  of  the 
Israel     Xjfigg  of  J  lid  all  and  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel,  which  the  editor 
of  Kings  frequently  mentions.     There  are  occasionally  found  in  the  writ- 
ings of  the  Chronicler  detailed  statistics  which  are  probably  authentic  and 
which  favor   the    conclusion    that    they  were   ultimately  derived  from   an 
older  source.     In  levitical  and  priestly  circles  the  older  histories  would  in- 
evitably be  modified  and  expanded  very  much  as  the  Chronicler  treated 
the  material  of  Samuel  and  Kings.     Another  familiar  and  instructive  illus- 
tration of  the  same  transforming  process  is  found  by  comparing  the  early 
Judean  prophetic  accounts  of  the  exodus,  the  wilderness  wandering,  and  the 
conquest  of  Canaan  with  the  corresponding  late  priestly  versions  (cf.  Vol.  I, 
§§  63-116).     Soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  Babylonian  exile  the  originally 
distinct  chronicles  of  the  northern  and  southern  kingdoms  may  have  been 
blended  into  one  work. 
The  It  does  not  seem  probable  that  the  Chronicler  had  before  him  an  exilic 

rash  Book  of  the  Kings  of  Judah  and  Israel.  Certainly  most  of  his  data,  other 
of  the  than  those  from  the  canonical  books  of  Samuel  and  Kings,  if  not,  as  has 
the  been  claimed,  his  own  creation,  must  have  been  taken  from  what  may  prop- 
'°^^  erly  be  called  a  Midrash  of  the  Book  of  the  Kings.  The  word  midrash 
describes  a  large  proportion  of  the  literature  of  later  Judaism.  It  is  derived 
from  the  Hebrew  word  meaning  to  search  out,  explore.  It  is  applied  to  an 
edifying  story  like  Tobit,  or  to  an  address  or  exposition  intended  to  bring 
out  the  implied  or  hidden  meaning  of  a  scriptural  passage.  Its  aim  is  al- 
ways didactic.  If  the  story  is  highly  embellished,  it  is  to  attract  the  reader 
and  emphasize  the  moral.  As  in  the  modern  didactic  novel,  the  leading 
characters  are  frequently  introduced  simply  to  give  expression  to  the  teach- 
ings of  the  author  (cf.  p.  4).  The  passages  not  quoted  by  the  Chronicler 
from  his  canonical  source  are  excellent  examples  of  this  type  of  literature. 
They  always  relate  to  prominent  historic  characters  and  scenes.  They 
usually  start  with  certain  well-authenticated  facts.  Questions  suggested  in 
the  older  source  are  answered  at  length,  numbers  are  multiplied,  all  the 
details  assume  larger  and  more  exalted  proportions,  right  is  always  richly 
rewarded  and  wickedness  signally  punished,  miracles  are  common,  and 
prophets  and  kings  deliver  noble,  majestic,  spiritual  addresses,  embodying 
the  best  doctrines  of  later  Judaism.  Sometimes  the  story  element  is  more 
prominent  and  sometimes  the  addresses.  These  didactic  stories  and  ad- 
dresses constitute  the  really  distinctive  element  in  the  books  of  Chronicles. 
A  few,  and  possibly  all  of  them,  may  have  been  written  by  the  Chronicler, 
who  is  imbued  with  their  spirit  and  aim,  but  some  appear  to  have  been 
cited  by  him  from  an  extensive  Midrash  of  the  Book  of  the  Kings  which 
probably  grew  up  gradually  on  the  basis  of  the  earlier  exilic  Book  of  the 
Kings  of  Judah  and  Israel.  It  must,  however,  be  frankly  admitted  that  tht 
evidence  which  has  led  the  latest  commentators,  like  Benzinger  and  Kittel, 
to  assign  a  large  part  of  Chronicles  to  this  source  is  meagre  and  not  altogether 

26 


THE  CHRONICLER'S  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 

decisive.  The  presence  of  the  Clironicler's  pecuHar  idioms  and  ideas  through- 
out all  these  sections  still  furnishes  a  good  basis  for  the  thesis  of  the  earlier 
German  critics,  who  maintained  that  the  Chronicler  had  but  one  source, 
Samuel-Kings,  and  that  all  else  was  the  creation  of  his  own  active  imagina- 
tion. On  the  whole,  however,  the  simplest  and  most  satisfactory  explanation 
of  all  the  facts  is  that  he  had  before  him  one  or  two  midrashic  sources  to 
which  he  frequently  refers  under  many  different  titles.  In  vocabulary  and 
literary  style,  as  well  as  in  point  of  ^^ew,  the  stories  which  he  takes  from 
them  are  so  closely  related  to  those  from  the  pen  of  the  Chronicler  that  any 
detailed  analysis  is  necessarily  very  uncertain  and  unsatisfactory.  Their 
theological  and  moral  ideas  and  their  attitude  toward  the  ritual  are  also 
closely  parallel  to  those  of  the  Chronicler  himself.  Some  of  them  so  obvi- 
ously favor  the  Levites  at  the  expense  of  the  priests  that  they  must  have 
come,  like  the  book  of  Chronicles,  from  the  pens  of  Levites. 

In  general  they  may  be  dated  in  the  century  of  religious  and  national  Date 
revival  which  followed  the  reformation  associated  with  Nehemiah  and  Ezra  mi^^J' 
about  400  B.C.    When  the  late  priestly  law  was  accepted  as  the  absolute  guide  rashim 
of  the  community,  the  religious  leaders  sought  not  only  to  conform  their  Chron- 
lives  and  those  of  their  own  generation  to  its  definite  and  revolutionary  de-  ^^ 
mands,  but  they  also  began  to  rewrite  history  in  order  to  bring  the  past  into 
harmony  with  it.      At  the  same  time  they  were  influenced  by  the  desire 
to  find  in  the  precedents  of  the  past,  authority  for  the  usages  of  their  day. 
Thus  not  only  Moses,  but  also  David,  Solomon,  Jehoshaphat,  Ilezekiah,  and 
Josiah  were  represented  as  being  strict  upholders  of  the  post-exilic  institu- 
tions.    Since  these  midrashhn  stand  so  near  in  date,  as  well  as  point  of  view 
and  literary  style,  to  the  work  of  the  Chronicler,  even  if  they  could  in  each 
case  be  definitely  distinguished,  the  analysis  would  be  of  little  value. 

From  the  same  periods  probably  come  the  apparent  quotations  in  I  Chron-  Late 
icles  15'-'5'  «_i63^  2r-",  222-'^  28'-'',  29'-»,  and   possibly  the   nucleus  of  fempli^ 
23-26  and  II  Chronicles  24*"'^     They  are  based  upon  the  briefer  narratives  history 
of  Samuel  and  Kings.     These,  however,  are  revised,  so  that  the  priests  and 
Levites  figure  as  the  guardians  of  the  ark,  and  everything  is  done  in  accord- 
ance with  the  late  priestly  law.     The  Levites  are  divided  into  six  classes, 
15'-°,  instead  of  three  as  elsewhere  by  the  Chronicler.     The  theme  which 
binds  together  these  different  sections  is  their  interest  in  the  temple.     They 
appear  therefore  to  have  been  taken  from  a  l.ate  priestly  temple  history,  which 
may  have  been  incorporated  in  the  Midrash  of  the  Book  of  the  Kings,  but 
was  probably  originally  distinct. 

Thus  the  Chronicler's  work  is  the  outgrowth   of  many  earlier  writings,  Point 
and  represents  the  culmination  of  a  long  process  of  development.     He  him-  ,^f  \\^J^ 
self  does  not  stand  alone,  but  is  rather  the  final  editor  or  epitomizer  of  the  f^^'iroii- 

iclcr  s 

work  of  a  school  of  writers.  Their  predecessors  were  the  editors  of  Judges,  school 
Samuel,  and  Kings,  who  likewi.se  selected  their  stories  to  illustrate  their 
religious  and  ethical  doctrines.  Their  contemporaries  were  those  who  wrote 
the  very  late  priestly  stories  in  the  Pentateuch  (e.g.,  the  account  of  the  war 
with  Miclian,  Vol.  I,  >^  101).  Their  successors  were  the  authors  of  the 
later  Jewish  rnidrashim,  who  for  example  in  the  book  of  Jubilee  rewrote 

27 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

and  freely  expanded  the  stories  of  the  patriarchs  with  a  similar  didactic  aim. 
Time  and  circumstance  explain  their  lack  of  the  historical  sense.  Prolonged 
subjection  to  foreign  rulers  had  excluded  the  Jews  from  all  participation 
in  political  life.  The  shadow  of  the  exile  still  rested  heavily  upon  them.  At 
this  time  the  future  offered  little  to  inspire  them.  Their  chief  joy  and  pride 
and  comfort  w^ere  the  magnificence  of  their  ritual  and  the  glories  of  their 
past.  Prominent  before  their  eyes  were  the  dazzling  splendors  of  the  Persian 
and  Greek  empires.  These  furnished  their  basis  by  comparison  with  which 
the  facts  recorded  in  the  primitive  sources  of  Samuel  and  Kings  seemed 
paltry  and  insignificant.  Idealizing  and  almost  idolizing  the  leaders  and 
great  events  in  the  past  history  of  their  nation,  it  was  inevitable  that 
they  should  readily  overlook  the  sins  and  the  mistakes,  and  represent  its 
victories  and  glories  on  a  scale  corresponding  to  that  with  which  they  were 
familiar. 
Their  Their  idealized  past  also  furnished  dramatic  illustrations  of  that  moral 
reiig-  order  in  the  universe  in  which  they  firmly  believed.  Aside  from  their  in- 
concen-  ^^^"^^^  ^^  the  ritual,  which  to  their  minds  represented  worship  and  true  re- 
tions  ligion,  their  supreme  purpose  was  to  proclaim  that  God  is  just,  that  he  is 
merciful,  and  that  he  rules  directly  and  personally  in  human  life.  The  might 
of  armies  and  nations  counts  as  nothing  against  him.  In  the  end  the  right 
will  surely  win.  Obedience  and  faith  in  Jehovah  are  more  effective  in- 
struments in  the  hands  of  Israel's  kings  than  powerful  armies  and  strong 
alliances.  Thus,  although  the  historical  perspective  of  the  Chronicler  and 
his  school  is  often  defective,  their  stories  emphasize  certain  of  the  most  ^'ital 
spiritual  truths. 


28 


IV 

THE   ORIGINAL   SOURCES   AND    HISTORICAL   VALUE 

OF   EZRA-NEHEMIAH 

While  the  Chronicler  aims  in  the  first  great  division  of  his  work  (I  and  im- 
II  Chr.)  to  show  that  the  ceremonial  institutions  of  his  day  could  all  be  ^"^ce 
traced  back  to  David  and  Solomon,  in  the  second,  Ezra-Nehemiah,  his  pur-  of 
pose  is  to  demonstrate  that  these  institutions  were  revived,  in  connection  Nehe- 
with  the  second  temple,  by  the  exiles  who  returned  from  Babylonia.     Un-  '""*^ 
fortunately,  the  parallel  prophetic  history  of  Samuel-Kings  stops  with  the 
exile,  so  that  the  historian  is  almost  entirely  dependent  upon  the  Chronicler 
for  information  regarding  the  Jewish  community  during  the  Persian  period. 
The  sermons  of  Haggai  and  Zechariah  supplement  and  correct  the  Chron- 
icler's portrait  at  one  important  epoch  (cf.  note   §  146),  and  the  book  of 
Malachi  and  the  prophecies  in  the  latter  part  of  Isaiah  throw  light  upon 
social  and  religious  conditions,  but  otherwise  the  additional  data  are  few. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Chronicler  stands  much  nearer  the  events  which  he 
records  in  the  second  great  division  of  his  work,  and  his  testimony  is  accord- 
ingly more  valuable. 

Fortunately,  his  peculiar  ideas  and  tendencies  and  those  of  the  late  priestly  Chron- 
and  levitical  writers  whom  he  quotes,  are  clearly  revealed  by  comparative  pecuHar 
study  of  Samuel,  Kings,  and  Chronicles.     These  reappear  in  Ezra-Nehemiah  concep- 
and  must  be  reckoned  with  in  reconstructing  the  true  course  of  the  history,  of  the 
In  his  mind  the  priests  and  Levites  are  so  much  more  important  than  the  exilic 
laymen,  that  only  the  Babylonian  exiles,  among  whom  were  found  the  priests  history 
who  survived  the  catastrophe  of  586  B.C.,  were  deemed  by  him  eligible  to 
rebuild  the  temple  and  reinstitute  the  rule  of  the  law.     The  people  of  the 
land — those  who  survived  the  captivity  and  under  the  inspiring  teaching 
of  Haggai  and  Zechariah  actually  rebuilt  the  temple  in  520  b.c.  (cf.  note 
§  146) — were  in  his  eyes  ceremonially  unclean.     The  true  Israel — like  the 
Jewish  commumly  of  his  own  day,  ruled  by  priests  and  devoted  solely  to 
maintaining  the  temple  ritual  and  fulfilling  the  insistent  denuuids  of  the 
ceremonial  law — is  the  chief  actor  in  his  history.     As  in  the  viidrashim  of 
Chrorn'eJes,  events  are  the  results  of  direct  divine  intervention.     Jehovah  is 
represented  as  influencing  the  most  powerful  Persian  kings  to  pour  upon 
the  returning  exiles  the  wealth  of  the  empire  and  to  issue  decrees,  the  lan- 
guage and  purport  of  which  were  well  calculated  to  satisfy  the  strictest 
priestly  patriot.     Ezra  1,  .3'-4'  and  6'"'"  are  excellent    illustrations  of   the 
Chroniclers   concej)tions   of   the   revival   of   the  Jewish    coninninity.     Un- 
doubtedly important  historical  facts  are  at  the  basis,  but  the  idealized  char- 
acter of  the  narrative  is  clearly  revealed  by  comparing   it  with  the  early 
record  found  in  Haggai  1  or  Ezra  5'-6"'. 

29 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

His  The  analysis  of  Chronicles  has  demonstrated,  however,  that  the  Chron- 

the'^*'^^'  ^^^^^  ^^'^^  '^^t  primarily  an  author,  but  a  compiler.  This  fact  also  determines 
A''a-  the  great  historical  value  of  Ezra-Nehemiah.  He  makes  long,  verbal  quo- 
docu-  tations  from  three  or  four  older  sources.  The  first  is  the  Aramaic  document 
°^^'^^  cited  in  Ezra  5^-6'^.  It  records  an  unsuccessful  attempt  by  the  local  Per- 
sian satrap  to  stop  the  building  of  the  temple.  Not  only  is  the  language 
different,  but  the  vocabulary  and  literary  style  are  distinct  from  those  of 
the  Chronicler.  A  Persian  monarch  like  Cyrus  is  referred  to  simply  as  the 
king,  implying  that  the  document  was  at  least  composed  before  the  Greek 
period,  when  he  was  designated  as  the  hing  of  Persia.  At  the  same  time 
the  Jewish  form  of  the  decree  in  6^"'^  suggests  that  that  idealizing  process 
had  begun,  which  is  still  more  prominent  in  the  sections  which  come  from 
the  Chronicler  (cf.  Appendix  XII  for  a  recently  discovered  decree  of  Darius). 
In  general,  however,  the  data,  which  it  presents,  may  be  regarded  as  au- 
thentic. Probably  from  the  same  series  of  documents,  which  appear  to 
have  recorded  the  official  relations  between  the  Persian  government  and 
the  Judean  community,  was  taken  the  other  Aramaic  section  in  Ezra  4'"-'. 
It  is  very  loosely  connected  with  its  context,  which  relates  to  the  rebuilding 
of  the  temple,  while  it  records  an  indejjendent  attempt  to  restore  the  walls. 
Its  true  setting  is  to  be  found  in  connection  with  the  work  of  Nehemiah 
(cf.  note  §  155).  Whether  or  not  these  Aramaic  documents  were  more  ex- 
tensive and  furnished  the  Chronicler  additional  data  is  an  interesting  ques- 
tion, which  cannot  be  definitely  answered.  Ezra  1  appears  to  be  his  ex- 
pansion and  idealization  of  the  facts  derived  from  the  Aramaic  document 
quoted  in  5^-6'^.  The  continuation  of  Ezra  1,  found  in  I  Esdras  5"-6^ 
(cf.  §  144),  and  Ezra  3 '-4*  may  possibly  contain  some  older  data  derived 
from  his  Aramaic  source,  but  there  is  no  conclusive  evidence. 
Nehe-  The  oldest  and  by  far  the  most  important  source  quoted  by  the  Chron- 
me-  ^  icier  is  the  memoirs  of  Nehemiah.  Written  to  record  the  stirring  events  in 
moirs  which  he  was  the  leader,  they  rank  as  in  many  ways  the  most  authentic  and 
valuable  historical  document  in  the  Old  Testament.  In  a  concise,  straight- 
forward, vivid  narrative  this  noble  Jewish  patriot  tells  of  how  he  accom- 
plished the  seemingly  impossible  task  of  rebuilding  the  ruined  walls  of  Jeru- 
salem and  of  reconstructing  fundamentally  the  moral  and  religious  standards 
of  the  degenerate  Jewish  community.  In  Nehemiah  V-l^",  with  the  probable 
exception  of  chapter  3,  the  Chronicler  quotes  bodily  from  this  source.  Unless 
it  is  found  in  11''  ^,  the  sequel  to  7'"  has  been  lost  in  the  complex  process  of 
editorial  readjustment,  to  which  the  material  in  Ezra-Nehemiah  has  been 
subjected.  The  conclusion  of  the  account  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  walls 
is  probably  to  be  found  in  12^''  ^^'  ^''".  In  13^'^'  Nehemiah's  energetic 
reforming  spirit  again  finds  expression.  Since  the  section  concerns  the 
reform  of  the  ceremonial  life  of  the  community,  the  Chronicler  has  evidently 
here  departed  from  his  usual  custom  in  quoting  from  the  memoirs  of  Nehe- 
miah and  recast  and  supplemented  his  source  at  several  points  (cf.  note 
§  158).  The  references  in  ^'  '  also  imply  that  he  failed  to  reproduce  that 
part  of  the  memoirs  which  probably  told  of  Nehemiah's  other  acts  as  governor 
and  of  his  return  to  Artaxerxes.     Otherwise  we  appear  to  be  in  complete 

30 


SOURCES  AND   VALUE   OF  EZRA-XEHEMIAH 

possession  of  the  autobiography  of  the  most  important  Jew  of  his  age.  The 
preservation  of  this  document,  which  records  the  work  not  of  a  priest  nor  of 
a  Levite,  but  of  a  layman,  must  forever  be  reckoned  to  the  Chronicler's 
credit.  It  certainly  represents  his  greatest  service  to  history.  Upon  a  brief 
but  exceedingly  important  period,  which  is  preceded  and  followed  by  cen- 
turies of  comparative  obscurity,  it  throws  the  clear  hght  of  contemporary 
testimony. 

Nehemiah's  memoirs  also  furnish  a  definite  starting   point  for  the  con-  Various 
sideration  of  the  complex  and  difficult  problems  presented  by  the  remaining  s°on*s"' 
chapters  of  Ezra-Nehemiali.     Within  the  past  decade  an  extensive  literature  rega"!- 
has  grown  up  about  them  (cf.  Appendix  I),  in  which  very  diverse  conclu-  origin 
sions  have  been  maintained  by  different  scholars.     Basing  his  deductions  ^,^[^3 
upon  a  careful,  exhaustive  study  of  the  vocabulary  and  literary  style,  Pro-  '^  ^^^ 
fessor  Torrey  in  his  Composition  and  Historical  Value  of  Ezra-Xehemiah  narra- 
concludes  that  they  were  all  originally  written  by  the  Chronicler,  and  that    '^^ 
Ezra  is  but  the  creation  of  his  imagination.     Others  maintain  that  in  Ezra 
7"-9'^  10,  we  have  verbatim  quotations  from  Ezra's  memoirs,  and  in  Nehe- 
miah  T'^-IO'^  documents  of  the  time  of  Ezra  (cf.,  e.g.,  Guthe,  The  Book  of 
Ezra  and  Xeh.  in  SBOT).      This  position  naturally  carries  with  it  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  testimony  of  these  records  as  substantially  historical.     These 
wide  variations  in  opinion  are  possible  from  the  historical  point  of  view, 
because  Ezra  is  mentioned  nowhere  else  in  the  Old  Testament  outside  Ezra- 
Nehemiah.     Even  in  Ben  Sira's  list  of  Israel's  immortals  (written  about  190 
B.C.)  the  name  of  Ezra  is  not  found  beside  those  of  Zerubbabel,  Jeshua,  anc 
Nehemiah  (49"''^).    This  omission  is  all  the  more  significant  because  Ben  Sira 
himself  is  an  intelligent  and  reverent  disciple  of  the  law  and  of  the  traditions 
that  gathered  about  it.     Likewise  in  the  still  later  traditions  found  in  II  ^lac- 
cabees  l'^--^  Xehemiah,  not  Ezra,  is  the  one  who  is  represented  as  coming 
back  from  Babylon  to  Jerusalem  to  restore  the  worship.     In  estimating  the 
work  and  relative  importance  of  these  two  men  it  is  significant  that  outside 
the  writings  of  the  Chronicler  the  one,  a  priest  and  scribe,  is  ignored  and 
the  other,  a  layman,  is  honored  for  the  next  three  or  four  centuries  by  Juda- 
ism, the  chief  interest  of  which  nevertheless  centred  in  ceremonialism  and 
the  law. 

Many   of  the   otherwise   insuperable   difficulties   of  Ezra-Nehemiah    dis-  Priority 
appear,  when  it  is  recognized  that,  if  at  all  historical,  the  work  of  Ezra  must  Nehe- 
have  followed,  not  preceded  that  of  Neheniiah.     If  an  expedition  of  the  size  ™Q^k^ 
and  importance  of  the  one  described  in  Ezra  8  had  gone  to  Judah  only  thir- 
teen years  before,  it  is  incredible  that  Xehemiah  would  have  made  no  refer- 
ence to  it,  and  also  have  found  conditions  in  Jerusak»m  as  he  did.     Not  one 
of  the  ardent  reformers  mentioned  in  Ezra  8  is  referred  to  in  Nehemiah's 
detailed  record.     The  leaders  of  the  community  also,  in.stead  of  being  ready 
to  submit  to  anv  sacrifice,  are  even  suspicious  of  the  iiiaii  who  conies  to  help 
them  build  their  walls.     Moreover,  after  the  conununity  had  submitted  to 
Ezra's  sweeping  measures,  Nehemiah's  mild  reforms  are  meaningless.     On 
the  other  hand,  such  an  expedition  as  Ezra  is  represented  as  leading  back  to 
Judah  was  a  [)ractical  irn[)ossibility  before  Nehemiah  had  fortified  Jerusalem, 

31 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

reorganized  the  community,  and  brought  the  dismembered  sections  of  the 
Jewish  race  into  sympathetic  touch  with  each  other.  Likewise  his  pioneer 
reforms,  enforced  by  his  energy  and  authority  and  claim  to  the  gratitude  of 
the  Palestinian  community,  alone  make  credible  the  revolutionary  changes 
associated  with  Ezra  and  realized  in  the  character  of  later  Judaism.  Direct 
evidence  also  may  be  found  in  Ezra's  prayer  in  Ezra  9,  in  which  he  gives 
thanks  that  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  has  been  rebuilt  and  Judah's  defences 
restored  (vs.  *).  Instead  of  a  defenceless,  afflicted  city,  he  found  a  strong, 
populous  community,  ready  to  follow  him  to  any  extreme,  even  if  it  involved 
the  severance  of  all  relations  with  foreigners  and  the  rending  asunder  of 
their  homes  (Ezra  10). 
Present  The  present  impossible  order  of  events  in  Ezra-Nehemiah  is  probably  due 
dueTo  to  the  Chronicler's  desire  to  give  Ezra,  the  priest  and  scribe,  the  precedence 
the  over  Nehemiah.  His  free  readjustment  of  his  sources  is  illustrated  not  only 
icier  in  Chronicles  but  also  repeatedly  in  Ezra-Nehemiah.  Thus  for  example 
the  account  of  an  attempted  interruption  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  walls  in 
the  days  of  Artaxerxes  he  introduced  in  4''^^  as  an  explanation  of  why  the 
temple  was  not  completed  before  the  days  of  Darius.  In  Nehemiah  12"- 
13^'  the  analogy  is  even  closer.  Just  before  the  quotation  in  13'"''^,  which 
tells  of  Nehemiah's  pioneer  regulations  providing  for  the  income  of  the 
Levites  and  singers,  he  himself  adds  a  section,  12""",  in  which  it  is  stated 
that  this  arrangement  had  already  been  made  and  was  in  force  in  the  days 
of  Zerubbabel  and  in  the  days  of  Nehemiah  (§  158).  Possibly  the  original 
Ezra  tradition  read  in  Ezra  7  the  thirty-  or  jorty-sevcnth  year  of  Artaxerxes, 
or  the  reference  may  have  been  to  Artaxerxes  II  or  III.  It  is  more  probable, 
however,  that  the  Chronicler  simply  introduced  his  favorite  number  to  estab- 
lish the  priority  of  Ezra.  Additional  evidence  of  his  desire  to  give  Ezra  a 
prominent  position  is  found  in  the  fact  that  he  also  in  Nehemiah  12^"  places 
Ezra  at  the  head  of  the  procession  of  priests  at  the  dedication  of  the  walls, 
although  the  older  sources  give  no  suggestion  that  this  priestly  reformer  was 
then  at  Jerusalem. 
Orig-  That  the  similar  material  in  Nehemiah  T'^-IO",  which  is  injected  into  the 
order  of  iTiidst  of  the  quotations  from  Nehemiah's  memoirs,  belongs  with  the  dis- 
the  membered  section,  Ezra  7-10,  was  even  recognized  by  the  editor  of  I  Esdras, 
narra-  wlio  introduces  Nehemiah  and  immediately  after  Ezra  10.  Of  the  many 
attempts  to  restore  the  original  order,  that  of  Torrey  alone  gives  a  connected 
and  consistent  narrative:  Ezra  7,  8,  Nehemiah  7"-8",  Ezra  9,  10,  Nehe- 
miah 9,  10.  With  the  exception  of  the  editor's  introduction,  Ezra  7'"'",  and 
a  few  supplemental  passages,  the  unity  of  representation  and  ideas  is  con- 
firmed by  the  constant  recurrence  of  the  same  peculiar  words  and  expres- 
sions. It  mu.st  be  admitted  that  the  strenuous  efforts  of  certain  scholars  to 
find  here  the  work  of  several  different  authors  is  a  failure.  Even  those  sec- 
tions in  which  Ezra  is  represented  as  speaking  in  the  first  person  are  not 
exceptions.  As  Professor  Torrey  has  further  demonstrated,  nowhere  out- 
side that  book  itself  do  we  find  more,  if  as  many,  of  the  literary  character- 
istics that  distinguish  the  book  of  Chronicles.  They  are  so  marked  and  recur 
in  nearly  every  verse  with  such  persistency  that  all  possibility  is  eliminated 

32 


tive 


SOURCES  AND   VALUE   OF  EZRA-XEHEML\H 

that  this  is  due  to  mere  chance.     This  fact  is  fully  recognized  and  further  The 
ilhistrated  in  great  detail  by  Geissler   (in  Die  litcrarischen  Beziehumjen  nfrra- 
der  Esramemoiren),  who,  however,  maintains  that  the  Chronicler  was  not  tive 
,he  original  author  of  the  narrative.     Contents  and  method  of  representation  the 
also  emphasize  the  close  relationship  with  the  narratives  of  Chronicles.     If  ^^1°^' 
a  majority  of  the  distinctive  passages  in  that  book  are  from  the  Chronicler,  school 
he  is  unquestionably  the  author  of  the  Ezra  narrative.     But  if,  as  seems 
more  probable  (cf.  pp.  26,  27),  he  quoted  largely  from  the  midrashim  which 
came  from  the  very  late  priestly  school  to  which  he  belonged  and  of  which 
he  was  the  final  editor,  he  here  again  figures  in  his  ordinary  role  of  editor 
and  reviser.     The  arbitrary  manner  in  which  he  has  rearranged  the  narrative, 
dismembering  it  without  adjusting  the  parts  to  their  new  settings,  strongly 
suggests  that  he  had  an  older  document  before  him.     Certain  grammatical 
and  stylistic  pecuHarities,  as  well  as  characteristic  words  and  idioms,  also 
distinguish  this  Ezra  narrative  from  the  passages  elsewhere  assigned  to  the 
Chronicler  (cf.  Geissler,  LBE  pp.  22-24).     His  own  additions  can  also  be 
detected  at  several  points.     As  Geissler  has  shown,  the  earlier  scriptures 
most  quoted  are  the  pre-exilic  and  exilic  prophets,  Deuteronomy,  and  the 
Hohness  Code,  but  not  the  later  sections  of  the  priestly  code,  which  figure 
most  prominently  in  the  writings  of  the  Chronicler. 

The  possibility  that  Ezra  himself  wrote  a  memoir  and  that  we  have  quo-  Evi- 
tations  from  it  is  therefore  not  absolutely  precluded,  but  literary  and  his-  that^ 
torical  considerations  do  not  support  it.     The  vocabulary  and  literary  struct-  ^^^ 
ure  of  what  may  be  called  the  Ezra  narrcdive  proclaim  that  it  stands  nearer  narra- 
the  Chronicler  and  the  author  of  Esther  than  Nehemiah  or  the  late  priestly  ijeai'.^ 
writers.     Its  contents  support  the  same  inference.     The  decree  of  Artaxerxes,  j^.^J 
Ezra  7''"^',  the  account  of  the  fabulous  wealth  brought  back  by  the  exiles, 
8^*"",  and  the  sudden  conversion  of  the  Judean  community  read  umch  more 
like  the  midrashim  in  Chronicles  than  Nehemiah's  detailed  memoirs.     The 
parallels  between  the  history  of  Nehemiah  and  that  of  Ezra  are  also  many 
and   striking:  the  liberal  decree  of  Artaxerxes,  the  journey  to  Jerusalem 
with  a  following  and  unusual  authority,  the  preliminary  study  of  the  con- 
ditions, the  detailed  reforms,  and  finally  the  recording  it  all  in  the  form  of  a 
personal  memoir.     It  is  significant  that  practically  every  element  in  the  cove- 
nant recorded  in  Nehenn'ah  10  corresponds  to  a  distinct  reform  instituted 
by  Nehemiah  (13^"^').     When  we  add  to  this  the  conspicuous  absence  of 
any  other  references  to  Ezra  in  the  literature  of  the  next  three  or  four  cen- 
turies, the  conviction  deepens  that  this  is  partly  idealized  history,  in  which 
the  mantle  of  Nehemiah  has  fallen  upon  F.zra.     An  instructive  analogy  might 
be  drawn  between  the  Nehemiah-Ezra  and  the  Elijah-lOlisha  stories.     Elijah 
and  Nehemiah  were  both  men  who  met  grave  crises  with  dauntless  courage 
and  energy,  ancl  as  a  result  of  their  achievements  set  to  work  forces  which 
revoluticHiized  the  subse(juent  history  of  their  race.     Later  schools  of  writers, 
how'ever,  manifested  a  strong  tendency  to  transfer  the  renown  of  their  work 
to  two  of  their  successors  who  represented  more  perfectly  the  ideals  of  the 
later  school  in  which   the  Ehsha  and  Ezra  traditions  respectively  assumed 
their  final  literary  form  (cf.  pp.  18-20). 

33 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

Its  At  the  same  time  there  is  good  reason  for  beheving  that  Ezra,  as  well  aa 

ical""^"    Elisha,  actually  lived  and  that  he  performed  an  important,  although  less 
signifi-   conspicuous   service  than   tradition   attributed   to  him,   in   introducing  the 
cance     pj.jgg^}y  j^w  to  the  Judean  community.     As  portrayed,  he  and  his  acts  faith- 
fully symbolize  that  fundamental  and  probably  gradual  reformation  which 
converted  the  weak,  discouraged  people  to  whom  Nehemiah  and  the  author 
of  Malachi  spoke  into  a  body  of  heroes  and  martyrs,  who  in  the  Maccabean 
struggle  won  religious  and  political  freedom. 
Origin        The  remaining  chapters  of  Ezra-Nehemiah  consist  chiefly  of  genealogical 
gine-^     lists  in  which  the  Chronicler  was  deeply  interested.     The  data  incorporated  in 
alogical  them  may  in  part  have  been  derived  from  the  Booh  o]  the  Chroi  ides,  to  which 
he  refers  in  Nehemiah  12-^  but  their  setting  and  present  hterary  form  are 
clearly  due  to  the  editor  himself.     It  must  be  admitted  that  their  historical 
value  is  slight,  except  as  they  reveal  the  organization  of  the  Judean  com- 
munity in  the  days  of  the  Chronicler  and  in  the  immediately  preceding 
century.     The  census  of  the  Jews  in  Palestine  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Persian 
period  (cf.  note  §  165)  has  been  introduced  by  the  editor  into  the  Nehemiah 
history  and  again  in  Ezra  2,  where  it  purports  to  give  the  list  of  those  who 
returned  soon  after  538  B.C. 
His-  Thus  in  its  present  form,  as  it  comes  from  the  Chronicler,  Ezra-Nehemiah 

va"ue     gives  the  reader  a  confused  and  misleading  conception  of  the  real  course  of 
of  post-exilic  history.     And  yet  side  by  side  with  the  dull  and  almost  valueless 

Nehe-  genealogical  lists,  this  book  contains  some  of  the  most  detailed  and  exact 
^'a  historical  writings  in  all  the  Old  Testament.  In  a  fragmentary  manner, 
whole  and  yet  with  vivid  flashes  of  light  at  critical  points,  it  records  the  rebuilding 
of  the  second  temple,  the  elaborate  development  of  its  ritual,  the  revival 
of  the  Judean  state,  the  return  of  the  exiles,  the  unification  of  the  Jewish 
race,  and  the  birth  of  that  Judaism  which  treasured  the  writings  and  tra- 
ditions incorporated  in  the  Old  Testament  and  furnished  the  background 
and  atmosphere  of  the  New. 


34 


THE  RECORDS  OF  THE  MACCABEAN  AGE 

The  list  of  the  Jewish  liigh -priests  in  Nehemiah  12'°'  "  carries  the  history  Impor- 
of  the  Jewish  people  down  to  the  conquests  of  Alexander  in  332  B.C.     This  of'ttfe 
leaves  a  period  of  over  three  centuries,  until  the  birth  of  Christ,  regarding  Greek 
which  the  historical  records  in  the  present  Protestant  Bible  are  absolutely  Macca- 
silent.     It  is,  however,  one  of  the  most  important  periods  in  biblical  and  pe^ods 
Israelitish  history.     It  was  during  these  centuries  that  several  of  the  books  of 
the  Old  Testament,  such  as  Chronicles,  Ezra,  Nehemiah,  Daniel,  Eccle- 
siastes,  and  Esther  were  written,  and  many  more  like  Proverbs  and  Psalms 
crystallized  into  their  present  form.     It  also  witnessed  the  gradual  growth 
and  practical  completion  of  the  canon  of  the  Old  Testament.     These  mem- 
orable three  centuries  not  only  bind  the  Old  Testament  to  the  New,  but 
represent  the  final  development  of  that  Judaism  which  is  the  outgrowth  of 
the  life  recorded  in  the  Old  Testament.     Without  a  knowledge  of  the  events 
and  forces  of  this  revolutionizing  era,  any  study  of  either  of  the  Testaments  is 
necessarily  incomplete.     It  was  then  that  Greek  and  Jewish  ideas  and  civili- 
zation met  in  mortal  combat  and  later  contributed  each  their  peculiar  mes- 
sage to  Christianity.     Out  of  the  fires  of  persecution  came  that  passionate 
love  for  race,  for  law,  for  traditions,  and  for  Jerusalem,  which  fused  all  the 
scattered  members  of  the  Jewish  nation  together,  and  which  has  kept  them 
practically  intact  until  the  present.     Then  the  feud  between  Jew  and  Samar- 
itan reached  its  height  of  bitterness,  and  through  the  conversion  of  the  Idu- 
means  at  the  edge  of  the  sword,  the  malign  influence  of  the  Herodian  house 
became  a  potent  factor  in  Jewish  history.     Then  also  the  Jews  of  Galilee  and 
Perea  were  brought  into  religious  union  with  those  of  Judea.     The  same 
transitional  epoch  saw  the  birth  and  full  development  of  the  Pharisaic  and 
Sadducean  parties.     The  brilliant  victories  under  the  leadership  of  Judas 
Maccabeus  and  his  successors  gave  the  Jews  that  taste  of  liberty  and  conquest 
which  made  them  so  restive  under  the  rule  of  Rome  and  so  eager  to  welcome 
the  visions  of  a  tem{)oral  INIessianic  kingdom. 

Fortunately,  the  most  important  events  of  this  reign  are  recorded  in  detail  Value 
in  two  books  which  are  still  included  in  the  Old  Testament  canon  accepted  °:^'}  , 

__  IC3.Ii  Oil** 

by  the  Greek  and  Roman  Catholic  churches,  and  which  have  only  in  very  'city  of 
recent  times  been  dropped  from  the  Protestant  Bible.  In  the  case  of  several  cabees 
of  the  so-called  Apocryphal  Old  Testament  books  the  conclusions  of  the 
Reformers  and  the  final  decision  of  the  Bible  Societies,  during  the  earlier 
part  of  the  last  century,  are  amply  justified.  But  the  tendency  which  is  be- 
coming so  marked  among  thoughtful  Bible  students  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe  to  restore  at  lea.st  in  practice  such  a  book  as  I  Maccabees  to  its 
rightful  place  beside  Samuel  and  Kings  is  sane  and  thoroughly  justified  by 
the  facts.    Its  lateness  and  the  fact  that,  unlike  Ecclesiastes  and  many  Psalms, 

35 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

it  was  not  associated  with  revered  names  like  those  of  Solomon  or  David, 
alone  kept  it  out  of  the  Palestinian  Jewish  canon.     Otherwise  its  historical 
title  to  a  place  in  the  Old  Testament  is  well  established.     Measured  by  the 
more  fundamental  and  enduring  standards  of  value  and  authority,  its  claim 
to  a  place  in  the  Old  Testament  is  well  supported.     As  has  just  been  noted, 
the  events  which  it  records  are  surpassed  in  importance  and  inspiring  qualities 
by  none  in  Israelitish  history.     Judas  and  Simon  are  certainly  as  brave  and 
noble  types  as  David  and  Solomon.     The  deeply  patriotic  and  religious 
spirit  in  which  it  is  written  compares  favorably  with  that  of  Samuel,  Kings, 
or  Chronicles.     As  a  vivid,  faithful  record  of  the  events  of  which  it  speaks 
it  is  equalled  by  no  other  Jewish  writing. 
Value         While  its  historical  title  to  canonicity  is  equally  valid,  II  Maccabees  does 
canon-   "ot  rank  with  the  first  book.     Its  theme,  however,  is  in  general  the  same,  and 
icityof  it  supplements  the  earlier  history  at  many  points.    Its  spirit  is  also  strongly 
cabees    religious,  although  far  less  historical.     It  may  be  compared  with  the  Chron- 
icler's late  ecclesiastical  history.     In  both  the  primary  aim  is  not  merely  to 
record  events,  but  rather  to  edify  and  instruct.     Nowhere  else  in  pre-Christian 
Jewish  literature  does  the  belief  in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  find  such 
clear  expression  (cf.  7''  "•  "'  ^^  12^^"^^  14^").     In  a  great  variety  of  ways  it 
effectively  aids  in  bridging  the  chasm  which  otherwise  yawns  between  the 
history  and  teaching  of  the  Old  Testament  and  that  of  the  New. 
Orig-  The  present  titles  to  the  Maccabean  histories  were  given  by  the  Greek 

t?tleof  translators  on  the  basis  of  their  contents.  The  term  Maccabean  was  derived 
I  Mac-  from  the  surname  or  possibly  the  original  name  of  the  chief  hero  in  the  his- 
tory. The  Jews  themselves,  however,  never  applied  it  to  the  histories  nor 
to  the  members  of  his  family,  but  used  instead  the  term  Hasmoncan  (or 
Asmonean),  the  family  name  of  the  house  of  Mattathias.  The  original 
Hebrew  or  Aramaic  title  of  I  Maccabees,  which  was  known  to  Origen  (cf. 
Eusebius,  HE  6),  was  probably  Book  (or  History)  of  the  Hasmoneaiis. 
This  title  is  certainly  a  felicitous  designation  of  the  history  which  records 
the  achievements  of  the  different  members  of  the  famous  Hasmonean  house 
and  the  events  of  their  rule. 
Its  The  independent  testimony  of  Origen  and  Jerome  that  it  was  originally 

lan?'"^  written  in  Hebrew  is  completely  confirmed  by  the  presence  in  every  verse 
guage     Qf  characteristic  Semitic  idioms,  and  above  all  by  the  fact  that  certain  of  the 
later      obvious  errors  in  the  Greek  text,  which  alone  survives,  are  due  to  the  failur 
latk)ns    of  the  translator  to  understand  his  Hebrew  original.     Frequently  it  is  possible 
by  restoring  the  Hebrew  to  correct  the  current  translation.     The  original 
Hebrew  version  was  early  lost,  probably  because  it  never  found  a  place  in 
the  Palestinian  canon  of  the  Old  Testament,  while  the  Greek,  accepted  as 
canonical  by  the  Jews  of  the  dispersion,  survived.     This  translation  is  exact 
without  being  slavishly  literal,  and  was  evidently  made  by  a  Jew  who  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  Hebrew  and  yet  master  of  a  good  Greek  style 
which  was  well  adapted  to  the  subject  matter.     Josephus  in  his  history, 
Jerome  in  the  Vulgate,  and  the  translator  of  the  Syriac  version  all  depended 
upon  the  Greek  text. 

The  author  of  I  Maccabees  was  evidently  a  Jew  and  a  native  of  PalestinCj 

SQ 


RECORDS  OF  THE  :\L\CCABEAN  AGE 

as  is  shown  bv  his  minute  acquaintance  with  its  topography  and  comparative  Its 
ignorance  of  j)hices  and  affairs  outside  Judea.  His  famiHarity  with  poHtical  '^"*^°^ 
events  and  court  intrigues  strongly  suggests  that  he  was  a  man  of  rank  and 
in  close  touch  with  the  leaders  of  his  day.  His  loyalty  to  each  of  the  Macca- 
bean  rulers  and  evident  approval  of  their  policy  indicate  that,  if  affiliated 
with  either  of  the  leading  parties  of  the  state,  it  was  with  the  Sadducean, 
rather  than  the  Pharisaic,  which  soon  after  the  restoration  of  the  temple 
began  to  view  askance  the  political  and  military  ambitions  of  Judas's  suc- 
cessors. It  is  as  a  devoted  and  enthusiastic  patriot  that  he  writes  his 
history.  The  earlier  historical  books  are  his  models.  The  familiar  ex- 
pressions, to  this  day  (13^°),  or,  now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  John  and  his 
wars  aiid  his  brave  deeds — hehohl  they  are  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of 
his  high  priesthood  (16-^'  ^\  cf.  9^^),  indicate  that  he  wrote  with  the  feeling 
that  he  was  the  true  successor  of  the  earlier  Hebrew  historians.  His  spirit 
is  devout,  and  he  is  by  no  means  blind  to  the  religious  significance  of  the 
stirring  deeds  that  he  records,  but  his  first  aim  is  simply  historical,  that  is, 
to  produce  a  simple,  ^^vid  narrative  of  events.  His  own  reflections  he 
keeps  for  the  most  part  to  himself,  but  his  enthusiasm  and  piety  doubtless 
find  expression  in  the  exalted  addresses,  usually  in  the  form  of  poetry,  which 
are  uttered  by  Mattathias  (g'"'*'  "-^»),  Judas"(3'«-2^  4«-"),  and  the  people 
^350-53^  These  and  other  passages  reveal  a  man  zealous  for  the  religious 
institutions  of  his  race,  assured  of  its  noble  destiny,  but  believing  that  this 
was  to  be  realized  not  by  miracles  but  through  men  who  combined  faith 
with  courage  and  action. 

The  author  of  I  Maccabees  records  the  death  of  Simon  13a  b.c.  and  refers  its 
in  the  epilogue,  IG-^  -\  to  the  wars  of  John  Hyrcanus  and  the  rebuilding  ^^*® 
of  the  walls  which  belong  to  the  earlier  part  of  his  reign,  between  135  and 
125  B.C.  The  absence  of  any  reference  to  the  later  important  acts  of  John's 
reign,  as  for  example  the  conquest  of  Idumea  and  the  destruction  of 
Samaria,  indicate  that  the  history  was  probably  completed  by  125  b.c.  It 
also  reflects  throughout  the  national  pride  and  exultation  that  reached  their 
height  during  the  days  of  Simon  and  the  earlier  part  of  the  reign  of  John 
Hyrcaims.  There  is  no  suggestion  of  the  clouds  that  began  to  gather  during 
the  latter  part  of  John's  reign,  because  of  the  opposition  of  the  Pharisees, 
nor  of  the  storm  of  civil  war  which  swef)t  over  Judea  during  the  reign  of 
Alexander  Jannjeus.  The  Romans,  instead  of  being  regarded  as  the  future 
concjuerors  of  Judea,  are  spoken  of  as  distant  allies  whose  friendship  is  most 
desirable.  On  the  other  hand  there  is  no  positive  evidence  ])ointing  to  a 
later  date.  Instead,  the  minute  details,  the  marvellous  acquaintance  with 
men  and  facts  and  forces  are  best  explained  by  the  conclusion  that  the  author 
was  reporting  events  with  which  he  was  personally  fann'liar. 

The  unity  of  I  INIaccabees  and  the  absence  of  abrupt  transition  and  con-  Its 
tradiction  distinguish  it  from  books  like  Samuel  and  Kings,  which  are  com-  ^",a' 
f)ilati()ns  from  earlier  sources.     Furlhcrniorc,  aside  from  tlie  two  stereotvped 
formulas,   which   he   introduced   in   iniitalion   of  tiie  earlier  historians   (9"', 
16^^),  the  author  nowhere  gives  the  slightest  .suggestion  that  when  he  wrote, 
earlier  sources  relating  to  the  period  were  in  existence.     The  simple,  straight- 

37 


sources 


in- 
tegrity 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

forward  style  of  the  book  is  most  like  that  of  Nehemiah's  memoirs,  and  in- 
dicates that  popular  traditions  contributed  very  little,  if  anything,  to  it.  From 
the  first  it  probably  took  its  position  as  the  standard  history  of  the  period. 
It  is  the  only  Jewish  source  quoted  by  Josephus  for  this  epoch,  and  he  appears 
to  have  known  it  in  practically  its  present  form.  It  has  been  questioned 
whether  certain  of  the  documents  incorporated  in  the  book  are  not  late 
additions  (especially  10'^"^\  14"",  15'^"^^).  That  these  are  exact  copies  of 
the  original  edicts  and  letters  is  not  probable,  but  that  the  epitomes  were 
made  by  the  author  of  I  Maccabees,  who  was  in  a  position  to  be  familiar 
wfth  their  conditions,  seems  on  the  whole  the  most  natural  explanation  of 
the  facts. 
General  In  passing  from  the  sober,  exact,  carefully  dated  records  of  I  Maccabees 
ter^of"  to  the  second  book  the  transition  is  most  marked.  In  his  preface,  2^^'^^, 
II  Mac-  the  author  of  the  present  book  of  II  Maccabees  states  that  his  work  was  an 
abridgment  of  a  longer  work  of  five  volumes  written  by  Jason  of  Cyrene. 
Being  a  Jew  of  the  dispersion,  Jason  naturally  wrote  in  Greek.  This  is 
further  proved  by  the  absence  of  Semitic  idioms,  and  the  flowing  and  highly 
ornate  Greek  style  which  is  the  antithesis  of  that  employed  in  I  Maccabees. 
The  vocabulary  is  also  extensive,  and  many  rare  words  occur.  Its  faults 
and  its  virtues  are  those  of  the  Alexandrian  Greek  school  of  writers. 
The  The  two  letters  prefixed  to  the  book  may  be  authentic,  but  they  simply 

^istory  ppj^tg  tQ  tijg  feast  of  Dedication,  and  were  probably  added  later  to  the  his- 
Jason  torical  section  which  begins  with  3.  The  important  question  is,  who  was 
Cyrene  Jason  of  Cyrene,  whose  history  is  the  basis  of  the  present  book  ?  Unfort- 
unately, the  evidence  must  be  derived  from  the  epitome  of  his  work.  His 
knowledge  of  everything  that  relates  to  Syria  is  far  more  accurate  than  in 
the  case  of  Egypt  or  Palestine  (cf.  4"'  ^",  5^\  8^^  12,  14^^),  which  suggests 
that  when  he  wrote  his  home  was  at  or  near  Antioch  rather  than  in  Cyrene 
in  northern  Africa.  His  aim  in  writing,  like  that  of  his  epitomizer,  was 
probably  to  edify  his  readers,  the  Jews  of  the  dispersion.  He  differs  too 
often  in  the  order  of  events,  as  well  as  details,  from  I  Maccabees  to  have  been 
acquainted  with  that  work.  From  the  nature  of  his  material  it  seems  clear 
that  his  sources  were  oral  traditions,  emanating  in  some  cases  at  least  from 
eye-witnesses.  Regarding  the  wars  of  Judas  in  1G4-163  B.C.  he  has  pre- 
served two  variant  versions,  10""^^  12'""".  In  13=3-28  ^^^^j  j 213-21  g^j.^  ^^y^at 
appear  to  be  two  confused  accounts  of  the  final  treaty  with  Lysias.  Further, 
the  evidence  that  he  utilized  originally  independent  traditions  is  found  in 
the  fact  that  Timotheus,  whose  death  is  recorded  in  10",  is  described  in  12 
as  again  leading  a  campaign. 
His  Depending  as  he  does  on  the  oral  testimony  of  those  who  were  contem- 

^  ^  porary  with  the  events,  it  is  probable  that  Jason  wrote  his  history  some  time 
between  160  and  140  b.c.  The  wide  variations  from  I  Maccabees  do  not 
necessarily  point  to  a  considerable  lapse  of  time,  but  are  rather  due  to  the 
fact  that  the  author  of  the  one  was  actuated  by  the  historical  spirit,  and 
was  in  personal  touch  with  the  events  which  he  recorded,  while  the  other 
was  largely  dependent  upon  oral  tradition,  which  develops  with  marvellous 
rapidity  in  the  East. 

38 


RECORDS  OF  THE  INIACCABEAN  AGE 

The  epitomizer  plainly  states   that  his  aim  was  simply  to  abridge  the  Date 
larger  work.     He  does  not  appear  to  have  utilized  any  other  sources.     His  ^"r^  of 
method  seems  to  have  been,  as  he  implies  in  his  preface  (2-*"^^),  to  quote  *h? 
those  passages  which  seemed  to  him  attractive  and  edifying,  omitting  others  mizei- 
which  dealt  with  uninteresting  details,  and  briefly  to  epitomize  still  others. 
His  work  was  not  known  to  Josephus,  although  it  was  evidently  before  Philo 
and   the  author  of   Hebrews  (cf.  11^^'  ^^),  from  which  it   may   be   inferred 
that  he  lived  somewhere  between  60  and  10  b.c.  and  wrote  at  Alexandria. 

The  historian  Niese  has  recently  maintained  (in  his  Kritik  der  heidcn  Rela- 
Makkabacrbucher)  that  II  Maccabees  is  equal  or  superior  to  I  Maccabees  at  11^^^,. 
many  points.     He  is  undoubtedly  right  in  his-  contention  that  the  second  ical 
has  preserved  valuable  historical  facts;  but  unless  all  evidence  regarding  ofi^and 
the  origin  and  purpose  of  the  two  books  is  to  be  disregarded,  there  is  no  ^^  ^^'^c- 
doubt  that  the  first  is  by  far  the  more  reliable  in  reconstructing  the  history. 
External  as  well  as  internal  evidence  supports  in  general  the  order  of  events  in 
I  Maccabees,  and  where  it  is  contradicted  by  II  Maccabees  the  error  is  in 
most  cases  to  be  found  in  the  latter.    Where  II  IVIaccabees  is  the  only  witness, 
its  historical  testimony  may  be  utilized  after  due  allowance  has  been  made 
for  its  well-known  tendencies  to  exaggerate.     In  general  the  two  histories 
confirm  and  supplement  each  other  and  together  give  a  remarkablv  vivid 
and  detailed  picture  of  the  Maccabean  struggles. 

The  book  of  Esther  may  be  counted  as  one  of  the  indirect  sources  for  Date  of 
the  Maccabean  period.  In  an  intensified  and  far  from  attractive  form  it  book  of 
expresses  the  proud,  almost  insolent  (cf.  Mordecai's  refusal  to  recognize  the  Esther 
authority  of  Ilaman)  attitude  of  the  Jews  toward  the  heathen,  which  was 
the  outgrowth  of  the  Maccabean  conflicts  and  victories.  It  reflects  the 
same  vindictive  spirit  that  led  them  under  John  Hyrcanus  and  Alexander 
Jannseus  to  slay  by  thousands  their  Idumean,  Samaritan,  and  Philistine 
foes.  The  presence  of  both  Aramaic  and  Persian  words  and  the  literary 
style  of  the  book  indicate  that  it  comes  from  a  comparatively  late  date.  The 
Persian  empire  lies  in  the  vague  past  and  many  of  the  established  usages  of 
its  court  have  been  forgotten.  The  proselyting  spirit,  which  did  not  appear 
in  Judaism  until  the  Greek  and  Maccabean  periods,  is  also  present  (9"). 
From  the  nature  of  its  theme  it  is  impossible  to  determine  the  exact  date  of 
the  book.  It  may  be  assigned  with  assurance  to  the  second  century  b.c. 
According  to  the  concluding  sentence  in  the  Greek  translation,  this  version 
was  known  in  Egypt  by  114  b.c.  (if  the  reference  be  to  Soter  II),  which 
points  to  the  first  part  or  middle  ratlu'r  than  the  second  half  of  the  century. 

The  improbabilities  and  impossibihties  of  the  story  have  long  been  recog-  Evi- 
nlzcd.     That   a   Persian   king  would   make   an  Amalekitc   and  then  a  Jew  't^^lj^f^ 
his  j)rinie-minister  and  a  Jewess  his  queen  was  contrary  to  all  the  firmly  is  a  ro- 
established  customs  of  the  empire.     It  is  also  incredible  that    he  would 
permit  and  even  decree  the  slaughter  not  only  of  all  the  Jews  but  also  of 
thousands  of  his  Persian  subjects  and  that,  after  eleven  months'  warning, 
they  would  make  no  resistance.     The  chronological  difficulties  are  equally 
great.     Thus,  for  example,  Mordecai,  transported  to  Babylon  in  597  b.c, 
in  474  becomes  Xerxes's  prime-minister.     The  events  of  the  book  are  also 

39 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

dated  at  the  time  when  the  king  was  engrossed  in  his  disastrous  campaigns 
in  Greece  and  when  Amestris,  a  cruel  and  dominating  woman,  was  queen 
(Herod.  7^^S  9^^^).  Above  all,  the  highly  dramatic  representation  and  coloring 
indicate  that  it  is  one  of  the  popular  stories  or  midrashim  with  which  later 
Jewish  literature  abounded. 
Its  Its  obvious  purpose  was  to  give  the  traditional  origin,  and  to  encourage 

and^°*^  the  observance  of  the  feast  of  Purim  (9""^').  A  German  scholar  (Jensen, 
origin  Elamitische  Eigennamen)  has  recently  called  attention  to  the  fact  that 
Hamman  was  the  chief  deity  of  the  Elamites,  whose  capital  was  Susa  (Shu- 
shan),  while  Marduk  (from  which  the  name  Mordecai  is  derived)  was  the 
leading  god  of  the  Babylonians.  In  the  same  pantheon  and  related  to 
Marduk  was  the  goddess  Ishtar,  whose  name  appears  in  the  later  Baby- 
lonian as  Estra,  which  would  be  Esther  in  the  Hebrew.  Similarly  Vashti  is 
the  name  of  an  Elamite  deity.  Thus  it  would  seem  that  the  story,  like  the 
account  of  creation  in  Genesis  1,  originated  among  the  Babylonians.  It 
apparently  reflected  the  ancient  hostility  between  them  and  the  Elamites, 
each  people  being  represented  by  its  chief  deities.  If  so,  it  has  been  freely 
adapted  by  the  Jewish  story-teller,  who  heightens  the  dramatic  interest  by 
making  Mordecai  a  descendant  of  the  family  of  Saul  and  Haman  of  Agag, 
the  Amalekite  king  captured  by  Saul  (I  Sam.  15). 
Pos-  If  this  is  the  origin  of  the  story,  the  feast  probably  also  once  commemo- 

Baby-    rated  a  great  victory  of  the  ancient  Babylonians  over  their  hereditary  foes 
Ionian    \\^q  Elamites.     The  non-Hebrew  word,  Purim,  seems  to  be  derived  from 

origin  .  ... 

of  the  the  Babylonian  pur,  stone,  which  would  point  to  their  custom  of  casting  the 
Purim  lot  to  determine  the  date  of  the  feast,  as  they  are  known  to  have  done  in  the 
case  of  their  great  New  Year's  festival;  or  it  may  come  from  the  Babylonian 
jmhru,  assembbj.  If  it  was  adopted  by  the  Jews  of  the  East  from  the  Baby- 
lonians, it  retained  its  secular  character  and  continued  to  be  observed  simply 
as  a  time  of  general  merry-making.  As  a  modern  analogy,  attention  has 
been  called  to  the  fact  that  the  Jews  to-day  in  many  Christian  countries 
celebrate  the  Christmas  festival. 
Place  The  interest  and  aim  of  the  book  of  Esther  are  thoroughly  secular.     Its 

Esther  morality  is  far  removed  from  that  of  Israel's  noblest  prophets.  Aside  from 
in  the  their  commendable  courage  and  loyalty  to  race,  no  thoughtful  teacher  would 
hold  up  Esther  or  Mordecai  as  examples  to  be  emulated.  The  spirit  that 
seems  to  exult  in  the  slaughter  of  thousands  simply  because  they  are  heathen 
is  as  alien  to  the  better  genius  of  Judaism  as  to  that  of  Christianity.  It  is 
not  strange  that  the  place  of  the  book  in  the  Jewish  canon  was  long  and  hotly 
contested  by  the  Jewish  scribes,  and  although  the  Christians  adopted  the 
Palestinian  canon  in  toto,  its  position  in  it  has  repeatedly  been  challenged. 
Certainly  no  one  to-day  would  maintain  that  its  claim  on  historical  or  ethical 
or  religious  grounds  was  superior  or  equal  to  those  of  I  and  II  Maccabees 
or  Ben  Sira  or  the  Wisdom  of  Solomon.  If,  however,  the  Old  Testament 
is  regarded  as  the  faithful  record  of  the  many-sided  life  and  thought  of  that 
Israelitish  race  through  which  Jehovah  gradually  revealed  his  universal 
purpose,  then  the  book  of  Esther  may  still  be  accorded  its  traditional  place. 

40 


canon 


Hebrew 
text 


VI 

THE  RECO^'ERY  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  TEXT  OF  THE 
HISTORICAL  BOOKS 

The  oldest  existing  manuscripts  of  the  Old  Testament  books,  with  possibly  The 
one  or  two  minor  exceptions,  come  from  the  tenth  and  eleventh  centuries  ^^'^g 
of  the  present  era.     This  surprising  lack  of  comparatively  ancient  texts  is  preser- 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  copies  were  written  on  perishable  papyrus,  parch-  of  the 
ment  or  leather,  and  when  they  became  worn  they  were,  because  of  their 
sanctity,  systematically  destroyed  by  the  Jews,  that  they  might  not  be  thrown 
aside  and  suffer  pollution.     When  it  is  recalled  that  the  surviving  manu- 
scripts of  the  earlier  historical  records  were  made  eighteen  hundred  years 
after  the  originals  were  written,  the  marvel  grows  that  they  are  as  well  pre- 
served as  they  are.     Their  accuracy  depends  upon  the  care  and  fidelity  of 
the  hundreds  of  scribes,  who  through  the  centuries  have  transmitted  the 
original.     There  is  abundant  evidence  that  in  general  the  existing  copies 
reproduce  in  nearly  all   important  passages  the  thought  of  the  prophets, 
priests,  and  sages  who  first  wrote  them. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  evidence  that  a  vast  number  of  minor  errors  has  Evi- 
crept  into  the  surviving  Hebrew  manuscripts  is  equally  conclusive.     This  ^^"'=® 
is  demonstrated  by  the  differences  in  the  Hebrew  texts  themselves,  by  the  many 
variations  found  in  the  early  translations  made  from  manuscripts  far  older  textual 
than  any  which  still  survive,   and  by  the  obviously  confused  and  corrupt  ^"°'^^ 
character  of  many  passages.     The  Jews  fully  recognized  that  mistakes  were 
inevitable,  and  ruled  that  all  texts  in  which  there  were  more  than  three  errors 
in  a  column  be  destroyed  or  withdrawn  from  use.     Fortunately  these  textual 
errors  usuallv  affect  the  literary  style  and  individual  words  and  expressions 
rather  than  the  vital  messages  of  the  Old  Testament  books. 

These  errors  are  due  to  a  great  variety  of  causes,  all  of  which  are  amply  The 
illu.strated  in  the  historical  books.  Sometimes  the  text  from  which  the  fopy 
was  made  was  worn  or  its  letters  were  not  clearly  written.  Certain  letters 
because  of  simihirity  of  form  were  easily  mistaken  for  others.  The  ancients 
were  well  aware  of  this  danger.  In  the  Mishna  {Sahb.  103*')  the  copyists 
are  warned  against  confusing  the  Hebrew  letter  /;  with  /r,  g  with  (■,  d  with  r, 
soft  with  hard  h,  ic  with  //,  z  with  n,  t  with  p,  and  m  with  s.  A  great  number 
of  errors  are  clearly  traceable  to  this  .simple  cause.  Since  the  vowel  letters 
were  not  originally  written,  a  wide  difference  of  reading  was  possible.  Abbre- 
viations were  also  frequently  misunderstood.  The  consonants,  which  were 
at  first  akjne  written  and  without  being  separated,  were  .sometimes  wrongly 
divided,  the  last  letter  or  two  of  one  word  being  read  with  the  following;  or 
when  the  last  letter  in  one  word  was  the  same  as  that  of  the  following,  one 
letter  would  be  omitted.     Trans{)ositions  of  letters  and  even  clauses  were 

41 


ir 
.  causes 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

"lot  uncommon.  Instead  of  rewriting  a  roll,  a  copyist  would  insert  an  over- 
looked clause  or  verse  at  the  point  at  which  he  discovered  his  omission. 
Words  and  clauses  were  also  frequently  repeated  by  mistake  (dittography), 
and  conversely  one  of  two  clauses  or  verses  with  the  same  beginning  or 
ending  was  readily  overlooked  (homoioteluton). 
Scribal  During  the  early  centuries  in  which  the  number  of  copies  of  each  book 
*=  ^'^ses  ^^g  limited  and  before  the  integrity  of  the  text  was  jealously  guarded,  each 
copyist,  who  was  also  usually  a  scribe,  was  at  liberty  to  change  the  text. 
These  changes  are  undoubtedly  many  and  can  in  most  cases  be  readily 
recognized.  They  consist  of  explanatory  glosses,  first  placed  in  the  margin 
and  then  by  later  copyists  introduced  into  the  text,  not  infrequently  in  a 
connection  different  from  that  originally  intended.  Still  more  common 
are  the  supplemental  additions  intended  to  conform  the  reading  to  the  point 
of  view  of  later  scribes.  It  is  often  very  difficult  to  distinguish  these  addi- 
tional notes  from  those  of  the  earlier  editors  of  the  book.  In  some  cases 
the  scribes  deliberately  altered  the  text  in  accordance  with  their  peculiar 
religious  ideas.  The  later  Jewish  aversion  to  using  the  sacred  name  JaJnceh 
not  only  led  them  to  substitute  the  vowels  of  the  Hebrew  word  for  Lord,  but 
also  elsewhere  to  introduce  God  (Elohim),  where  the  Greek,  for  example, 
retains  the  older  name.  Interpreting  literally  the  statement  in  Hosea  2'° 
that  Jehovah  would  take  the  names  of  the  Baalim  out  of  their  mouth,  they 
substituted  the  vowels  of  bosheth,  the  Hebrew  word  for  shame,  wherever 
Baal  occurred.  Thus  in  II  Samuel  2*  and  elsewhere,  Ishbaal  appears  as 
Ishbosheth. 
History  The  history  of  the  Old  Testament  books  is  closely  connected  with  that 
Hebrew  c>f  the  canon.  As  soon  as  a  book  was  included  in  a  canon  of  scripture  its 
text  integrity  was  carefully  guarded.  The  first  canon  to  be  formed  was  prob- 
ably that  of  the  law  between  400  and  300  b.c.  To  this  was  later  added 
the  canon  of  prophetic  writings,  which  included  the  books  of  Samuel  and 
Kings.  By  the  close  of  the  first  Christian  century  the  canon  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament was  complete.  Thus  for  four  or  five  centuries  at  least  each  historical 
book  was  dependent  simply  upon  the  care  and  fidelity  of  copyists  who  did 
not  regard  them  with  the  deep  veneration  that  filled  the  hearts  of  the  later 
scribes.  It  is  clear  that  during  this  long  period,  which  in  the  case  of  Samuel- 
Kings  and  Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah  included  the  time  of  the  bitter  perse- 
cution and  the  Maccabean  wars,  the  Hebrew  text  suffered  the  greatest  alter- 
ations. This  conclusion  is  not  a  mere  matter  of  conjecture,  but  is  demon- 
strated by  a  comparison  with  the  early  Greek  versions,  which  in  many  cases 
have  undoubtedly  retained  the  original  readings.  Furthermore,  the  histori- 
cal books  were  never  protected  by  the  same  exalted  reputation  for  sanctity 
as  the  law.  The  result  is  that  the  existing  Hebrew  versions  of  these  books 
contain  more  obvious  errors  than  those  of  any  other  Old  Testament  books 
excepting  possibly  Ezekiel. 
Basis  From  the  first  Christian  century  the  strongest  eiforts  were  put  forth  to 
existing  guard  the  consonantal  text  from  all  possible  errors.  Many  elaborate  rules 
Hebrew  were  laid  down  for  the  guidance  of  copyists.  The  verses  and  words  and 
even  letters  in  each  book  were  counted.     The  middle  word  and  letter  was 

42 


THE  RECOVERY  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  TEXT 

determined.  A  careful  census  of  the  frequency  of  occurrence  of  many  words 
and  phrases  was  made.  All  peculiarities  in  the  writing  of  the  text  were 
also  recorded.  These  and  other  facts  point  to  the  conclusion  that  early  in 
the  Christian  era  a  certain  Hebrew  text  was  adopted  as  the  standard  edition. 
Probably  from  that  time  on,  as  later,  all  variant  Hebrew  manuscripts  were 
destroyed  in  order  to  insure  one  consistent  "reading.  This  recension  is  the 
basis  of  the  present  Hebrew  Bible.  It  is  obvious  that  it  cannot  represent 
at  every  point  the  original  autograph  text.  If  it  was  a  critical  recension,  as 
seems  probable,  it  simply  represents  the  judgment  of  the  rabbis  who  were 
able  to  compare  the  existing  variant  tex-ts.  If  not,  it  is  but  one — probably 
the  best — of  the  then  existing  texts.  The  extravagant  claims  made  concern- 
ing its  perfection  by  later  Jewish  scholars  and  at  times  adopted  by  th^  church 
rest  on  a  dogmatic  rather  than  an  historical  basis. 

At  the  close  of  the  fourth  century  a.d.  Jerome  knew  only  a  consonantal  Work 
text.     From  the  fifth  to  the  eighth  century,  however,  a  group  of  Jewish  ll^^^. 
scholars  devoted  themselves  to  reproducing  by  the  use  of  signs  to  represent  rites 
the  vowel  sounds  and  punctuation  marks  the  traditional  Hebrew  text  as  it 
was  then  recited  in  the  synagogues.    The  tradition  regarding  the  text  was  at 
that  time  known  as  the  Masordh,  and  they  were  therefore  called  the  Mas- 
sorites.     Their  work  also  included  the  division  of  the  original  consonants 
into  words  and  the  addition  of  a  large  body  of  critical  notes  on  the  margin 
calling  attention  to  anomalous  forms  and  suggesting  traditional  readings  or 
conjectural  emendations.     These  are  often  very  valuable  and  aid  materially 
in  restoring  the  original.     The  Massorites  were  the  pioneers  in   Hebrew 
textual  criticism.     While  they  did  not  always  agree  among  themselves,  their 
work,  when  completed  about  the  end  of  the  ninth  century,  became  the  basis 
of  all  later  editions  of  the  Hebrew  (cf.  the  modern  standard  editions  of  Baer, 
189^2,  Ginsburg,  1894). 

This  brief  outline  of  the  history  of  the  Hebrew  text  has  illustrated  the  Genera) 
inevitable  growth  of  variant  versions  and  the  impossibility  of  checking  their  ^f  the 
multiplication  even  by  repeatedly  adopting  a  critical  recension  and  guarding  \^l^^^_ 
it  with  the  most  strenuous  precautions  and  jealous  care.     Since  this  is  so,  lations 
it  is  fortunate  that  translations  of  the  Hebrew  scripture  were  made  at  an 
early  date.     Their  history  was  similar  to  that  of  the  Hebrew  text.     Each 
original  translation  was  soon  succeeded  by  a  brood  of  variant  versions,  the 
variations  of  which  were  increased  because  they  were  constantly  being  re- 
vised by  scholars  who  were  familiar  with  the  existing  Hebrew  manuscripts. 
While  these  many  variant  versions  make  the  task  of  recovering  the  original 
text  superlatively  complex,  they  are  of  the  greatest  service,  for  in  some  one 
of  the  many  the  original  has  in  very  many  cases  been  preserved. 

The  first  essential  in  the  practical  use  of  any  version  is  acquaintance  with  Date  of 
its  history  and  characteristics.     Jewish  and   Christian  tradition   agree  in  orfRinal 
assigning  the  translation  of  the  law  to  the  reign   of  Ptolemy  Philadclplnis  fj^reek 
(281-247  n.c).     If,  as  is  asserted,  it  was  done  under  the  patronage  of  Dcme-  lation 
trius,  the  librarian  of  the  Alexandrian  library,  it  was  during  tlie  earlier  part 
of  the  reign,  before  he  fell  into  royal  disfavor.     The  prologue  of  Ben  Sira, 
written  in  132  B.C.,  speaks  of  a  Greek  translation  of  the  law,  the  j)rophets, 

43 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

and  the  other  hooks  of  the  fathers,  which  indicates  that  the  books  of  Samuel 
and  Kings  were  doubtless  translated  before  that  time.  The  Greek  version 
of  Esther  appears  to  have  been  extant  in  114  b.c.  The  absences  of  all  refer- 
ences to  Ezra  (cf.  p.  31)  strongly  suggests  that  Ezra-Nehemiah  and  perhaps 
Chronicles  were  not  translated  until  near  the  beginning  of  the  Christian  era. 
Otherwise  for  the  early  history  of  the  historical  books  we  are  entirely  de- 
pendent upon  the  internal  evidence. 
Date  This  favors  the  conclusion  that  the  books  of  Samuel  and  probably  Kings 

transta-  were  translated  soon  after,  and  possibly  before,  the  Pentateuch.     One  of 
tion  of    the  motives  which  influenced  the  Jews  to  translate  their  scriptures  into  Greek 
Kings    was  apologetic,  that  is,  to  refute  the  charges  that  were  brought  against  them 
by  their  persecutors   especially   in   Alexandria.     These   charges   aimed   to 
throw  discredit  upon  their  past  history.     The  books  of  Samuel  and  Kings 
contained  the  best  answer  to  this  charge  and  also  proclaimed  the  past  glories 
of  their  race.     From  the  period  which  begins  with  the  Babylonian  exile, 
many  Jews  were  found  in  Egypt,  and  one  of  the  most  powerful  influences 
that  maintained  their  racial  integrity  and  kept  alive  their  faith  in  Jehovah 
was  the  memory  of  their  past  triumphs.     A  strong  incentive  to  translate 
these  books  would  therefore  not  be  lacking  even  before  the  days  of  Ptolemy 
Philadelphus.     Since  they  were  not  then  regarded  as  sacred  as  the  Law,  no 
barrier  would  deter  a  patriotic  Jew  from  translating  them.     Whatever  be  the 
historical  facts,  there  is  good  evidence  in  the  character  and  relative  com- 
pleteness of  the  version,  that  the  books  of  Samuel  and  probably  Kings  were 
translated  at  a  comparatively  early  date,  and  that  they  were  based  on  a 
Hebrew  text  superior  at  a  great  many  points  to  that  found  in  the  Hebrew 
manuscripts  at  present  available. 
Value         The  Greek  versions  of  Chronicles  contribute  comparatively  little  addi- 
Greek     tional  data.     That  of  Esther  adds  practically  nothing  to  the  well-preserved 
trans-     Hebrew  text.     Of  Ezra  there  are  two  distinct  Greek  translations,  one  in 
of  the     I  Esdras  and  the  other  in  chapters  1-10  of  Esdras  B  in  the  Greek.     A  careful 
ical°'^'    comparison  of    these  with  the  Hebrew  version  leaves  little  doubt  but  that 
books     the  one  found  in  I  Esdras,  aside  from  the  Sforij  of  the  Three  Young  Men, 
which  was  added  later,  is  the  older  and  is  also  based  upon  a  text  in  some 
respects  better  and  more  complete  than  the  one  in  the  present  Hebrew  of 
Ezra  1-10.     These  conclusions  of  course  do  not  mean  that  the  Greek  ren- 
derings of  Samuel  and  I  Esdras  are  to  be  followed  in  a  majority  of  cases  in 
preference  to  the  Hebrew.     A  translation  is  necessarily  defective,  and  the 
translators  of  these  books  often  failed  fully  to  understand  the  original,  and 
were  also  subject  to  their  own  idiosyncrasies.     On  the  whole,  however,  these 
books  have  been  translated  with  unusual  fidelity  and  skill. 
Growth       If  we  had  the  original  Greek  translations  of  Samuel-Kings  and  Ezra- 
vlriant  Nehemiah,  they  would  be  practically  equal  to  a  Hebrew  manuscript  at  least 
Greek     one  thousand  vears  older  than  anv  we  now  possess.     But  as  in  the  case  of  the 
Hebrew,  the  surviving  Greek  manuscripts  are  copies  of  copies.     The  result 
was  that  many  variant  texts  soon  sprang  into  existence.     Often  the  Jewish 
copyists  were  not  well  acquainted  with  the  Greek.     The  mistakes  of  the 
original  translators  also  led  them  astray.     The  text  was  not  guarded  with 

44 


texts 


THE  RECOVERY  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  TEXT 

the  same  religious  zeal  as  the  original  Hebrew.  The  copyists,  as  well  as  the 
translators,  were  also  usually  Jews  of  the  dispersion  and  therefore  constantly 
tempted  to  make  slight  alterations  where  the  original  did  not  accord  with 
their  own  broader  views. 

^Meantime  other  independent  Greek  translations  had  been  made  which  Version 
were  based  upon  the  then  current  Hebrew  text.  These  have  an  independent  Aquila 
value  of  their  own,  and  also  because  they  exercised  a  strong  influence  upon 
the  older  Greek  translations.  Of  these,  that  of  Aquila  of  Pontus,  a  proselyte 
to  Judaism  and  a  disciple  of  the  great  Rabbi  Akiba,  was  the  oldest.  It  was 
made  about  140  a. d.  Since  it  was  a  slavishly  literal  rendering  of  the  Hebrew, 
it  is  exceedingly  useful  in  restoring  that  original,  although  it  is  too  literal  to 
be  valuable  as  a  Greek  translation.  Two  fragments  of  the  book  of  Kings 
(I  Kgs.  20'"''  and  II  Kgs.  23'-'")  were  discovered  in  1897  in  the  Cairo  syna- 
gogue (published  by  F.  C.  Burkitt).  Otherwise  the  translation  is  known 
onlv  through  the  writino's  of  the  Church  Fathers. 

The  translation  made  about  200  a.d.  by  the  Ebionite  Christian  Symmachus  Ver- 
was  the  antithesis  of  that  of  Aquila,  for  its  aim  was  to  express  the  thought  of°"® 
of  the  original  in  clear,  idiomatic  Greek.     It  is  important  to  note  that  both  Sym- 
appear  to  have  had  before  them  a  Hebrew  text  almost  identical  with  that  and 
edited  by  the  Massorites.     Some  time  before  the  close  of  the  second  Christian  dotlon 
century  a  certain  Theodotion,  either  an  Ebionite  or  a  Jewish  proselyte,  made 
a  thorough  revision  of  the  older  Greek  translation  by  the  aid  of  the  Hebrew. 
His  work  is  valuable  because  he  appears  to  have  employed  an  excellent 
Greek  version  and  to  have  followed  it  closely,  supplementing  it  by  many 
transliterations  of  Hebrew  words.     It  is  also  probable  that  in  the  present 
accepted  Greek  Old  Testament  his  work  is  the  basis  of  the  text  of  Daniel 
and  Esdras  B. 

In  time  the  variations  in  the  Greek  versions  became  so  many  and  distress-  Ori- 
ing  that  the  famous  Christian  scholar  Origen,  while  living  at  Caesarea,  in  Hexa- 
240  A.D.  arranged  these  four  Greek  versions,  together  with  the  current  p'^ 
Hebrew  and  a  Greek  transliteration  of  it,  in  six  parallel  columns.  This 
monumental  work,  consisting  of  about  fifty  large  volumes,  was  known  as 
the  Hexapla.  Unfortunately  its  size  rendered  it  impracticable  to  copy  it. 
Portions  are  reproduced  in  a  surviving  Syriac  translation  of  the  Greek  col- 
umn (the  Sj/ro-He.raplar)  and  in  the  writings  of  the  Church  Fathers,  and 
the  extant  fragments  have  been  published  (e.g.,  Field,  Origeyis  Hexapla, 
Oxford,  1875).  Origen  not  only  prepared  the  way  for  a  comparative  study 
of  these  early  texts  but  also  revised  the  older  Greek  by  the  use  of  the  Hebrew 
and  the  later  (ireek  translations,  especially  that  of  Theodotion.  Fortunately, 
he  distinguished  his  later  additions  by  asterisks.  While  the  principles  that 
he  followed  cannot  be  accepted  to-day,  Origen  contributed  much  to  the 
methods  as  well  as  to  the  equipment  of  the  modern  textTial  critic.  His  re- 
cension aj)pears  to  have  been  widely  used  in  Palestine.  Its  effect,  however, 
was  to  introduce  additional  variations  into  the  original  Greek  text. 

A  little  later  two  other  recensions  appeared.     One  was  prepared  by  Hesy-  Other 
chius,  and  according  to  Jerome  was  current  in  Alexandria  and  Egvpt.     The 
other  was  the  work  of  Lucian,  who  founded  a  school  at  Antioch,  and  in 

45 


recen- 
sions 


ISRAEL'S  HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

311  A.D.  died  as  a  martyr.  It  was  accepted  in  Antioch  and  Constantinople. 
It  is  valuable  because  it  is  evidently  based  on  several  variant  versions,  one 
of  which  was  probably  distinct  from  those  found  in  Origen's  Hcxapla,  and 
upon  an  older  Hebrew  text  differing  from  and  often  superior  to  the  present 
Massoretic  text.  Lucian  evidently  aimed  judiciously  to  eliminate  contradic- 
tions between  the  different  readings,  and  to  secure  a  lucid,  smooth,  complete 
translation. 
The  Fortunately,  the  existing  Greek  manuscripts  are  much  older  than   the 

manu-°  Hebrew.     The  four  principal  ones  come  from  the  fourth  and  fifth  centuries. 
scripts    The  chief  is  the  Codex  Vaticanus  (B,  referred  to  in  the  notes  as  Gk.).     It 
represents  only  a  recension,  but  the  one  which  is  supported  by  the  greatest 
number  of  the  best  manuscripts  and  is  therefore  generally  recognized  as 
on  the  whole  the  closest  representative  of  the  original  Greek  translation  of 
the  Old  Testament.      The  admirable  new  edition  of  this  text,  prepared  by 
Professor  Swete  (Cambridge,  1900),  inaugurates  a  new  epoch  in  the  history 
of  Old  Testament  translations. 
Other         Another  important  recension  is  represented  by  the  Codex  Alexandrinus 
tant°'^     (A,  in  the  notes,  Gk.  A).     Its  readings  are  supported  by  another  group  of 
manu-    manuscripts.     It  appears  to  have  been  revised  at  many  points  so  as  to  cor- 
respond to  the  accepted  Hebrew.     Much  more  important  is  Lucian's  re- 
cension because  it  is  based  in  part  upon  a  Hebrew  text  older  than  any  we 
now  have.     For  the  legal  and  historical  books  this  has  been  tentatively  re- 
stored by  Lagarde  on  the  basis  of  marginal  readings  of  the  Sijro-Hcxaplar 
and  a  group  of  cursive  Greek  manuscripts  (19,  82,  93,  108,  118). 
Other         As  Christianity  spread  through  the  ancient  world,  it  carried  the  old  as 
lark)ns-  ^^^^  ^^  the  New  Testament  scriptures,  and  to   meet  the  needs  of  foreign 
O'c'.       peoples  translations  were  made  into  many  different  languages.     Most  of 
these  were  prepared  on  the  basis  of  the  Greek  versions,  since  the  early  Chris- 
tian scholars  were  usually  not  familiar  with  the  Hebrew  language.     Of  these 
the  most  ancient  is  probably  the  Old  Latin  version  which  was  made  in  the 
second  Christian  century.     It  was  evidently  based  on  a  Greek  version  older 
than  that  used  by  Origen  and  was  current  among  the  Christians  of  Northern 
Africa.     Only  fragments  survive.     These  and  the  quotations  from  Cyprian 
and  other  Latin  writers  indicate  that  it  contained  many  errors. 
Latin         Jeromc's  translation  of  the  Old  Testament  marks  a  new  epoch  in  the  his- 
"  ^^  ®  tory  of  the  versions,  for  not  only  was  it  made  by  the  leading  scholar  of  his 
age,  but  it  was  based  on  the  then  accepted   Hebrew  text,  supplemented  in 
difficult  and  doubtful  passages  by  the  readings  of  the  different  Greek  versions, 
especially  that  of  Symmachus.     His  work  on  the  Old  Testament  was  begun 
about  390  and  completed  in  404  a.d.     Confronted  by  a  version  whose  au- 
thority rested  simply  upon  its  merits  and  the  reputation  of  the  scholar  who 
made  it,  the  Latin  Church  rejected  and  opposed  it  for  two  centuries,  clinging 
to  the  defective  and  corrupt  Old  Latin.     But  as  is  well  known,  by  the  seventh 
century  it  was  generally  accepted  by  the  Western  Church,  became  the  basis 
of  its  later  noble  missionary  activity,  and  in  the  end  was  raised  to  a  position 
of  despotic  authority.     The  best,  manuscript  of  Jerome's  translation  {Codex 
Amiatinus)  comes  from  the  seventh  century.    The  chief  value  of  Jerome's 

46 


THE  RECOVERY  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  TEXT 

translation  to  textual  criticism  is  that  it  aids  in  establishing  the  fourth  cen- 
tury readings  of  the  Massoretic  text.  Its  admirable  renderings  are  also 
very  suggestive. 

The  oldest  Syriac  translation  (known  as  the  Peshitta,  the  Simple,  or  SjTiac 
popular  version)  was  probably  prepared  by  Jews  at  Edessa  in  the  second  gj^^g 
or  third  Christian  centuries.  It  was  made  from  the  Hebrew,  which  corre- 
sponds closely  to  the  accepted  Massoretic  text,  although  at  many  points 
its  readings  originally  or  later  have  been  modified  by  the  influence  of  the 
Greek  versions.  In  the  sixth  and  seventh  centuries  Christian  scholars  made 
translations  into  the  Syriac  directly  from  the  Greek.  The  chief  critical  use 
of  the  Syriac  version  is  in  restoring  the  Hebrew,  but  its  usefulness  is  limited 
because  the  published  texts  do  not  always  represent  the  oldest  manuscripts. 

Translations  were  also  made  between  the  third  and  sixth  centuries  into  The 
Ethiopic,  Coptic,  Armenian,  and  Gothic,  but  only  in  the  case  of  a  few  Old  Juma 
Testament  books  do  they  possess  a  critical  value.  The  Targums,  or  Aramaic 
paraphrases  of  the  Old  Testament,  which  were  used  in  the  synagogues, 
represent  the  Jewish  exegesis  current  in  the  early  Christian  centuries.  Some- 
times they  assume  or  give  literal  translations  of  a  Hebrew  text  slightly  better 
than  the  accepted  Massoretic  edition. 

Thus  in  recovering  the  original  texts  of  the  Old  Testament  books  we  are  Re- 
practically  dependent  upon  two  great  groups  of  witnesses.     The  first  group  ^\^^ 
goes  back  to  the  original  of  the  accepted  Massoretic  text  of  the  second  cen-  basis  of 
tury  A.D.     The  chief  witnesses  are  the  ninth  century  Hebrew  -manuscripts,  Masso- 
supplemented  by  the  notes  of  the  Massorites,  the  early  Syriac  version,  Jerome's  [^^'^ 
Vulgate,  and  the  Targums,  together  with  the  independent  translations  of 
Aquila,  Symmachus,  and  Theodotion,  and  the  Hebrew  column  in  Origen's 
Hexapla.     In  general  the  testimony  of  the  Hebrew  manuscripts  is  strongest, 
but  when  these  have  suff"ered  corruption,  some  one  of  the  many  translations 
may  preserve  the  original  and  indicate  the  nature  of  the  error.     Frequently 
that  which  points  to  a  sound  text,  deviating  from  the  present  Massoretic,  is 
original,  for  the  later  copyists  were  always  inclined  to  bring  all  versions  into 
agreement  with  the  Hebrew,  and  preserved  a  variant  only  when  it  rested  on 
good  authority. 

The  second  group  goes  back  to  the  original  Greek  translation,  probably  Re- 
made in  the  case  of  Sanmel  and  Kings  before  200  B.C.,  and  in  the  case  of  the  oTthe 
other  historical  books  a  little  later.     The  chief  guide  in  recovering  this  is  ^^T^^^r 

~  "  original 

the  Codex  Vaticanus,  the  reading  of  which  must  be  tested  and  corrected  by  of  the 
the  aid  of  the  Alexandrian  and  Eucian  texts,  which  may  be  regarded  as  cJfrjs- 
separate  recensions,  and  by  the  fragments  of  the  Old  Latin  and  Origen's  (i''^". 
Hexapla.     Due  allowance  must  be  made  for  the  influence  of  the  later  transla- 
Hebrew  version  u{)on  the  Alexandrian,  and  for  the  tendency  in  the  Lucian   '""^ 
version  to  produce  a  smooth,  complete  text.     The  readings  of  the  cursive 
maimscripts  must  also  be  considered. 

In  the  great  majority  of  cases  the  Massoretic  Hebrew  text  may  be  followed  Use 
unhesitatingly.     Where  there  is  practical  agreement  between  the  early  Greek  Greek 
texts  and  they  differ  from  the  accepted  Hebrew,  their  testimony  is  exceedingly  X^""- 
strong.     Even  when  some  agree  with  the  Hebrew,  the  agreement  may  be 

47 


ISRAEL'S   HISTORICAL  RECORDS 

due  to  a  later  harmonizer,  and  the  variant  Greek  text  may  contain  the  original 
reading.  In  general  the  briefer  text  represents  the  earlier,  for  the  tendency 
of  later  scribes  was  to  expand.  The  Greek  variant  must  also  be  retranslated 
into  Hebrew  and  tested  in  the  light  of  the  context.  Where  the  Massoretic 
text  has  obviously  suffered  corruption  from  any  of  the  usual  causes,  or  when 
it  is  not  supported  by  its  group  of  witnesses  and  the  Greek  on  the  other  hand 
has  a  well-authenticated,  consistent  reading,  the  latter  may  be  accepted  as 
representing  the  pre-Christian  and  probably  the  original  text.  If  it  is  con- 
firmed by  the  corrected  Massoretic  reading,  the  evidence  is  conclusive.  In 
some  cases  the  data  are  not  so  decisive.  Then  the  reading  adopted  must  be 
the  result  of  a  careful  judgment,  based  upon  a  consideration  of  all  the  pos- 
sibilities of  error  and  a  weighing  of  the  testimony  of  each  of  the  important 
versions  and  the  evidence  of  the  parallels  and  context.  The  tendencies  of 
each  individual  translation  must  also  be  noted.  When  all  has  been  done, 
many  passages  remain  in  which  absolute  certainty  is  impossible.  The  time, 
however,  has  passed  when  any  one  text  or  version  can  be  blindly  followed 
and  all  others  disregarded.  The  great  foundations  of  faith,  as  established 
in  the  Bible,  will  not  be  moved,  but  patient,  exact  scholarship,  careful  judg- 
ment, better  editing  and  deeper  study  of  the  existing  texts,  and  the  discovery 
of  new  manuscripts  will  give  each  succeeding  generation  a  translation  which 
will  represent  more  and  more  exactly  the  original  books  written  by  Israel's 
inspired  teachers  more  than  two  thousand  years  ago.  With  the  aid  of  the 
printing  press  and  photography  critical  scholars  are  rapidly  putting  into 
imperishable  form  the  best  that  the  past  has  given  us.  The  future  holds 
out  the  assured  possibility  of  valuable  discoveries.  Thus,  instead  of  leaving 
farther  behind,  each  decade  brings  much  nearer  to  the  present  the  long-lost 
autograph  copies. 


48 


HISTORY  OF   THE   UNITED   MONARCHY 

I  Sam.  l-I  Kgs.  11.  I  Chr.  10-11  Chr.  9 


HISTORY   OF   THE    UNITED   MONARCHY 


THE  WORK  OF  SAINIUEL  AND  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE 
HEBREW  KINGDOM,  I  Sam.  1-15 

§1.  The  Birth  and  Consecration  of  Samuel,  1,  2*''  ^«--^ 
Later  Ephrnimite  Samuel  Narratives 

I  Sam.  1  ^Now  there  was  a  certain  man  of  Ramah,  a  Zuphite^  of  the  Sam- 
hill-coiintry  of  Ephraim,  and  his  name  was  Elkanah  the  son  of  Jeroham,  j^f.^^g 
the  son  of  Ehhu,  the  son  of  Toliu,  the  son  of  Zuph,  an  Ephraimite.      ^And  '^[Y^ 
he  had  two  wives:  the  name  of  the  one  was  Hannah,  and  the  name  of  the 
other  Peninnah;  and  Peninnah  had  children,  but  Hannah  had  none. 

^And  this  man  used  to  go  up  from  his  city  year  by  year  to  worship  and  The 
to  sacrifice  to  Jehovah  of  hosts  in  Shiloh.     And  Eh  and  his  two  sons,"^  Hophni  pfigrim- 
and  Phinehas,  were  there  priests  unto  Jehovah.     ^And  it  came  to  pass  on  ^s^ 
one  occasion  that  Elkanah  sacrificed.     Now  he  used  to  give  portions  to 
Peninnah  his  wife  and  to  all  her  sons  and  daughters,  '^but  to  Hannah  he  used 
to  give  one°  portion,  although  he  loved  Hannah;  but  Jehovah  had  shut  up 
her  womb.     ^And  her  rival  used  to  vex  her  bitterly  in  order  to  make  her  angrj',  be- 

The  Work  of  Samuel  and  the  Establishment  of  the  Kingdom.— The  first  fifteen  chapters 
of  I  Sam.  record  the  important  events  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  Saul  and  the  union 
of  the  leading  Hebrew  tribes  under  one  head.  The  history  centres  about  two  individuals. 
In  the  oijenins  chai>ters  and  in  7,  8,  12,  ami  15  the  personality  of  Samuel  overshadows  all  other 
men  and  events.  He  is  conceived  of  as  rulinie;  over  all  tlie  Hebrew  tribes,  and  the  history 
unfolds  under  the  influence  not  of  natural  but  sujiernatural  forces.  Later  prophetic  ideas 
and  ideals  have  evidently  here  been  projected  b.ack  into  this  important  early  period.  To 
understand  the  real  course  of  Hebrew  history,  as  well  as  the  -^ery  <lifTerent  representation  in 
the  remaining  chapters  of  I  Sam.  1-1.5,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  appreciate  the  fact  that 
the  opening  chapters  embody  the  traditions  regarding  the  character  and  work  of  Samuel 
which  were  current  in  Later  prophetic  circles,      f'f.  Introd.,  pp.  12,  13. 

In  the  remaining  chapters  Saul  is  the  central  figure  and  Samuel  is  the  patriotic  .seer  of 
Ramah.  Literary  style  and  reiiresentation  indicate  that  they  were  originally  taken  fiom  an 
old  and  very  valuable  cycle  of  Saul  traditions,  (f.  Introd.,  pp.  1012.  Recognizing  these  two 
very  different  points  of  view,  the  perplexing  difficulties  which  confront  the  careful  student  of 
I  Sam.  entirely  disappear. 

§  1  Tradition  rarely  begins  with  the  childhood  of  the  heroes.  Jacob,  Moses,  and  Samuel 
are  the  conspicuous  O.T.  exceptions.  Furthermore,  stories  regarding  the  chil<lhof)d  of  a  great 
man  in  antiquity  were  not  appreciated  and  therefore  recounted  until  long  after  lie  had  ceased 
to  live.  In  their  origin  they  are,  therefore,  usually  much  later  than  those  which  record 
his  life  work.  The  Samuel  stories,  however,  in  the  first  part  of  I  Sam.  con.stitute  a  clo.'^ely 
knit  literary  unit.  Samuel's  connection  with  L.li,  the  ark,  and  the  sanctuary  at  Shiloh  is  the 
link  which  binds  the  new  era,  inaugurated  by  the  establishment  of  the  kiiigdoni,  with  the 
earlier  period  of  the  Judges.     In  the  opening  chapters  he  appears  as  the  chamiiion  of  the 


«]'  The  Heb.  is  untranslatable.  The  Gk.  indicates  the  nature  of  error  which  has  crept 
into  the  text  and  suggests  the  true  reading. 

''1'  So  Ok.  and  demanded  by  ''.  Heb.  simply,  the  two  sons  of  Eli,  but  Eli  and  not  his 
two  Bon.s  figure  in  this  part  of  the  story. 

"^l'  The  current  translation,  doulile  portion,  i.s  impossible.  Making  a  slight  correction 
suggested  by  the  Ok.,  the  passage  reads  consistently  as  above. 

51 


I  Sam.  !<•]  THE  WORK  OF  SAMUEL 

Later  Ephraimitc  Samuel  Narratives 

cause  Jehovah  had  shut  up  lier  womb.''  ''And  thus  he  did  year  by  year,  as  often 
as  she  went  up  to  the  house  of  Jehovah,  she  used  to  vex  her;  therefore  she 
wept  and  would  not  eat.  ''But  Elkanah  her  husband  said  to  her,  Hannah, 
why  do  you  weep  and  not  eat,  and  why  is  your  lieart  sad  ^^  Am  not  I  better 
to  you  than  ten  sans  ? 
Han-  ^So  Hannah  rose  up,  after  they  had  eaten  in  Shiloli*^,  and  stood  before 

vow^  Jehovah.  Now  EH  the  priest  was  sitting  at  his  seat  at  the  door-posts  of 
the  temple  of  Jehovah,  ^^^^i^d  s]^^  ^^s  greatly  distressed s  and  prayed  fer- 
vently to  Jehovah  and  wept  bitterly.      ^  ^And  she  vowed  a  vow,  saying, 

O  Jeho'vah  of  hosts! 
If  thou  wilt  indeed  look  on  the  affliction  of  thy  maid-servant. 
And  remember  me  and  not  forget  thy  maid-servant. 
But  wilt  give  to  thy  maiil-servant  a  man  child. 
Then  I  will  give  him  to  Jehovah  all  the  days  of  his  life, 
And  a  razor  shall  not  come  upon  his  liead.'^ 

Eli's  ^^And  while  she  continued  praying  before  Jehovah,   Eli  observed  her 

and°  mouth.  ^^Now  Hannah  was  speaking  to  herself;  only  her  lips  moved,  but 
blessing  ijer  voice  was  not  heard;  therefore  Eli  took  her  for  a  drunken  woman.  ^^So 
Eli  said  to  her,  How  long  will  you  act  like  a  drunken  woman  ?  Put  away 
the  effects  of  your  wine  and  go  from  the  presence  of  Jehovah.*  ^^But 
Hannah  answered  and  said.  No,  my  lord,  an  unfortunate  womanJ  am  I;  I 
have  drunk  neither  wine  nor  intoxicating  drink,  but  I  have  been  pouring 
out  my  sold  before  Jehovah.  ^  ''Do  not  take  your  maid-servant  to  be  a  vile 
woman,  for  because  of  the  greatness  of  my  grief  and  vexation''  have  I  con- 
tinued speaking  until  now.  ^"Then  Eli  answered  and  said,  Go  in  peace, 
and  the  God  of  Israel  grant  your  petition  that  you  have  asked  of  him.  ^  ^And 
she  said.  Let  your  maid-servant  find  favor  in  your  sight.  So  the  woman 
went  her  way  and  ate,  and  her  countenance  was  no  more  sad.* 

older  order  while  in  9  and  10  he  is  the  herald  of  the  new.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  minor 
additions,  it  seems  certain  that  1-3  were  taken  from  the  Samuel  history  which  was  based 
in  turn  on  prophetic  traditions  committe<l  to  writing  by  the  later  representatives  of  the  Eph- 
raimitc school.     Cf.  Introd.,  pp.  12,  13. 

d  1'^  The  original  and  sufficient  leason  for  Hannah's  tears  and  refusal  to  eat,  '''^,  when  her 
husband  came  up  to  offer  his  .sacrifice,  •'■\  is  that  she  had  no  children  and  therefore  received 
only  one  portion.  This  alone  is  assumed  in  the  rest  of  the  .story.  The  additional  reason 
in  6  and  ''^  is  not  found  in  the  Gk.  The  anguage  in  which  it  is  expres,sed  is  awkward  (cl.  -■) 
and  it  does  not  fit  the  context,  which  is  complete  without  it.  It  appears,  therefore,  to  be  a 
very  late  addition,  based  on  common  oriental  experience  in  connection  with  the  institution 
of  polygamy. 

"  1*  Gk.,  why  does  your  heart  reproacit  you?  This  is  evidently  ba.sed  on  a  slightly  dif- 
ferent Heb.  text. 

'  P  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  adds,  and  after  they  had  drunk.  In  the  original  text  attention 
is  fixed  almost  exclusively  upon  Hannah,  but  in  the  later  recensions  of  the  Heb.  and  Gk.  the 
tendency  is  to  give  IClkanah  a  more  prominent  role. 

E  V  Heb.,  bitter  of  soul      The  Gk.  appears  to  have  preserved  the  original  text. 

h  1"  This  last  clause  may  be  a  later  explanatory  addition  by  a  scribe  who  regarded  Samuel 
as  a  Nazirite.  The  Gk.  adds,  and  vine  and  fermented  liquor  he  shall  7iot  drink:.  Cf.  Num. 
3",  18".  The  Heb.  version  has  the  balanced  poetic  parallelism  which  appears  in  vows  and 
oracles. 

'  1"  The  last  clause  is  found  only  in  the  Gk. 

'  V^  Heb.,  hard  of  .'spirit.  This  iiliom  elsewhere  means  obstinate.  Cf.  Ez.  3''.  The  Gk. 
has,  hard  of  day,  i.e.,  unfortunate.     Cf.  .Job  30-\ 

k  116b  Not  found  in  the  Gk.      Evidently  added  by  some  later  redactor  who  introduced  '^'  ''''. 

1  jisb  Gif  _  go  ti^g  woman  went  her  way  and  entered  her  lodging  place,  and  ate  with  her 
husba7id  and  drank. 

52 


HIS  BIRTH  AND   CONSECRATION  [I  Sam.  li^ 

Later  Ephraimitc  Samuel  Xarratives 

■^^Aiid  tliev  rose  up  in  the  morning  early,  and  worsliipjied  before  Jehovah,  Sam- 
and  returned  and  came  to  their  house  at  Ramah.     And  Elkanah   knew  J^frth 
Hannah   his  wife;   and  Jehovah   remembered   her.     ^o^^^j    JJannah   con- 
ceived"\  and  it  came  to  pass  at  the  coming  around  of  the  new  year"  that  she 
bore  a  son,  and  called  his  name  Samuel  [Asked  of  God],"  saying.  For   I 
have  asked  him  of  Jehovah. 

2^And  the  man  Elkanah  and  all  his  household  went  up  to  offer  to  Jehovah  Presen- 
the  yearly  sacrifice  and  his  vow.'  ^i-'i]^^  Hannah  did  not  go  up;  for  she  said  to  je- 
to  her  husband,  When  the  child  is  weaned  then  I  will  bring  him  and  he  shall  'lo^aii 
appear  in  the  presence  of  Jehovah  and  shall  dwell  there  forever.  -^And 
Elkanah  her  husband  said  to  her,  Do  what  seems  good  to  you:  wait  until 
you  have  weaned  him;  only  may  Jehovah  establish  yourP  word.  So  the 
woman  waited  and  nursed  her  son  until  she  weaned  him.  24^j^j  ^yl^^n 
she  had  weaned  him,  she  took  him  up  with  her,  together  with  a  three- 
year-old'5  bullock  and  a  bushel •■  of  flour  and  a  skin  of  wine,  and  brought 
him  to  the  house  of  Jehovah  in  Shiloh.®  --^And  they*  slew  the  bullock 
and  Hannah"  brought  the  lad  to  Eli.  "^And  she  said,  Oh,  sir,  by 
your  life,  I  am  the  woman  who  stood  near  you  here,  praying  fervently  to 
Jehovah.  -"This  is  the  lad  regarding  whom  I  was  fervently  praying,  and 
Jehovah  has  granted  me  my  petition  which  I  asked  of  him.  -^Now,  I 
on  my  part  have  given  him  to  Jehovah;  as  long  as  he  lives  he  is  given  to 
Jehovah.^ 

2  ^^So  she  left  him  there  before  Jehovah  and  went  to  Ramah.     But  the  Life  at 
lad  was  ministering  to  Jehovah  in  the  j)resence  of  Eli  the  priest. ^^ 

^^And  Samuel  continued  ministering  before  Jehovah — a  lad  girded  with 
a  linen  ephod.  ^^And  his  mother  used  to  make  him  a  little  robe  and  bring 
it  to  him  from  year  to  year,  when  she  came  up  with  her  husband  to  offer 
the  yearly  sacrifice.  -'^And  Eli  blessed  Elkanah  and  his  wife  and  said, 
Jehovah  re])ay^  you  with  offspring  from  this  woman  for  the  gift  which  she 


m  ]20i  FoUowinK  the  Gk.  order,  which  is  logical. 

■>  1-"  Heb.,  at  the  corning  around  of  days  i.e.,  when  the  feast  of  ingathering  was  again 
observed. 

"  1-"  This  was  evidently  the  popular  etymology,  based  on  a  certain  similarity  of  sound. 
The  true  etymology  appears  to  be,  Name  of  God,  although  the  meaning,  Heard  of  God,  is  not 
impossible. 

p  1^  So  Gk.  and  Syt.  Heb.,  his.  The  meaning  is:  may  Jehovah  enable  you  to  carry 
out  your  promise. 

1  Y'*  So  Gk.  and  Syr.  and  demanded  by  ^''.     The  Heb.  text  is  cviilently  corrupt. 

"•  1-^   Ileb.,  ejihah. 

"  1-'  The  Ileb.  ailds,  the  lad  was  a  lad,  wliich  is  an  un-Hebraic  exjiression  and  adds  nothing 
to  the  story.      It  is  also  unsui)ported  by  the  (Jk. 

'  1"  Referring  to  tiie  attendants  wlio  had  fliarge  of  the  details  of  the  offering. 

"  \'^''  (ik.,  and  llaitnah  the  tnolher  of  the  child  broufiht  him  to  Eli. 

V  yiH  The  Heb.  adds,  Ayid  he  worshipped  Jehovah  there. 

"  2"  The  close  connection  of  the  thoiiglit  demonstrates  that  2"  is  the  immediate  .sequel 
of  P*.  The  .xo-called  song  of  Hannah  in  2'-'"  is  a  psalm  of  i)raise  to  .Jehovah  for  victory  over 
I.irael'.s  foes  and  for  his  wise  rule.  The  reference  in  ^  to  the  barren  havinti  home  seven  probably 
explains  why  a  later  editor  introduced  it  here.  The  expression,  however,  only  emboijics  an 
illu-tration  of  .Jelio\ah's  benign  rule  over  mankind.  The  psalm  as  a  whole  is  far  more  appro-/ 
priate  on  the  lips  of  the  post-exilic  Jewish  community  tlian  in  the  mouth  of  Hannah.  Cf. 
Vol.  V  in  loco. 

'2-'"  Heb.,  put.  A  copyist  has  apparently  left  out  a  'etter  which,  when  restored,  gives 
the  original  reading  preserved  by  the  Gk. 

53 


I  Sam.  220]  THE  WORK  OF  SAMUEL 

Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

gave  to  Jehovah.^  Then  they  returned  to  their''  own  home.  -^x\nd  Je- 
hovah visited  Hannah  so  that  she  conceived  and  bore  three  sons  and  two 
daughters.     And  the  child  Samuel  grew  up  before  Jehovah. 

§  2.  The  Doom  of  the  House  of  EH  and  the  Call  of  Samuel,  I  Sam. 

2  12-17,  22-36      3      j,la 

Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

Crimes        I  Saiii.  2  ^^jsj^Q^y  ^j^g  gons  of  Eli  were  base  scoundrels;  they  had  no  regard 
sons  of  for*'  Jehovah,  ^^nor  for  what  was  justly  due  the  priest  from  the  people. '^ 
^        Whenever  a  man  offered  a  sacrifice,  the  priest's  servant  would  come,  while 
the  flesh  was  boiling,  with  a  three-pronged  fork  in  his  hand,  ^^and  would 
strike  into  the  pot  or  the  kettle  or  the  basin  or  the  dish.     All  that  the  fork 
brought  up  the  priest  would  take  for  himself.®     So  they  did  to  all  the  Israel- 
ites who  came  to  sacrifice  to  Jehovah  in  Shiloh.^     ^  ^Moreover  before  they 
burned  the  fat,  the  priest's  servant  used  to  come  and  say  to  the  man  who 
was  making  the  offering.  Give  flesh  to  roast  for  the  priest;  for  he  will  not 
take  from  you  boiled  flesh,  but  raw.      ^^Should  the  man,  however,  say  to 
him.  First  you  should  burn  the  fat,  then  take  as  much  as  you  desire,  he 
would  reply,  No,  you  must  give  it  at  once  or  else  I  will  take  it  by  force.   ^  "Thus 
the  sin  of  the  young  men  was  very  great  before  Jehovah;  for  the  men  despised 
the  ofi^ering  of  Jehovah. 
Elis  in-      "-But  Eli  was  very  old;  and  whenever  he  heard^  what  his  sons  were  doing 
ual  to  all  Israel,  how  they  lay  ■«dth  the  women  who  did  service  at  the  door  of  tlie  tent  of 

reproof  meeting, •»  -^he  said  to  them,  Why  do  you  do  such  things  as  these,  which  I 
hear  from  the  mouth  of  all  the  people.^  ^^No,  my  sons;  for  it  is  no  good 
report  that  I  hear  the  people  of  Jehovah  spreading  abroad,  ^sjf  Qjjg  man 
sin  against  another,  God^  will  mediate  for  him  ;  but  if  a  man  sin  against 
Jehovah,  who  shall  act  as  mediator  for  him  ?  Notwithstanding  they  did 
not  Usten  to  the  voice  of  their  father,  because  Jehovah  desired  to  slay 
them.  26B^^■  ^j^g  j^d  Samuel  kept  on  growing  larger  and  better  in  the 
estimation  both  of  Jehovah  and  of  men. 

»  2-0  Heb.,  that  which  was  horrmced  by  Jehovah.  Gk.,  for  the  loan  which  you  loaned 
to  Jehovah.  But  cf.  1-*  where  Hannali  is  the  one  who  gives  the  child  to  Jehovah.  A  slight 
emendation  of  the  Heb.  gives  this  harmonious  reailing. 

b  220  Heb.,  thet/  went  to  his  place.  Many  Heb.  codices  and  Syr.  read,  their  place.  The 
impossible  for,  which  is  found  in  the  accepted  Heb.  text  at  the  beginning  of  the  next  verse 
may  represent  the  final  missing  letter  of  -^o. 

§  2  Cf.  notes  §§  1  and  6. 

<=  2^  Heb.,  knew  not,  in  the  sense  of  paying  heed  to,  regarding. 

^  2^  So  Gk.,  Syr.,  Targ.,  and  nine  Heb.  MSS.  Lat.,  not  knowing  God  nor  the  duty  of 
the  priest  toward  the  people.  I.e.,  what  the  priest  had  a  right  to  demand  from  the  people. 
The  verse  division  has  obscured  the  original  meaning. 

'  2»  Heb.,  iviih  it.     Gk.,  Sjt.,  and  Targ.  have  the  better  reading  followed  above. 

'21^  So  Gk.  Heb.,  came  there  in  Shiloh.  But  this  is  tautological  and  the  Heb.  idiom 
awkward. 

E  222  The  Heb.  adds,  all,  but  this  is  not  found  in  the  Gk. 

h  222  This  clause  is  also  not  found  in  the  Gk.  It  appears  to  be  a  very  late  addition  to 
the  Heb.,  based  on  the  priestly  passage  Ex.  38'^^.  This  crime  is  referred  to  nowhere  else  in 
the  story. 

'  223  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  has,  for  I  am  hearing  of  your  evil  deeds  from  all  the  people,  even 
these,  but  the  construction  is  ungrammatical.     The  last  word  is  probably  due  to  dittography. 

'  225  ^g  in  Ex.  21^,  22*,  God  appears  tf>  be  equivalent  to  judges,  those  who  represented 
God  in  the  judicial  capacity. 

54 


DOOM  OF  THE  HOUSE   OF  ELI  [I  S.ui.  227 

Later  Ephraimife  Samuel  Narratives 

-"And  there  came  a  man  of  God  to  Eli  and   said   to   him,  Thus   saith  An- 
Jehovah,  '  I  revealed  myself  to  thy  father's  house,"^  when  they  were  in  Egypt  n^JJiTof 
servants'  to  Pharaoh's  house,  -^and  I  chose  him  from  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  t'ivine 
to  be  my  priest  to  go  up  to  mine  altar  to  burn  sacrifices,  to  bear  an  ephod  ment 
before  me,™  and  I  gave  to  thy  father's  house  for  food"  all  the  offerings  of  ^{^^'^ 
the  Israelites  made  by  fire.     -^Why  dost  thou  look  with  envious  eyes  upon  h°us? 
my  sacrifices  and  offerings,*'  and  honorest  thy  sons  above  me  in  fattening 
yourselves  with  the  first-fruits  of  all  the  offerings  which  the  Israelites  bring 
me  ?  '     3'^Therefore  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel  saith,  '  I  had  indeed  thought 
that  thy  house  and  the  house  of  thy  father  would  walk  before  me  forever;  ' 
but  now  saith  Jehovah,  '  Far  be  it  from  me;  for  them  that  honor  me  I  will 
honor,  and  they  that  despise  me  shall  be  lightly  esteemed.     ^^The  days 
are  quickly  coming  when  I  will  cut  oif  thine  arm  and  the  arm  of  thy  father's 
house.''     32\j^d  thou  shalt  look  in  affliction  and  enviously  upon  all  the  prosiDcrity 
which  Ii  will  give  Israel;  and  there  shall  not  be  an  old  man  in  thy  house  forever. 
33And  the  man  of  tliine  whom  I  do  not  cut  off  from  mine  altar  shall  be  sjjared  to  con- 
sume his--  eyes  and  to  wear  out  his  soul,  and  all  the  increase  of  thy  house  shall 
die  by  the  sword  of  men.^     ^^And  this  shall  be  the  sign  to  thee  that  shall 
come  upon  thy  two  sons,  Hophni  and  Phinehas:  on  the  same  day  both 
shall  die.      ^o^nd  I  will  raise  up  for  myself  a  faithful  priest  who  shall  do 
according  to  that  which  is  in  my  heart  and  in  my  desire;  and  I  will  build  him 
an  enduring  house;  and  he  shall  walk  before  mine  anointed  forever.    =|6And  it  shall 
come  to  pass  tliat  every  one  who  is  left  in  thy  house  shall  come  to  do  him  obeisance 
for  a  piece  of  money  or  a  loaf  of  bread,  and  shall  say,  "  Put  me,  I  beg,  in  one  of  the 
priests'  offices,  that  I  may  eat  a  morsel  of  bread."  '' 

3   ^And  the  child  Samuel  continued  ministering  before  Jehovah  in  the  The 
presence  of  Eli.     And  the  word  of  Jehovah  was  rare  in  those  days;  there  [fon  to 
was  no  frequent  vision.     2]sjow  once  at  that  time,  when  Eli  was  lying  in  his  Samuel 
place — his  eyes  had  begun  to  grow  dim,  so  that  he  could  not  see — ^and 
while  the  lamp  of  God  was  still  burning,  and  Samuel  was  lying  in  the  temple 
of  Jehovah  where  the  ark  of  God  was,  ^Jehovah  called,  Samuel!  Samuel!^ 

^  2"  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  makes  the  sentence  a  question  calling  for  the  answer,  No,  which 
is  unintelligible.     Dittography  exijlains  the  presence  of  the  interrogative. 
'  Z"  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  simi)ly  imphes  the  word,  servants. 
™  228  /  g  _  Take  charge  of  the  oracle.     Cf.  §  14. 
■>  2-'*  Added  by  the  Gk. 

0  2-9  The  current  translations  are  untenable  and  do  not  give  an  idea  in  harmony  with 
the  context.  The  Gk.  which  is  followed  above  is  evidently  based  on  an  oiiguial  text  of  which 
the  present  Heb.  is  probably  a  corruption. 

p  231  Vs.  *■'"  is  evidently  a  later  insertion  anticipating  subsequent  conditions,  and  when 
it  was  inserted  the  original  phrase,  there  shall  not  be  an  old  man  in  thy  house,  -was  repeated, 
so  that  it  is  found  in  the  present  Ileb.  both  in  s"'  and  ^'-'Ij. 

1  23^"  Heb.,  he  xoill  give.  The  context  requires  either  the  first  person  or  Jehovah  as  the 
subject.     The  Gk.  omits '">.  32a. 

'  2»  The  Heb.  has,  thy;  but  the  Gk.,  his.  The  first  half  of  the  vs.  is  not  consistent  with 
the  latter  half  and  also  anticiijates  much  later  e\ents. 

•  2'«  Uefjuired  by  context  and  found  in  the  Gk.  The  Tleb.  without  the  expression,  by  the 
sword  of.  is  unintelligible  and  the  current  tran.slations  unwarranted. 

t  2-»h.  ■■»  Apparently  the  original  oracle  sim|)ly  contemplated  the  destruction  of  I'.hs 
dnsceu'lants  at  Aphek,  §  3,  and  Nob,  §  13,  and  the  succession  of  Samuel  (o  the  i)osition  of 
religious  learlership.  Vss.  ^sb,  .%  clearly  refer  to  the  later  elevation  of  the  liouse  of  Zadok,  and 
tlie  language  reflects  tlie  prf)vision  in  Dt.  for  the  priests  of  tlie  liigh  iilaces  oiifside  Jerusalem. 
Ilcncc  tlifv  must  be  late  pronlielic  or  i)ricsUv  addilions  lo  the  origiii;il  S.-iniucl  history. 

".'J'  Heb.,  to  Samuel.  The  Gk.  has  the  direct  adilress  and  repeats  the  name  as  in  'o. 
This  is  in  harmony  with  the  literary  style  of  the  Ephraimite  source. 

55 


ISAM.  34]  THE  WORK  OF  SAMUEL 

Later  Ephrawiite  Samuel  Narratives 

And  he  said,  Here  am  I.  ^^nd  he  ran  to  Eh,  and  said,  Here  am  I;  for 
you  called  me.  But  he  said,  I  did  not  call,  lie  down  again.  So  he  went 
and  lay  down.  '^Then  Jehovah  called  yet  again,  Samuel!  Samuel!  And 
Samuel  arose  and  went  to  Eli  and  said,  Here  am  I;  for  you  called  me.  But 
he  answered,  I  did  not  call,  my  son;  He  down  again.  '^Now  Samuel  did 
not  yet  know^  Jehovah  neither  had  the  word  of  Jehovah  yet  been  revealed 
to  him.  ^So  when  Jehovah  called  Samuel  again  the  third  time,  he  arose 
and  went  to  Eli,  and  said,  Here  am  I;  for  you  called  me.  Then  Eli  per- 
ceived that  Jehovah  was  calling  the  child.  ^Therefore  Eli  said  to  Samuel, 
Go,  lie  down;  and  if  you  are  called,  say,  '  Speak,  Jehovah;  for  thy  servant  is 
listening.'  So  Samuel  went  and  lay  down  in  his  place. 
Mes-  ^^Then  Jehovah  came,  and  stood,  and  called  as  at  other  times,  Samuel! 

gafding  Samuel!  And  Samuel  said.  Speak;  for  thy  servant  is  listening.  ^And  Je- 
^^i  hovah  said  to  Samuel,  See,  I  am  about  to  do  such  a  thing  in  Israel,  that  the 
ears  of  every  one  who  hears  it  shall  ring.  ^-In  that  day  I  will  perform 
toward  Eli  all  that  I  have  spoken  against  his  house  from  beginning  to  end. 
i^For  I  have  told  him  that  I  will  judge  his  house  forever,  for  the  guilt  which 
he  knew,  in  that  his  sons  were  blaspheming  God^  and  he  did  not  rebuke 
them.  ^4\ri(i  therefore  I  have  sworn  to  the  house  of  Eli  that  the  guilt  of 
Eli's  house  shall  not  be  expiated  with  sacrifice  nor  offering  forever. 
An-  i^And  Samuel  lay  until  the  morning;  then  he  rose  early  in  the  morning^ 

menTof  and  opened  the  doors  of  the  house  of  Jehovah.     And  Samuel  feared  to  make 
^^^        known  the  vision  to  Eh.      I'^But  Eli  called  Samuel  and  said,  Samuel,  my 
sage       son.     And  he  said.  Here  am  I.     ^''And  he  said.  What  is  the  thing  that 
*°  ^''     Jehovah  hath  spoken  to  you  ?     I  pray,  conceal  nothing  from  me;  may  God 
do  to  you  whatever  he  will,  if  you  conceal  from  me  a  word  of  all  that  he 
spoke  to  you.      ^^So  Samuel  told  him  everything;   and  concealed  nothing 
from  him.     And  he  said.  It  is  Jehovah;  let  him  do  what  seems  good  to  him. 
Sam-  1 9^i^(^l  Samuel  grew,  and  Jehovah  was  with  him  and  let  none  of  his  words 

es'tiilj-  f''^ll  to  the  ground.^  20,^^(1  ^U  Israel  from  Dan  even  to  Beersheba  knew 
li'^h-  that  Samuel  was  established  as  a  prophet  of  Jehovah.  ^^And  Jehovah 
as  a  again  appeared  in  Shiloh,  for  Jehovah  revealed  himself  to  Samuel.'^  4  i^^Thus 
prophet  (.]^g  word  of  Samuel  came  to  all  Israel. ° 

^  3''"  I.e.,  as  the  prophets  knew  Jehovah  through  a  special  revelation,  of.  ■">. 

w  313  The  Heb.  is  ungrammatical  and  untranslatable.  The  Gk.  has  clearly  preserved  the 
original  reading. 

"  3'^  This  clause  is  preserved  in  the  Gk.  and  was  evidently  omitted  in  the  Heb.  as  the 
result  of  a  common  copyist's  error. 

»  3'5)  The  Gk.  and  Luc.  possibly  have  the  original  reading,  none  of  his  words  fell  to  the 
ground. 

b  3^1  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  contains  a  late  tautological  addition,  in  Shiloh  by  the  toord  of 
Jehovah.  The  Gk.  also  re)jeats  and  adds  what  may  have  been  found  in  the  original  text,  but 
Eli  was  exceedingly  old  and  his  sons  kept  on  doing  worse  and  worse  before  Jehovah. 

"  4i»  Clearly  a  late  editorial  resume,  not  found  in  the  Gk. 


56 


I  Sam.  41b] 


THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  ARK 


[ISAM.  41° 


3.  The  Capture  of  the  Ark  and  the  Fall  of  the  House  of  Eli,  I  Sam.  4ib-5> 


Israel's 
defeat 
bv  the 
Philis- 
tines 


The 

second 
defeat 
and  the 
loss  of 
the  ark 


Early  Judcan  Prophetic 

I  Sam.  4  ii^Now  in 
those  days  the  Philistines 
assembled  to  make  war 
against  Israel/'  -^and  the 
battle  was  hard  fought^ 
and  they  slew  in  the  ranks 
on  the  field  about  four 
thousand  men. 

^^But  when  the  people 
returned  to  the  camp, 
^^the  people  sent  to 
Shiloh  and  took  from 
there  the  ark  of  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts  who  sits  en- 
throned above  the  cherubim. 
^^■^And  when  the  ark  of 


Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

4  i*^Now  Israel  went  out  against  the  Phil- 
istines to  battle,  and  encamped  at  Eben- 
ezer;*  and  the  Philistines  encamped  in  Aphek. 
•-^And  the  Philistines  put  themselves  in  array 
against  Israel,  and  Israel  was  smitten  before  the 
Philistines. 


^^Then  the  elders  of  Israel  said,  Why  hath 
Jehovah  smitten  us  to-day  before  the  Philis- 
tines ?  Let  us  bring  to  us  the  ark  of  our  God^ 
out  of  Shiloh,  that  it  may  come  among  us  and 
save  us  from  the  hand  of  our  enemies.*^  '^^So 
they  sent  to  Shiloh;  and  the  two  sons  of  Eli, 
Hophni  and  Phinehas,  were  there  with  the  ark 
of  God.      ^''And  when  the  ark  of  God  came  to 


§  3  The  fate  which  overtook  the  house  of  Eli  is  recorded  in  4.  The  account  is  closely 
connected  with  the  doom  i)redicted  in  the  preceding  chapter.  Although  Samuel  is  not  men- 
tioned, it  is  obvious  that  one  of  the  reasons  why  the  story  is  introduced  here  is  because  it 
recounts  those  revolutionizing  changes  which  opjened  the  way  for  his  activity  recorded  in 
the  following  chapters.  Characteristic  expre.ssions  also  conttrm  the  conchision  that  most  of 
the  chapter  is  from  the  Ephraimite  school  of  writers.  It  is  probably  from  an  older  stratum 
than  the  citations  in  1-3,  7,  8,  12,  15,  but  it  has  been  so  woven  into  the  later  series  of  stories 
that  it  may  be  classified  with  them. 

Recent  commentators  on  the  book  of  Samuel  have  recognized  that  this  chapter  is  com- 
posite. Thus  in  the  original  passage  "=  (which  has  been  jire-served  in  the  Gk.)  the  Philistines 
are  represented  as  having  assumed  the  aggressive,  while  in  '<■  the  Israelites  do  so.  In  one 
series  i>{  pas.sages  the  term  ark  of  Jehovah  and  in  another  ark  of  God  occurs.  Duplicates  are 
also  found  in  which  the  synonyms  characteristic  respectively  of  the  Judean  and  Ephraimite 


narratives  appear.     Thus  cf.  ^'^  an( 


'■"'  and  '-'■';    '"■'  and  ""'.     The.se  duplicates. 


when  cla.ssified,  are  found  to  contain  two  brief  but  complete  and  consi.^tent  accounts  of  the 
defeat  of  the  Israelites  and  the  loss  of  the  ark.  They  were  so  closely  parallel  that  certain 
expressions  appear  to  have  been  common  to  both  and  at  one  or  two  points  the  analysis  is 
uncertain. 

'I  he  irnportance  of  the  event  also  leads  us  from  analogies  in  the  preceding  books  of  the 
O.T.  to  anticipate  two  versions.  They  are  the  natural  .seijuels  to  the  .ludoaii  and  Ephraimite 
narratives  in  .ludg.  11-16.  The  Judean  Samson  stories  suggest  the  increasing  aggressions 
of  the  Philistines,  and  the  primitive  account  of  the  anointing  of  Saul  by  Samuel  and  Saul's 
initial  wars  against  the  P/iilistines  assume  the  facts  stated  in  the  brief  .ludcan  version  in  4. 
Its  brevity  is  probably  due  to  the  natural  reluctance  which  a  patriotic  historian  felt  in  recount- 
ing the  disasters  which  overtook  his  people.  Many  linguistic  indications  confirm  the  analysis 
given  above. 

If  originally  recorded,  the  account  of  the  rlcstruction  of  the  sanctuary  at  Shiloh,  which 
apparently  occurred  at  this  time,  h.as  been  lost.  The  absence  of  any  subsequent  references 
to  the  sanctuary  as  existing  (cf.  I  Kgs.  12-'^,  .\m.  5''),  and  the  definite  statements  in  .ler.  19^ 
and  II  Kg.s,  21 1^-  "  practically  establish  the  fact.  From  I  Sam.  10"',  13'  and  the  sub.seciuent 
records,  it  is  also  clear  that  the  Philistines  from  this  time  on  made  the  Israelites  tributary 
to  them. 

d  41b  These  introductory  words  are  not  found  in  the  Heb.,  but  in  all  Gk.  MSS.,  and  are 
required  by  the  context. 

"■  4'''  Ileb.,  Elipn-ha-ezer,  so  5'. 

'■pf'  The  Heb.  gives  no  sen.se.  The  Gk.  translators  evidently  had  difllculty  with  it,  the 
battle  inclined.  \  change  of  r)ne  letter  (suggested  by  Smith,  Sam.,  p.  32)  gives  the  above 
reading,      f'f.  II  Sam.  2'^,  where  tlie  idiom  occurs  in  a  similar  .ludcan  iiassage. 

"4"'  A  later  scribe,  wlio  preferred  the  Deuteroiioniic  designation,  ark  of  the  covenant 
of  Jehovah,  has  introduced  it  in  the  Heb.  here  and  tlirough  '.  but  no  further.  'Hie  ab.sence 
of  the  words,  of  the  coveninit,  in  the  (Jk.  indicjile  lliat  tlic  addition  was  very  late.  The  scribe 
substituted  the  more  familiar  designation  for  the  abo\e  wliicli  is  preser\ed  in  the  Gk. 

I"  4"''  The  ancient  war-cry  used  in  connection  with  the  ark,  Num.  lO'l 


I  Sam.  i^'<'] 


THE  WORK  OF  SAMUEL 


[I  Sam.  45b 


Death 
of  Eli 


Early  Judean  Prophetic 


Jehovah  came  to  the 
camp,  the  earth  resound- 
ed.     *'b\„(i     ^y]i(>„     ["the 

Phihstines]  knew  that  the 
ark  of  Jehovah  had  come 
to  the  camp,  "^they  said, 
Woe  to  us  !  for  it  has  not 
been  thus  before;  ^^^ut 
be  men  and  fi<^ht. 

i^a^So  the  Phihstines 
fought  and  there  was  a 
great  slaughter. 


Later  Ephraimite  Saviuel  Narratives 


the  camp,  all  Israel  shouted  a  great  shout.    ^^And 

when  the  Philistines  heard  the  noise  of  the  shout, 

they  said.  What  is  this  noise  of  great  shouting  in 

the  camp  of  the  Hebrews  ?     '^The  Philistines 

were  afraid,  for  they  said,  These  are  their  gods; 

they  have  come  to  them  to  the  camp.'     ^Woe  to 

us !     Who  shall  deliver  us  out  of  the  hand  of 

these  mighty  gods  ?     These  are  the  gods  who 

smote  the  Egyptians  with  every  sort  of  plague 

and  pestilence.J     ^^Be  courageous  and  be  men, 

O  Philistines,  that  you  may  not  be  slaves  to  the 

Hebrews,  as  they  have  been  slaves  to  you.    ^"^^^nd 

Israel  was  defeated  and  fled  each  to  his  tent. 

And  there  fell  of  Israel  thirty  thousand  footmen. 

^  ^And  the  ark  of  God  was  taken,  and  the  two 

sons  of  Eli,  Hophni  and  Phinehas,  perished. 

^^And  a  Benjamite  ran  from  the  ranks  and  came  to  Shiloh  the  same  day 

with  his  garments  torn  and  with  earth  on  his  head,      ^^^ijj  j^st  as  he  came, 

Eli  was  sitting  upon  his  seat  beside  the  gate  watching  the  road,"^  for  his 

heart  was  trembling  for  the  ark  of  God.     And  when  the  man  came  to  the 

city  to  inform  it,  all  the  city  cried  out.      i'*And  when  Eli  heard  the  noise  of 

the  crying  he  said,  What  is  this  tumultuous  noise .''     And  the  man  came 

quickly  and  told  Eli.     i^(Now  Eli  was  ninety-eight  years  old,  and  his  eyes  were  set, 

so  that  he  could  not  see).'     ^^And  the  man  said  to  Eli,  I  am  he  who  came 

from  the  ranks,  for  I  fled  to-day  from  the  ranks.     And  he  said.  How  went 

the  matter,  my  son  ?     ^ '^And  he  that  brought  the  tidings  answered  and  said, 

Israel  fled  before  the  Philistines,  and  there  was  also  a  great  slaughter  among 

the  people,  and  your  two  sons  also,  Hophni  and  Phinehas,  are  dead,  and  the 

ark  of  God  has  been  captured.     ^^And  it  came  to  pass  when  he  mentioned 

the  ark  of  God,  that  Eli  fell  from  his  seat  backward  by  the  side  of  the  gate; 

and  his  neck  was  broken  and  he  died,  for  he  was  old  and  heavy.    And  he 
had  judged  Israel  forty  years. 

i^And  his  daughter-in-law,  Phinehas's  wife,  was  with  child,  about  to  be 
delivered.     And  when  she  heard  the  report  regarding  the  capture  of  the 
birth^of  ^^^  °^  ^°^^'  ^^'^  ^^^^^  ^^^^  father-in-law  and  her  husband  were  dead,  she 
bowed  herself  and  gave  birth  to  a  child ;  for  her  birth-pains  came  upon  her. 


Circum- 
stances 
atteiid- 


Icha- 
bod 


I  47a  Heb.  and  Lat.,  God  is  come  to  the  camp.  Gk.,  These  gods  have  come  to  them  to 
the  camp.  Lucian,  This  -is  their  God.  The  fuller  reading  and  the  plural  seem  to  be  demanded 
by  the  context.     Cf.  especially  *. 

j  4«  Heb.  and  Lat.,  with  ever;/  sort  of  plagne  in  the  wilderness.  Gk..  plague  and  in  the 
wilderness.  None  of  the  Heb.  trarlitions  represents  the  Egyptians  as  having  been  smitten  in 
the  wilderness.  The  different  readings  are  probably  due  to  the  mistake  of  a  copyist  who 
mi.stook  the  Heb.  word  for  pestilence  for  the  very  similar  word  meaning  wilderness. 

k  4u  So  Gk.  The  gate  is  evidently  that  of  the  sanctuary.  Heb.,  by  the  side  of  the  road 
watching.  But  this  is  inconsistent  with  the  subsequent  context,  for,  if  he  was  by  the  road, 
the  messenger  would  come  to  him  first. 

1  410  This  verse  interrupts  the  narrative  in  ",  which  is  continued  in  i«,  and  its  representation 
IS  contrary  to  that  of  i-*  which  states  that  Eli  was  watching  the  road.  It  appears  to  be  a  later 
embellishment  of  the  story.  The  Gk.  e.xpands  still  further,  A7id  Eli  said  to  the  men  who  were 
standing  about  him,  What  is  this  resounding  noise  f 

58 


THE   CAPTURE   OF  THE  ARK  [I  Saji.  4i9 

Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

20And  about  the  time  of  her  death  the  women  who  stood  by  her  said  to  her, 
Fear  not  for  you  have  given  birth  to  a  son.  But  she  neither  answered  nor 
heeded.  -^Therefore  they  named  the  child  Ichabod  [No  glory],  saying, 
The  glory  is  taken  away  from  Israel,  because  of  the  capture  of  the  ark  of 
God,  and  because  of  her  father-in-law  and  her  husband.™  5  ^And  the  Phil- 
istines took  the  ark  of  God  and  brought  it  from  Ebenezer  to  Ashdod. 


•&* 


§  4.  The  Fortunes  of  the  Ark  Among  the  Philistines,  I  Sam.  5--7'» 
Early  Jiulean  Narratives 

I  Sam.  5  ^Then  the  Philistines  took  the  ark  of  Jehovah"  and  brought  The  ark 
it  to  the  house  of  Dagon  and  set  it  up  by  the  side  of  Dagon.     ^And  when  temple 
the  Ashdodites  arose  earlv  the  next  dav  and  came  to  the  house  of  Daji^on,"  9f 
behold  there  was  Dagon  fallen  upon  his  face  to  the  ground   before   the 
ark  of  Jehovah.     And  they  raised  up^'  Dagon  and  set  him  in  his  place  again. 
■*But  when  they  arose  early  on  the  following  morning,  behold  there  was  Dagon 
fallen  upon  his  face  to  the  ground  before  the  ark  of  Jehovah.     And    the 
head  of  Dagon  and  both  his  hands  were  cut  off  upon  the  threshold,  and 
only  the  body<^  of  Dagon  was  left.     ^Therefore  the  priests  of  Dagon  and 
all  who  enter  the  house  of  Dagon  do  not  tread  on  the  threshold  of  Dagon  in 
Ashdod  to  this  day,  but  leap  over  it.'' 

^And  the  hand  of  Jehovah  was  heavy  upon  the  Ashdodites,  and  he  de-  Plagues 
stroyed  them,  and  smote  them  with  boils,  even  Ashdod  and  its  borders.  fngThe 

^___ ark 

™  4-'  The  Heb.  adds,  ~,  And  she  said.  The  glory  is  taken  airay  from  Israel;  for  (he  ark 
of  God  has  been  captured.  This  is  simply  a  repetition  of  -'  and  is  probably  a  scribal  note  added 
to  call  attention  to  the  proverb.  The  glory  is  taken  away  from  Israel,  which  reappears  in  Hos.  10^ 
Vs.  -"=  may  also  be  a  later  addition  based  on  '■^^. 

§  4  This  tradition  is  one  which  would  naturally  be  preserved  at  the  Jerusalem  temple, 
where  the  ark  found  its  final  resting-place.  The  prominence  of  the  ark  in  the  early  Judean 
narratives  (cf.  Vol.  I,  notes  §  79,  86)  also  leads  us  to  anticipate  that  this  story  was  treasured 
in  the  southern  kingdom.  Furthermore,  its  account  of  the  return  of  the  ark  and  the  fact  that 
it  was  left  in  the  care  of  Abinadab,  7',  are  assumed  as  the  basis  of  the  early  Judean  David 
traditions  regarding  its  transfer  to  Jerusalem,  II  Sam.  &-*,  §  29.  On  the  other  hand  the  sub- 
sequent Kphraimite  passages  contain  no  allusion  to  the  ark.  With  the  jiartial  fulfilment 
of  the  doom  upon  the  house  of  Eli,  the  aim  of  this  school  of  writers  in  introducing  the  tradition 
was  realized.  There  are  a  few  suggestions  of  duplication  in  these  chapters,  but  they  may 
be  simply  due  to  editorial  expansion.  Of.  notes  '■  '■  ^^  If  they  are  composite,  no  satisfactory 
analysis  has  yet  been  found. 

Possibly  the  account  of  the  fall  of  Dagon,  S^-s,  was  originally  distinct  from  the  rest  of  the 
narrative.  If  so,  S^-s  is  probably  secondary  and  the  original  story,  as  usually  in  the  early 
Judean  narratives,  simply  records  a  natural  event,  namely,  the  spread  of  a  fearful  pestilence 
wherever  the  ark  was  carried.  That  this  was  spread  by  the  ark  itself  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  it  bears  the  contagion  to  the  Hebrews  as  well  as  to"  the  Philistines.  O"*.  This  conclusion 
is  confirmed  by  the  nature  of  the  objects  sent  to  propitiate  Jehovah.  Mice  among  the  lOgyp- 
tians,  and  therefore  in  all  probability  among  the  Philistines,  who  had  long  been  absorbing 
Egyptian  civilization,  were  the  .symbols  of  the  plague.  The  golden  boils,  r)rcpared  in  accordance 
with  the  primitive  belief  that  a  cure  could  be  effected  by  making  a  representation  of  the  disease, 
as  well  as  the  details  of  the  story,  leave  little  (loubt  that  the  pestilence  was  the  terrible  bubonic 
plague.  The  story  throughout  contains  the  iioi)ular.  primitive  explanation  of  this  tiread 
scourge,  the  physical  cau.ses  of  which  were  entirely  unknown,  and  which  was  universally  re- 
garded as  a  direct  judgment  from  God.  The  Judean  plague  stories  in  Kx.  and  the  description 
of  the  pestilence  recorded  by  the  same  school  in  II  Sam.  24  pre.sent  very  close  analogies. 

■■  .5^  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  has,  ark  of  God.  Later  Jewish  scribes  manifest  a  strong  tendency 
to  substitute  God  for  Jehovah. 

"  .5^  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  has  an  abbreviated  text. 

py  The  Gk.  and  Luc.  have,  raised  up.      Hut  cf.  for  Heb.  idif)m  7'-. 

"J  5*  A  word  appears  to  have  dropiied  out  of  the  Heb.,  which  reads,  07ily  Dagon  U'as  left 
of  him.     This  makes  no  .sense. 

'  5'  The  last  clause  is  from  the  Gk.,  but  it  appears  to  be  original.     Cf.  Zeph.  1". 

.'5D 


ISAM.  5"]  THE  WORK  OF  SAMUEL  [I  Sam.  G^ 

Early  Judean  Narratives 

^An<l  when  the  men  of  Ashdod  saw  that  it  was  so,  they  said,  the  ark  of  the 
God  of  Israel  shall  not  remain  with  us;  for  his  hand  is  severe  upon  us  and 
Dagon  our  god.®  ^So  they  sent  and  gathered  all  the  tyrants  of  the  Philis- 
tines to  them,  and  said.  What  shall  we  do  with  the  ark  of  the  God  of  Israel .'' 
And  they  answered,  Let  the  ark  of  the  God  of  Israel  be  brought  around  to 
Gath.  So  they  brought  the  ark  of  the  God  of  Israel  around.  ^But  after 
they  had  brought  it  around,  the  hand  of  Jehovah  was  against  the  city — 
there  was  a  very  great  panic — and  he  smote  the  men  of  the  city,  both  young 
and  old,  so  that  boils  broke  out  upon  them.  ^^Therefore  they  sent  the  ark 
of  God  to  Ekron.  But  when  the  ark  of  God  came  to  Ekron,  the  Ekronites 
cried  out,  saying.  They  have  brought  around  the  ark  of  the  God  of  Israel 
to  us,  to  slay  us  and  our  people.  ^  ^They  sent  therefore  and  gathered  together 
all  the  tyrants  of  the  Philistines  and  said.  Send  away  the  ark  of  the  God  of 

Israel,  that  it  may  go  back  to  its  own  place  and  not  kill  us  and  our  people. 

For  a  deadly  panic  had  seized  the  entire  city;  the  liand  of  God  was  very  heavy  tliere. 
'^And  the  men  who  did  not  die  were  smitten  with  tlie  boils;  and  the  cry  of  lamentation, 
from  the  city  went  up  to  heaven.* 

Plans  6  'And  the  ark  of  Jehovah  was  in  the  country  of  the  Philistines  seven  months. " 

turnhig  ^Then  the  Philistines  summoned  the  priests  and  the  diviners,  saying.  What 
the  ark  shall  we  do  with  the  ark  of  Jehovah  ?  Show  us  how  we  shall  send  it  to  its 
place.  ^And  they  said.  If  you  are  sending  the  ark  of  the  God  of  Israel, 
you  must  not  send  it  away, empty;  but  you  must  return  to  him  a  trespass- 
offering.  Then  you  will  be  healed  and  it  shall  be  made  known  to  you  why 
his  hand  is  not  removed  from  you.  '^Then  said  they,  What  shall  be  the 
trespass-offering  which  we  shall  return  to  him  ?  x\nd  they  said.  Five  golden 
boils,  and  five  golden  mice,^'  corresponding  to  the  number  of  the  tyrants  of 

the  Philistines;  for  one  plague  was  upon  you  as  well  as  upon  your  tyrants. 

^Therefore  you  shall  make  images  of  your  boils,  and  images  of  your  mice  that  mar  the 
land;  and  you  shall  give  glory  to  the  God  of  Israel;  perhaps  he  will  lighten  his  hand 

from  upon  you  and  your  gods  and  your  land."  ^Why  then  will  you  make  your 
hearts  stubborn,  as  the  Egyptians  and  Pharaoh  made  their  hearts  stub- 
born ?  Was  it  not  after  he  had  made  sport  of  them  that  they  let  them  go 
so  that  they  departed  ?^  "Now  therefore  take  and  prepare  a  new  cart,  and 
two  milch  cows  upon  which  the  yoke  has  not  come;  and  fasten  the  cows  to 
the  cart,  but  you  shall  leave  their  calves  behind  them  at  home.  ^And 
take  the  ark  of  Jehovah  and  place  it  on  the  cart  and  put  the  golden  objects 

'  5^  This  verse  may  be  due  to  editorial  expansion,  for  instead  of  the  Ashdodites  of  ^-  ^  the 
term  ynen  of  Ashdod  is  used.  A  different  verb  is  also  employed  in  the  familiar  idiom,  the  hand 
of  God  was  heavy.  Vs.  *  very  naturally  continues  ^  although  ''  is  not  absolutely  inconsistent 
with  its  context. 

t  511  b-i-'  Evidently  from  another  source  or  more  probably  an  editorial  expansion.  CI.  hand 
of  God  and  the_  variant  idiom,  deadly  panic  (in  ^  great  panic).  The  peculiar  idiom,  the  cry 
went  up,  in  i^b  jg  found  elsewhere  in  the  priestly  passage,  Ex.  2-^.  The  Heb.  word  is  different 
from  that  translated  cry  in  '".     The  continuation  of  5"^  is  6^. 

"  6'  The  Gk.  adds,  and  their  land  sicarmed  with  mice. 

''  6^  The  Gk.  omits,  five  golden  mire,  here  but  retains  them  in  ^  and  omits  the  mention 
of  the  boils.  The  evidence  seems  to  indicate  that  both  were  found  in  the  original:  the  boils 
as  symbols  of  the  bubonic  plague,  and  the  mice  as  symbols  of  pestilence  in  general.     Cf.  note  §  4. 

"  6^  Evidently  an  explanatory  note  added  by  an  editor  who  did  not  understand  the  sym- 
bolism of  the  mice  and  who  wished  to  glorify  Israel's  God  by  the  testimony  of  the  hated  Philis- 
tines. 

^  6^  Possibly  also  an  editorial  expansion  with  a  religious  purpose.  The  references  are 
to  passages  found  not  in  the  Ephraimite  but  Judean  sources,  Ex.  7",  8"-  2*,  9''  ",  10-. 

60 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  THE  ARK  [I  Sam.  6^ 

Early  Judcan  Narratives 

which  you  are  returning  to  him  as  a  trespass-offering,  in  a  box  at  its  side. 
TRen  send  it  away  that  it  may  depart.  ^And  see,  if  it  goes  on  the  way  to 
its  own  border  to  Bethshemesh,  then  it  is  he  who  hath  done  us  this  great 
harm,  but  if  not,  then  we  sliall  know  that  it  was  not  his  hand  that  smote 
us;  it  was  an  accident  that  befell  us. 

^•'And  the  men  did  so,  and  took  two  milch  cows  and  fastened  them  to  Its  res- 
the  cart,  and  shut  up  their  calves  at  home.  ^^And  they  placed  the  ark  of  tfJn  to 
Jehovah  on  the  cart,  and  the  box  with  the  golden  mice  and  the  images  of  their  ^^^  He- 

brews 

boils.-''  ^-And  the  cows  took  a  straight  course  in  the  direction  of  Beth- 
shemesh; they  went  along  the  highway,  lowing  as  they  went,  and  did  not 
turn  aside  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left.  And  the  tyrants  of  the  Philis- 
tines went  after  them  to  the  border  of  Bethshemesh.  ^-^And  the  inhabitants 
of  Bethshemesh  were  harvesting  their  wheat  in  the  valley.  And  they  lifted 
up  their  eyes  and  saw  the  ark,  and  came  rejoicing  to  meet  it.*^  ^^And  when 
the  cart  came  into  the  field  of  Joshua  the  Bethshemeshite,  it  stood  still  there. 
And  a  great  stone  was  there.     So  they  sjilit  up  the  wood  of  the  cart  and 

offered  the  cows  as  a  burnt-offering  to  Jehovah.  '^But  the  Levites  took  down 
the  ark  of  Jehovah  and  the  box  that  was  witli  it,  in  which  were  the  golden  objects, 
and  placed  them  on  the  great  stone;  and  the  men  of  Bethshemesh  offered  to  Jehovah 
on  that  day  burnt-offerings  and  ordinary  sacrifices. «     ^*^And  when  the  five  tyrants 

of  the  Philistines  saw  it,  thev  returned  to  Ekron  on  that  dav. 

I'And  these  are  the  golden  boils  which  the  Philistines  returned  as  a  trespass-offering  Confir- 
to  Jehovah :  for  Ashdod  one,  for  Gaza  one,  for  Ashkelon  one,  for  Gath  one,  for  Ekron  ination 
one.     '*But  the  golden  mice  correspond  to  the  number  of  all  the  cities  of  the  Philis-  °'  "^^ 
tines  belonging  to  the  five  tyrants,  both  of  fortified  cities  and  of  country  villages.''  ^  '^^^ 

And  a  witness  is  the  great  stone,®  by  which  they  set  down  the  ark  of 
Jehovah.     To  this  day  it  is  in  the  field  of  Joshua  of  Bethshemesh. 

^^The  sons  of  Jechoniah,  however,  did  not  rejoice  with  the  men  of  Beth-  The 
shemesh,  when  they  looked  upon  the  ark  of  Jehovah.^     So  he  smote  among  Beth- 
them  seventy  men  ;S  and  the  peoijle  mourned  because  Jehovah  had  smitten  s'\ein- 

'    .  on  •         ^^     ^ 

the  people  with  a  great  slaughter.     -"And  the  men  of  Bethshemesh  said,  Kir- 
Who  is  able  to  stand  before  Jehovah  this  holy  God  ?     And  to  whom  shall  j'earim 
lie  go  up  from  us.''     -^Then  they  sent  messengers  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Kiriath-jearim,  saying.  The  Philistines  have  brought  back  the  ark  of  Je- 
hovah.    Come  down  and  bring  it  up  to  you.     7   ^So  the  men  of  Kiriath- 
jearim  came,  and  brought  up  the  ark  of  Jehovah,  and  carried  it  into  the 

»  6"  The  Gk.  omits,  and  the  images  of  their  boils. 

^  e''  So  Ok.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  to  see  it. 

c  6'-'  Prohahly  from  a  priestly  editor  who  felt  the  lack  of  projier  attendance  and  .service 
in  connection  with  the  ark.  Vs.  "  records  the  original  sacrifice,  while  '*  reflects  the  point  of 
view  of  later  Judaism. 

d  gi7.  is:i  \  recapitulation  in  the  spirit  and  lanRuage  of  the  late  Jewish  scribes.  It  also 
seeks  to  explain  the  double  symbolism  of  the  golden  tumors  and  mice. 

«  6"*''  Heb.,  even  to  the  great  rneadon\  Rut  this  translation  is  doubtful  and  gives  no 
sense.  A  change  of  one  letter  gives  the  original  reachng,  stone,  preserved  by  the  Ok.  and  T.-irg. 
A  slight  correction  in  the  traditional  vocalization  of  the  Heb.  also  gives  the  above  intelligible 
and  consonant  reading. 

'6'"  So  Gk.  Heb.,  OTid  he  smote  of  the  men  of  Bethshemesh,  because  they  had  looked 
at  the  ark  of  J ehovnh.  and  he  smote,  etc.  Not  only  does  this  contain  an  awkward  rciiotition 
but  also  an  iilea  foreign  to  the  prophetic  narratives.  It  seems  probable,  tlierefore,  that  the 
Heb.  simply  represents  the  clumsy  attempt  of  a  scribe  to  correct  a  corrupt  te.\t.  The  Gk. 
reading  is  consistent  anil   original. 

"C'  Fifty  thou.sand  is  added  and  is  evidently  an  awkward  gloss,  suggested  by  the  state- 
ment that  there  was  a  great  slaughter. 

61 


I  Sam.  7I]  THE  WORK  OF  SAMUEL 

Earbj  Judean  Narratives 

house  of  Abinadab  on  the  hill,  and  consecrated  Eleazar  his  son  to  guard 
the  ark  of  Jehovah.  ^apj-Qj^  tj^e  time  the  ark  began  to  abide  in  Kiriath- 
jearim,  many  years  passed,  and  it  was  twenty  years.  •» 

§  5.  The  Secret  Anointing  of  Saul  by  Samuel,  I  Sam.  O'-IO''  »-i8 
Earhj  Judean  Saul  Narratives 

Saul's         I  Sam.  9  ^Now  there  was  a  man  of  Gibeah',  whose  name  was  Kish  the 

and''^    son  of  Abiel,  the  son  of  Zeror,  the  son  of  Becorath,  the  son  of  Aphiah,  a 

apF^ear-  Benjamite,  a  man  well  to  do.J     ^And  he  had  a  son  whose  name  was  Saul, 

a  man  in  the  prime  of  life  and  handsome;  and  there  was  not  one  among  the 

Israelites  more  handsome  than  he.     From  his  shoulders  and  upwards  he 

was  higher  than  any  of  the  people.'' 

His  3j\Jo\y  thg  she-asses  of  Kish,  Saul's  father,  were  lost.     And  Kish  said  to 

for'the  Saul  his  son,  Take  now  one  of  the  servants  with  you  and  arise  and  go  seek 

^°^}'        the  asses.     "^And  they'  passed  through  the  hill-country  of  Ephraim,  and  the 

land  of  Shalishah,  but  did  not  find  them.     Then  they  passed  through  the 

land  of  Shaalim,  but  they  were  not  there.     And  they  passed  through  the 

land  of  the  Benjamites  but  did  not  find  them. 

Appeal       ^When  they  were  come  into  the  land  of  Zuph,  Saul  said  to  his  servant 

uel  ^'^"  who  was  with  him,  Come,  let  us  return,  lest  my  father  cease  thinking  of  the 

asses  and  become  anxious  for  us.     ^And  he  answered  him.  Behold  now, 

there  is  in  this  city  a  man  of  God,  and  the  man  is  held  in  honor;  all  that 

he  says  is  sure  to  come  true.     Now  let  us  go  thither;  perhaps  he  can  give  us 


•>  7-*  All  of  '^  may  be  from  a  later  editor  who  wished  to  introduce  the  account  of  the  deliv- 
erance which  follows.     If  so,  the  last  clause  is  a  still  later  insertion. 

§  5  Chap.  4  records  a  sweeping  victory  of  the  Philistines  over  the  Hebrews,  who  were 
completely  vanquished  and  left  without  leaders  or  defenders.  Chaps.  9'-10"^,  11,  13.  14  reflect 
precisely  the  same  conthtions.  Samuel  himself  at  Jehovah's  command  is  seeking  for  a  leader 
who  shall  save  his  people  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philistines;  for  Jehovah  has  seen  the  affliction 
of  his  people  and  their  cry  for  deliverance  has  come  up  to  him,  9'*'''.  The  whole  land  and 
people  were  held  in  abject  bondage  to  the  Philistines.  Cf.  especially  IS'''  "'--3.  Not  until 
Saul  and  Jonathan  finally  succeeded  in  rallying  the  people  to  successful  resistance  were  they 
relieved  of  the  intolerable  burden.  Hence  it  is  perfectly  obvious,  that  if  the  overwhelming 
victory,  recorded  in  T^",  as  a  result  of  which  it  is  stated  that  the  Philistines  ivere  subdued 
and  came  no  more  within  the  border  of  Israel,  and  the  cities  which  the  Philistines  had  taken 
from  Israel  were  restored  to  Israel  from.  Ekron  even  to  Gath,  '3,  i4_  jj^s  any  historical  basis, 
it  has  been  introduced  by  a  later  editor  into  a  wrong  setting,  where  it  obscures  the  real  course 
of  history.  In  note  §  7  the  reason  of  this  transposition  and  the  evidence  that  it  is  the  later 
prophetic  version  of  the  victory  recorded  in  13,  14  will  be  indicated. 

The  citation  in  9'-10""'  from  the  early  Judean  Saul  narratives  (cf.  Introd.,  pp.  10,  11)  at  once 
puts  the  reader  into  touch  with  the  problems  and  leaders  of  the  period.  Like  a  clear  mirror 
it  reflects  conditions  as  they  actually  were,  without  doctrinal  or  traditional  bias.  The  interest 
centres  in  the  sturdy  young  warrior  Saul,  while  Samuel  is  the  patriotic  seer  of  Ranlah,  intent 
upon  finding  the  man  to  deliver  the  people  from  the  Philistine  yoke.  The  literary  style  is 
vivid,  concise,  dramatic,  abounding  in  dialogues,  realistic — the  style  of  the  oldest  stories  in 
Judges  and  the  Hexateuch.  So  complete  and  consistent  is  the  narrative  that  the  original 
editor  who  quoted  it  and  his  successors  found  little  occasion  to  supplement  it.  To  the  student 
of  history  and  literature  it,  and  the  citations  from  the  same  source  which  foUow,  are  among 
the  inestimable  treasures  of  the  O.T. 

'9'  I  Sam.  114,  10'-",  assume  that  Saul  is  from  Gibeah.  This  word  has  probably  fallen 
out  of  the  text,  for  the  latter  part  of  the  verse  states  the  fact  that  Kish  was  a  Benjamite. 

J  9'  I.e  ,  a  man  of  wealth  and  standing  in  the  community.  Cf.  Ruth  2',  but  also  I  Kgs.  11^, 
I  Chr.  9". 

^  Q-  Cf.  10^3.     This  may  here  be  an  editorial  addition  to  complete  the  portrait. 

'  9^  So  Gk.     In  the  Heb.  some  of  the  verbs  are  in  the  singular. 

62 


THE  ANOINTING   OF  SAUL  [I  Sam.  9^ 

Early  Judean  Saul  Narratives 

information  regarding  the  mission  on  which  we  are  going.  "Then  Saul 
said  to  his  servant,  But,  suppose  we  go,  what  shall  we  take  to  the  man  ?  for 
the  bread  is  gone  from  our  sacks,  and  there  is  no  present  to  take  to  the  man 
of  God.  What  have  we  ?  ^And  the  servant  answered  Saul  again,  and  said, 
See  I  have  with  me  a  fourth  part  of  a  silver  shekel,  and  you™  shall  give  it  to 
the  man  of  God  that  he  may  furnish  us  information  regarding  our  mission. 
^(Formerly  in  Israel,  when  a  man  went  to  inquire  of  God,  thus  he  said,  Come  let  us 
go  to  the  seer;  for  he  who  is  now  called  a  prophet  was  previously  called  a  seer).° 
lOThen  Saul  said  to  his  servant,  Your  advice  is  good;  come,  let  us  go.  So 
they  went  to  the  city  where  the  man  of  God  was. 

^^As  they  were  going  up  the  ascent  to  the  city,  they  met  young  maidens  Meet- 
going  out  to  draw  water  and  said  to  them.  Is  the  seer  here  ?     ^-^And  they  an-  ^jf  j^ 
swered  them  and  said,  He  is;  behold  he  is  before  you.     Make  haste  now,  t^*^ 

seer 
for  he  is  come  to-day  into  the  city;  for  the  people  have  a  sacrifice  to-day 

on  the  high  place.     ^"^As  soon  as  you  come  to  the  city,  you  will  at  once  find 

him  before  he  goes  up  to  the  high  place  to  eat;  for  the  people  will  not  eat 

until  he  come,  for  he  is  to  bless  the  sacrifice;  and  afterwards  the  guests 

eat.     Now  therefore    go    up;    for  at  this    time    you  will    meet    him.     ^^So 

they  w^ent  up  to  the  city.     When  they  came  within  the  city  gate,°  Samuel 

was  just  coming  out  toward  them,  to  go  up  to  the  high  place.     ^^Now  Jehovah 

had  given  to  Samuel,  a  day  before  Said  came,  the  following  revelation, p 

^^At  this  time  to-morrow  I  will  send  thee  a  man  out  of  the  land  of  Benjamin 

and  thou  shalt  anoint  him  to  be  a  prince  over  my  people  Israel.     And  he 

shall  save  my  people  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philistines;  for  I  have  seen  the 

affliction^  of  my  people  and  their  cry  has  come  to  me.     ^'^And  when  Samuel 

saw  Saul,  Jehovah  indicated  to  him.  This  is  the  man  of  whom  I  spoke  to 

thee  !     He  it  is  who  shall  rule  over  my  people.     ^^Then  Said  drew  near  to 

Samuel  in  the  gate,  and  said.  Tell  me,  if  you  will,  where  the  seer's  house  is. 

^^And  Samuel  answered  Saul  and  said,  I  am  the  seer;  go  up  before  me  to 

the  high  place,  for  you  shall  eat  with  me  to-day;  and  in  the  morning  I  will 

let  you  go,  and  will  tell  you  all  that  is  in  your  heart.     ^''And  as  for  your 

asses  that  were  lost  three  days  ago,  do  not  trouble  yourself""  about  them  for 

they  have  been  found.     And  to  whom  belongs  all  that  is  desirable  in  Israel  ? 

Does  it  not  to  you,  and  to  your*^  father's  house?     -^And  Saul  answered  and 

said,  Am  I  not  a  Benjamite,  of  the  smallest  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and  is  not 

my  family  the  least  of  all  the  families  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  ?     Why  then 

do  you  speak  thus  to  me  ? 

^^And  Samuel  took  Saul  and  his  servant  and  brought  them  into  the  hall  At  the 

and  made  them  sit  at  the  head  of  the  guests  (who  were  about  thirty  persons),  p^^f' 

meal 

"  9'  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  Jleh.,  I  wiV  give.  Syr.,  Lat*  Targs.,  we.  These  changes  seem  later. 
Cf.  for  a  simi  ar  chanRe  in  Gk.  v.  ■^. 

"  Q'-*  .apparently  a  later  explanatory  note.  It  fits  the  context  very  awkwardly,  for  the 
seer  is  first  introduced  in  '*. 

n  9'^  Heb.,  cit]/,  but  "*  favors  gate.     Gk.,  as  they  were  proceeding  into  the  midst  of  the  city. 

p  9""  Heb.,  uncovered  the  ear. 

1  9'"  So  Gk.,  liiic,  and  Targs.     Heb.  omits  affliction. 

'  9^"  Heb.,  put  iioiir  mind  on. 

•  9-'o  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds,  all. 

G3 


ISAM.  923]  THE  WORK  OF  SAMUEL 

Early  Jiidean  Saul  Narratives 

23And  Samuel  said  to  the  cook,  Bring  the  portion  I  gave  you,  which  "I  told 
you  to  put  aside.  -^And  the  cook  took  up  the  leg'^  and  placed  it  before 
Saul.  And  Samuel  said,  See,  the  meat  is  served  !  eat !  for  it  was  kept  for 
you  until  the  appointed  time,  that  you  might  eat  with  those  whom  I  have 
invited."  So  Saul  ate  with  Samuel  that  day. 
Public        -^And  after  they  came  down  from  the  high  place  into  the  city,  they  spread 

fnT'iiv"  ^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^"'  °^  ^^^^  ^°^^'  ^'^"^  ^^^  ^^y  flown.  -*^Then  at  daybreak  Samuel 
Samuel  called  to  Saul  on  the  roof,  saying.  Up,  that  I  may  send  you  away.^  So  Saul 
arose,  and  he  and  Samuel"'  went  out  into  the  street,  ^^^g  they  were  going 
down  at  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  Bid  the  servant  pass 
on  before  us,^  but  you  stand  here  that  I  may  make  known  to  you  the  word 
of  God.  10  ^Then  Samuel  took  the  vial  of  oil,  and  poured  it  on  his  head, 
and  kissed  him  and  said.  Hath  not  Jehovah  anointed  you  to  be  a  prince  over 
his  people  Israel  ?  And  you  shall  reign  over  the  people  of  Jehovah  and  de- 
liver them  from  the  power  of  their  enemies  around  about.  And  this  shall 
be  the  sign  that  Jehovah  has  anointed  you  to  be  a  prince  over  his  heritage:^ 
^when  you  go  from  me  to-day  you  shall  find  two  men  at  Rachel's  tomb,^ 
in  the  boundary  of  Benjamin  at  Zelzah;  and  they  will  say  to  you,  '  The  asses 
which  you  went  to  seek  are  found,  and  now  your  father  has  dismissed  the 
matter  of  the  asses  and  is  anxious  for  you,  saying,  "  What  shall  I  do  for  mj 
son  ?  "  '  ^Xhen  you  shall  go  on  from  there  and  come  to  the  oak  of  Tabor; 
and  there  three  men  going  up  to  God  to  Bethel  will  meet  you,  one  carrying 
three  kids,  and  another  carrying  three  loaves  of  bread,  and  another  carrying 
a  skin  of  wine.  ^And  they  will  salute  you  and  give  you  two  loaves  of  bread 
which  you  shall  take  from  their  hand.  ^After  that  you  shall  come  to  Gibeah, 
where  is  the  garrison*'  of  the  Philistines;  and  furthermore  when  you  come 
thither  to  the  city,  you  shall  meet  a  band  of  prophets  coming  down  from 
the  high  place  with  a  lyre,  a  tambourine,  a  flute,  and  a  harp  before  them;  and 
they  will  be  prophesying.  ^And  the  spirit  of  Jehovah  will  rush  upon  you, 
and  you  shall  prophesy  with  them  and  shall  be  turned  into  another  man. 
^And  when  these  signs  come  to  you,  you  shall  do  as  the  occasion  offers  ;<i 
for  God  is  with  you.® 


*  9-*  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds,  and  hrouoht  it  {the  leg)  up. 

"  9-''  The  present  Heb.  text  has  suffered  so  much  in  transmission  that  it  is  impossible  to 
translate  it  as  it  stands.  The  above  reconstruction  (which  incorporates  suggestions  of  Gk., 
Budde  and  Smith)  at  least  represents  the  sense  of  the  passage. 

V  925.  26a  go  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Lat.  When  two  minor  errors  are  corrected  in  the  Heb.  it  gives 
the  same  reading. 

■^  9-*  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds,   both  of  them. 

^  9-^  So  Gk.  and  Sjt.  The  Heb.  adds,  and  he  passed  on,  which  seriously  interrupts  the 
context. 

^  10"^  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Lat.  A  later  copjdst,  possibly  by  mistake  or  else  because  he 
regarded  it  as  not  fulfilled  in  the  work  of  Saul  and  especially  inharmonious  with  8,  left  it  out 
in  the  Heb. 

•>  10-  E\-idently  not  identical  with  the  tomb  of  Rachel  of  later  tradition  which  was  found 
near  Bethlehem. 

<^  10'  The  Heb.  word  is  variously  translated.  Gk.,  pillar;  Targs.,  soldiers;  Lat.  and  Syr., 
post  or  rjarrison.     In  IS^  the  same  word  occurs. 

'^  lO'  Heb.,  irhat  there  your  hand  finds. 

'  W  Vs.  s  has  no  connection  with  its  context  and  anticipates  the  corresponding  later 
addition  to  the  story  in  13'-i5.     Cf.  note  §  8. 

64 


THE  ANOINTING   OF  SAUL 


[I  Sam.  109 


Early  Judcati  Saul  Xarrativcs 

^Accordingly  when  he  turned  his  back  to  go  from  Samuel,  God  gave  him  Meet- 
another  heart, ^  and  all  those  signs  came  to  pass  that  day.     ^'^And  just  as  he  '^"fij 
came  thence  to  Gibeah,  a  band  of  prophets  met  him,  and  he    prophesied  *'^e 
among  them.     ^^And  when  every  one  who  knew  him  saw  him  in  the  act  of  of" 
prophesying  with  the  prophets,  the  people  said  to  one  another,  What  is  this  ^l^^^' 
that  has  come  upon  the  son  of  Kish  ?     Is  Saul  also  among  the  prophets  ? 
^-And  one  of  the  bystanders  answered  and  said,  And  who  is  their^  father  ? 
Therefore  it  became  a  proverb,  Is  Saul  also  among  the  prophets  ?     ^^  \j^,] 
when  he  had  made  an  end  of  prophesying,  he  went  to  the  high  place. 

^^And  Saul's  cousin  said  to  him  and  to  his  servant,  Where  did  you  go  ?  Return 
And  he  said.  To  seek  the  asses;  and  when  we  saw  that  they  were  not  found,  '^°'"'^ 
we  went  to  Samuel.     ^■''And  Saul's  cousin  said,  Tell  me,  I  pray,  what  Samuel 
said  to  you.     ^"^And  Saul  said  to  his  cousin.  He  told  us  definitely  that  the 
asses  were  found.    J3ut  concerning  the  matter  of  the  kingdom,  of  which 
Samuel  had  spoken,  he  told  him  nothing.'^ 

§  6.  Events  Connected  with  Saul's  Election  as  King,  I  Sam.  T'^-S-,  10"-1225 

Later  Ejjhraimite  Samuel  Narratives 


Early  Judean  Saul  N^ar- 
rativcs 

I  Sam.  10  27b^o^,  jt 
came  to  pass  after  about 
a   month  11  Hhat    Na- 


7  ^-^Now  Samuel  judged  Israel  all  the  days  of  Sam- 
his  life.     ^^And  he  used  to  go  around  from  year  "u^ge. 
to  year  in  succession  to  Bethel,  Gilgal,  and  Miz-  sl^'P 


f  10"  This  clause  may  be  secondary;  the  latter  part  of  the  verse  tells  of  the  fulfilment 
of  the  sii^n. 

e  10'-  Gk.,  his  father. 

ii  iQiiib  This  may  be  a  later  note,  the  contents  of  which  is  impUerl  by  ■-^.  The  word  kijigJom 
is  found  only  in  the  later  passages,  10'^'  11'*. 

§  6  The  establishment  of  the  Hebrew  kingdom  under  Saul  was  an  event  of  such  far-reaching 
significance  that  succeeding  generations  inevitably  estimated  it  very  differently.  The  oldest 
account  is  evidently  that  in  11'-'^.  It  reflects  the  same  conditions  as  are  presented  in  9'- 10"'. 
The  Israelites  are  the  prey  of  their  hostile  neighbors  and  have  no  leader  until  Saul,  already 
encouraged  by  Samuel,  like  the  champions  whose  deeds  are  recorded  in  the  corresponcling 
stories  in  .Judg.,  challenges  the  warriors  to  follow  him  against  the  insolent  Ammonites.  When 
he  returns  victorious,  he  is,  like  Gideon  (Judg.  8),  asked  to  be  their  king  and  leader.  The 
simplicity  of  the  narrative  and  its  consistency  with  actual  conditions  estabhsh  its  priority  and 
hLstorical  accuracy. 

Very  different  were  the  traditions  cherished  by  the  later  prophets.  The  figure  of  an  Elijah, 
an  I'.Iislia,  or  an  Isaiah  dictating  in  the  name  of  Jehovah  to  king  and  peojile  was  on  the  one 
hand  prominently  before  them.  On  (he  utlier  the  evils  of  the  kingship,  as  exemi)lifipd  in  the 
despotic,  lu.xurious,  and — to  their  enlightencil  point  of  view — .aijostate  reigns  of  such  kings 
a.s  Solomon  and  Ahab,  were  uppermost  in  the  minds.  To  them  the  kingshi])  seemed  a  ste[) 
not  forward  from  anarchy  and  oppression,  as  it  actually  was,  but  backward  from  that  ideal 
theocracy  which  their  imagination  had  unconsciously  i)ro.iected  on  the  canvas  of  their  early 
pa.'it.  AH  Israel  wa.s  conceived  of  as  enjoying  the  benign  guidance  of  the  great  iirophct-judge, 
Samuel.  To  him  they  are  represented  as  coming  with  the  demand  for  a  king,  and  he,  voicing 
in  8  the  mature  experiences  and  conclusions  of  prophets  like  Hosca,  seeks  to  <li.*sua<le  them 
by  pointing  out  the  baneful  conser|uonccs.  Since  they  persist,  he  at  last  reluctantly  con- 
sents, referring  the  ehfuce  through  the  lot,  directly  to  ."lehovah,  10'"-'.  Then  follows  a  long 
and  noble  address,  full  of  historical  illustrations,  recalling  the  traditional  farewells  of  Moses 
in  Dt.  and  Joshua  in  Josh.  2.3,  24  (cf.  Vol.  I,  §§  104,  128\  in  which  Samuel  i>reaches  to  the 
people,  a.s  would  the  prophetic  successors  of  Hosea  and  Isaiah  in  the  pre.seiice  of  the  audience 
and  conditions  which  they,  through  the  dim  light  of  tradition,  seemed  to  .see  confronting 
hitii. 

A.9  has  already  been  shown,  Introd..  f)p.  12,  13,  the  relationship  of  these  sections  to  the  later 
r.fihraiinite  narratives  seems  well  established.  >So  widely  divergent  are  the  style,  point  of 
view,  and  ret)rc.sentation  of  the  iirimitive  and  later  iirophctic  sources  that  the  analysis  is  com- 
pan-.tively  ea.sy.  While  the  hislori;in  naturally  follows  the  one  ami  ma.\'  almost  ignore  the 
otherj  the  religious  and  ethical  teacher  fitids  in  the  latter,  valuable  prophetic  (cachings  and 
principles,  possessing  a  perennial  value  entirely  independent  of  their  setting. 

65 


Recep- 
tion of 
the 
news 
by  Saul 


IS.ui.lli]  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [I Sam.  7I6 

Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

pah;  and  he  used  to  judge  Israel  in  all  those 
places.  ^"And  his  return  was  to  Ramah,  for 
there  was  his  home;  and  there  he  judged  Israel. 
And  there  he  built  an  altar  to  Jehovah. 

8  ^But  when  Samuel  was  old  he  appointed  his 
sons  judges  over  Israel,  ^^nj  i\^q  name  of  his 
eldest  was  Joel,  and  the  name  of  his  second, 
Abijah;  they  were  judges  in  Beersheba.J  ^How- 
ever his  sons  walked  not  in  his  ways,  but  turned 
aside  after  unjust  gain  and  took  bribes  and  per- 
verted justice. 

■^Then  all  the  elders  of  Israel  assembled  and 
came  to  Samuel  at  Ramah,  ^and  they  said  to  him, 
See,  you  have  become  old  and  your  sons  walk  not 
in  your  ways.  Now  appoint  for  us  a  king  to 
judge  us  like  all  the  nations.  '^But  the  state- 
ment displeased  Samuel,  when  they  said.  Give 
us  a  king  to  judge  us.  And  Samuel  prayed  to 
Jehovah.  '^And  Jehovah  said  to  Samuel,  Listen 
to  the  voice  of  the  people  according  to  all  that 
they  say  to  thee;  for  they  have  not  rejected  thee, 
but  they  have  rejected  me  from  being  king  over 

them.  sLike  all  the  deeds  wliich  they  have  done  to 
me  since  the  day  that  I  brought  them  up  out  of  Egypt 
even  to  this  day,  in  that  they  have  forsaken  me  and 
served  other  gods,  so  also  are  they  doing  to  thee.'' 
^Now  therefore  hearken  to  their  voice,  except 
that  thou  shalt  solemnly  warn  them,  and  shalt 
show  them  the  prerogative  of  the  king  who  shall 
reign  over  them. 

^^And  Samuel  told  all  the  words  of  Jehovah 
to  the  people  who  were  asking  of  him  a  king. 
^^And  he  said,  This  will  be  the  prerogative  of  the 
king  who  shall  reign  over  you :  he  will  take  your 
sons  and  appoint  them  for  himself  over  his  char- 
iots and  horsemen ;  and  they  shall  nm  before  his 
chariots;  ^-and  he  shall  appoint  them  for  himself 
as  commanders  of  thousands  and  commanders  of 
hundreds,^  and  some  to  plow  his  ground  and  to 


Early  Judean  Saul  Nar- 
ratives 

hash  the  Ammonite  came 
up  and  besieged  Jabesh 
in  Gilead;>  and  all  the 
men  of  Jabesh  said  to  Na- 
hash.  Make  terms  with 
us  and  we  will  serve  you. 
2But  Nahasli  the  Am- 
monite said  to  them.  On 
this  condition  will  I  make 
terms  with  you:  that  I 
bore  out  the  right  eye  of 
each  of  you  and  thereby 
bring  a  reproach  upon  all 
Israel.  ^And  the  elders 
of  Jabesh  said  to  him. 
Give  us  seven  days  res- 
pite, that  we  may  send 
messengers  through  all 
the  territory  of  Israel. 
Then  if  there  be  none  to 
save  us  we  will  come  to 
you. 

^So  the  messengers 
came  to  Gibeah  of  Saul 
and  recounted  the  facts  in 
the  hearing  of  the  people, 
and  all  the  people  wept 
aloud.  ^And  Saul  was 
just  coming  from  the  field 
after  the  oxen.  And  Saul 
said.  What  is  the  trouble 
with  the  peojjle  that  they 
are  weeping  ?  Then  they 
told  him  the  words  of  the 
men  of  Jabesh.  ^^nd 
the  spirit  of  Jehovah™ 
rushed  upon  Saul  when 
he  heard  these  words,  and 


Crimes 
of  his 
sons 


Popu- 
lar de- 
mand 
for  a 
king 
and 
Jeho- 
vah's 
re- 
sponse 


Sam- 
uel's 
warn- 
ing re- 
garding 
a  king 


'  10"b,  111  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  and  a  slightly  corrected  Heb.  text.  Present  Heb.,  and  he 
was  like  me  holding  his  -peace. 

k  fa^Tit''  '^"^'•'  ^^'  32,  one  in  Bethel  and  one  in  Beersheha.  This  vs.  may  be  a  later  insertion. 
.  *  8»  The  direction  continuation  of  ^  is  9.  The  language  of  *  is  that  of  the  late  prophetic 
writers.     It  also  contradicts  ?. 

'  812  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Lat.  Yi.eh.,  fifties.  Cf.  Ex.  18=1  ■  25^  and  I  Sam.  22^,  which  supposes 
the  reading  given  above. 

?  1 1*  So  Gk.,  Targs.,  and  certain  Heb.  MSS.  and  the  prevailing  usage  in  the  chapter. 
Received  Heb.  text,  God. 

66 


I  S-^M.  116] 


ites  un- 
der 
Saul 


Early  Judcan  Saul  \ar- 
rativcs 

his  anger  was  greatly 
aroused.  "And  he  took 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  cut 
them  in  pieces,  and  sent 
them  throughout  all  the 
territory  of  Israel  by  the 
hand  of  messengers,  say- 
ing, Whoever  does  not 
come  forth  after  Saul  and 
after  Samuel,  so  shall  it 
be  done  to  his  oxen. 
The  de-  Then  a  terror  from  Je- 
anceby  hovah  fell  upon  the  peo- 
tl»e  pie,  and  they  rallied  as 
one  man.  *And  he  mus- 
tered them  in  Bezek;  and 
the  Israelites  were  three  hun- 
dred thousand,  and  the  men 
of  Judah   thirty  tliousand." 

^And  they  said  to  the 
messengers  who  came. 
Thus  say  to  the  men  of 
Jabesh  in  Gilead,  '  To- 
morrow, by  the  time  the 
sun  becomes  hot,  deliver- 
ance shall  come  to  you.' 
So  the  messengers  came 
and  told  the  men  of  Ja- 
besh, and  they  were  glad. 
^•^Therefore  the  men  of 
Jabesh  said.  To-morrow 
we  will  come  out  to  you, 
and  you  shall  do  to  us 
whatever  you  please. 
^^Accordingly  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  Saul  divided 
the  peo[)le  into  three  di- 
visions; and  they  came 
into  the  midst  of  the  camp 
in  the  morning  watch, 
and  smote  the  Ammonites 


SAUL'S  ELECTION  AS  KING  [I  S.ui.  8i2 

Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 


reap  his  harvest  and  to  make  his  implements  of 
war  and  the  furnishings  for  his  chariots.  I3\nj 
he  will  take  your  daughters  to  be  perfumers  and 
to  be  cooks  and  to  be  bakers.  ^"^And  of  your 
fields  and  your  vineyards  and  your  oliveyards, 
he  will  take  the  best  and  give  them  to  his  ser- 
vants. ^°And  he  will  take  the  tithe  of  your 
grain  fields  and  of  your  vineyards  and  give  to 
his  eunuchs  and  to  his  servants.  I'^And  he  will 
take  your  men-servants  and  your  maid-servants, 
and  the  best  of  your  cattle"  and  your  asses,  and 
use  them  for  his  work.  i"He  will  take  the  tithe 
of  your  flocks;  and  you  shall  become  his  servants. 
i^Then  you  will  cry  out  in  that  day  on  account 
of  your  king  whom  you  will  have  chosen  for 
yourselves;  but  Jehovah  will  not  answer  you  in 
that  day. 

^^But  the  people  refused  to  listen  to  the  voice 
of  Samuel,  and  said.  Nay,  but  a  king  shall 
be  over  us,  ^Otl^at  ^g  also  may  be  like  all  the 
nations,  and  that  our  king  may  judge  us  and  go 
out  before  us  and  fight  our  battles,  ^l  ^^d  Sam- 
uel heard  all  the  words  of  the  people  and  repeated 
them  to  Jehovah.  22.^jj(^  Jehovah  said  to  Sam- 
uel, Listen  to  their  voice  and  make  them  a  king. 
And  Samuel  said  to  the  men  of  Israel,  Go  every 
man  to  his  city.P 

10  ^"And  Samuel  called  the  people  together  to 
Jehovah  to  Mizpah;  ^^and  he  said  to  the  Israel- 
ites, Thus  saith  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel,  '  I 
brought  up  Israel  out  of  Egypt,  and  I  delivered 
you  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,  and  out  of 
the  hand  of  all  the  kingdoms  that  were  oppressing 
you.  ^^But  you  yourselves  have  this  day  re- 
lected  vour  God,  who  hiniself  has  been  savins: 
you  from  all  your  calamities  and  your  distresses, 
and  you  have  said  to  him,  '  Nay,  but  a  king  shalt 
thou  set  over  us.'  Now  therefore  present  your- 
selves before  Jehovah  by  your  tribes  and  by  your 
thousands. 


Persist- 
ent de- 
mand 
of  the 
people 


Denun- 
ciation 
of  their 
ingrati- 
tude 


"  8"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  young  men.  but  those  have  already  been  alluded  to  in  ". 

o  ]  jsb  Xumbers  are  not  usually  civen  in  the  earliest  stories  and  their  size  in  tliis  case 
is  good  esidonce  that  they  have  been  supplied  by  an  editor. 

P  8221,  This  may  have  been  added  by  an  edi(or  in  f>rder  to  introduce  the  narrative  in  Q'-IO'", 
but  it  b  also  demanded  by  10'^.     P"or  a  similar  assembly  at  Mizpah  cf.  7". 


67 


ISAM,  nil]  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  IQNGDOM  [I Sam.  IO20 


Early  Judean  Saul  Nar- 
ratives 

until  the  heat  of  the  day. 
And  then  they  who  re- 
mained scattered,  so  that 
no  two  of  them  were  left 
together. 

[lis  J^And  the  people  said  to 

election  Samuel,  Who  is  he  that  says, 
asking  '  gaul  sliall  not»  reign  over 
us?'  Hriiig  the  men  tiiat 
we  may  put  them  to  death. 
"And  Saul  said,  To-day  not 
a  man  shall  be  put  to  death, 
for  to-day  Jehovah  hath 
wrought  deliverance  in  Is- 
rael. 

"Then  said  Samuel  to  the 
people,  Come,  and  let  us  go 
to    Gilgal,    and    renew    the 

kingdom  there'.    ^^And  all 

the  people  went  to  Gilgal ; 

and  there  they  made  Saul 

king   before  Jehovah   in 

Gilgal ;    and   there   they 

sacrificed  peace-offerings 

before    Jehovah;     and 

there   Saul   and    all    the 

of    Israel    rejoiced 


men 
exceedingly. 


Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

2OS0  Samuel  brought  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  Choice 
near,  and  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  was  taken.  ^lAnd  by'iot" 
he  brought  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  near  by  their 
clans;  and  the  clan  of  the  Matrites  was  taken ;  and 
he  brought  near  the  clan  of  Matri  man  by  mani 
and  Saul  the  son  of  Kish  was  taken;  but  when 
they  sought  him  he  could  not  be  found.  ^-There- 
fore  they  asked  of  Jehovah  further.  Did  the  man  " 
come  hither  ?^  And  Jehovah  answered,  Behold, 
he  hath  hid  himself  among  the  baggage.  -^And 
one  ran  and  brought  him  from  there.  And  as  he 
stood  among  the  people,  he  was  taller  than  any  of 
the  people  from  his  shoulders  upward.  -^And 
Samuel  said  to  all  the  people.  Have  you  seen  him 
whom  Jehovah  hath  chosen  ?  for  there  is  none 
like  him  among  all  the  people.  And  all  the 
people  shouted  loudly,  May  the  king  live  I^ 

13  iTlien  Samuel  said  to  all  Israel,   See,  I  Sam- 
have  hearkened   to  your  voice  in  all   that  you  resigna- 
have  said  to  me  and  have  appointed  a  king  over  *'"'? 

^And  from  now  on,  behold  the  king  who  farewell 


you.     "^Ana  irom  now  on, 

will  go  before  you;  but  as  for  me,  I  am  old  and 
gray,  and  mj^  sons  are  with,  you :  and  I  have  walked 
before  you  from  my  youth  to  this  day.  ^Here 
am  I !  Testify  against  me  before  Jehovah,  and 
before  his  anointed :  whose  ox  have  I  taken .''  or  whose  ass  have  I  taken  ? 
or  whom  have  I  oppressed  ?  whom  have  I  defrauded  .'  or  from  w'hose  hand 
have  I  taken  a  ransom,  or  a  sandal  ?^  Testify  and  I  will  restore  it  to  you. 
^And  they  said.  You  have  not  oppressed  us,  nor  defrauded  us,  nor  have  you 
taken  anything  from  any  man's  hand.  ^Therefore  he  said  to  them,  Jehovah 
is  witness  against  you,  and  his  anointed  is  witness  this  day,  that  you  have 
not  found  anything  in  my  hand.     And  they^  said,  He  is  witness.     ^Then 


1  lOr^^  Gk.  has  retained  this  clause,  which  is  wanting  in  the  Heb.  but  demanded  by  the 
sense. 

■■  10—  So  Gk.     It  is  in  harmony  with  the  answer  of  Jehovah  which  follows. 

'  ll"^  So  Gk.,  Syr.,  and  Targs.     The  Heb.  omits  the  negative. 

t  iin-u  Yiss  12  and  '^ti  contain  clear  allusions  to  the  secondary  tradition  in  10'^--^  and  " 
is  dependent  upon  ^-.  These  verses  therefore  appear  to  have  been  introduced  to  harmonize 
the  two  variant  traditions  and  to  give  Samuel  the  commanding  position.  The  original  narra- 
tive probably  here  recorded  the  fact  that  the  people  asked  Saul,  who  had  proved  himself  their 
deli\-erer,  to  become  their  king. 

"  10-*  Samuel's  address  in  12  naturally  follows  the  pubUc  choice  of  the  king  and  precedes 
the  formal  dismissal  of  the  people  recorded  in  lO-^--'.  The  transposition  was  doubtless  made 
by  the  editor  who  brought  in  the  account  in  11  of  Saul's  ^^ctory  over  the  Ammonites,  which 
in  the  early  narratives  led  to  his  being  chosen  by  the  people. 

^12^  So  Gk.,  confirmed  by  Ben  Sira  46'^.  '  Minor  corruptions  in  the  Heb.  have  given  the 
very  different  reading.  As  in  Ruth  4**.  9  the  sandal  may  well  represent  the  transfer  of  title 
to  property  offered  to  the  judge  as  a  bribe. 

"  125  So  Gk.     Heb.,  he  said. 


68 


SAUL'S  ELECTION  AS  KING  [I  S.^i.  126 

Later  Ephraimite  Sarnuel  Xarratives 

Samuel  said  to  the  people,  Jehovah  is  witness,  who  appointed  ^Nloses  and 
Aaron ^  and  who  brought  your  fathers  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 

"Now  therefore  take  your  stand  that  I  may  declare  to  you  before  Jehovah  The  his- 
all  the  righteous  acts  of  Jehovah,  which  he  did  to  you  and  to  your  fathers.  ^"[J.^,!;^ 
^^Yhen  Jacob-^'  came  to  Egypt,   and  your  fathers  cried   to  Jehovah,   then  spect 
Jehovah  sent  Moses  and  Aaron  to  bring  your  fathers  out  of  Eg}^t,  and  matle'^ 
them  dwell  in  this  place.     ^But  they  forgot  Jehovah  their  God,  and  he  sold 
them  into  the  hand  of  Sisera,  commander  of  the  army  of  Hazor,  and  into 
the  hand  of  the  Philistines  and  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Moab;  and  they 
fought  against  them.     ^^And  they  cried  to  Jehovah   and   said.   We  have 
sinned  because  we  have  forsaken  Jehovah  and  served  the  Baalim  and  the 
Ashtartes.     But  now  deliver  us  out  of  the  hand  of  our  enemies,  and  we  will 
serve  thee.     ^^And  Jehovah  sent  Jerubbaal,   and   Barak,^   and  Jephthah, 
and  Samuel,  and  delivered  you  out  of  the  hand  of  your  enemies  round  about 
you  so  that  you  dwelt  in  safety.^      12 And  j^ou  saw  that  Nahash  the  king  of  the 
Ammonites  came  against  you^'.       And  you  said  to  me,  '  Nay,  but  a  king  shall 
reign  over  us,'  although  Jehovah  your  God  was  your  king. 

^^Now  therefore  see  the  king  whom  you  have  chosen,^  for  Jehovah  has  The 
now  set  a  king  over  you.     ^^If  you  will  fear  Jehovah  and  serve  him  and  ^°arl>-" 
listen  to  his  voice,  and  not  rebel  against  the  commandment  of  Jehovah,  and  both  i"g 

you  and  the  king  who  reigns  over  you  follow  Jehovah  your  God,  well.  i^But 
if  you  will  not  hearken  to  the  voice  of  Jehovah,  but  rebel  against  the  commandment 
of  Jehovah,  then  shall  the  hand  of  Jehovah  be  against  you  and  your  king,  f  ^*^Now 
therefore  take  your  stand  and  see  this  great  thing,  which  Jehovah  is  about 
to  do  before  your  eyes.  ^'^Is  it  not  wheat  harvest  to-day  ?  I  will  call  upon 
Jehovah,  to  send  thunder  and  rain;  and  vou  shall  know  and  see  that  vour 
wickedness  is  great,  which  you  have  done  in  the  sight  of  Jehovah  in  asking 
you  a  king.  ^*So  Samuel  called  upon  Jehovah,  and  Jehovah  sent  thunder 
and  rain  that  day;  and  all  the  people  were  greatly  afraid  of  Jehovah  and 
Samuel. 

^^Then  all  the  people  said  to  Samuel,  Intercede  with  Jehovah  your  God  Confes- 
in  behalf  of  your  servants  that  we  die  not;  for  we  have  added  to  all  our  sins  t^^'peo- 
the  crime  of  asking  a  king.     2013^^  Samuel  said  to  the  people.  Fear  not;  p'e  and 
you  have  indeed  done  all  this  evil,  yet  do  not  turn  aside  from  following  uel's 
Jehovah,  but  serve  Jehovah  with  all  j'our  heart;  ^land  do  not  turn  aside  after  vain  g^i^J^r- 
things  which  cannot  profit  or  deliver,  for  they  are  vain.     ^^For  Jehovah  because  tation 
of  his  great  name  will  not  cast  away  his  people,  for  Jehovah  has  undertaken 
to  make  you  a  people  for  himself.     ^^Moreover,  as  for  me,  far  be  it  from  me 

*  12^  The  Heb.  is  corrupt.     The  Gk.  and  Luc.  have  preserved  the  text  followed  above. 

y  12'  And  his  sons  is  added  in  the  Gk. 

»  12"  Heb.,  tliey  (i.e.,  Moses  and  Aaron)  made  them  dwell;  but  this  is  contrary  to  all  tlie 
early  traditions.     The  Gk.  again  has  a  consonant  reading  wliich  i^  here  followed. 

^  12"  Heb.,  Bedan;  evidently  a  corruption  for  Barak,  which  is  preserved  in  Gk.,  Luc, 
and  Syr. 

c  i2"'-ii  This  entire  retrospect  may  !)e  from  the  late  prophetic  editor. 

<i  12'-  The  reference  to  Nahash  is  apparently  based  upon  tlie  early  Judean  narrative  in 
11,  and.  if  so,  is  from  a  later  editor  familiar  with  l)f)(h  sources. 

'■  12'-''  So  (ik.      Ilelj.  adds  i)le<)nas(icallv,  ri'iirl  iiiiom  i/uu  have  asked. 

'  12''  So  Gk.  and  demanded  by  '"\  Tlie  Heb.,  and  ayainst  your  fathers,  is  an  obvious 
error. 

69 


I  Sam.  1223]   THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  KINGDOM 


Dis- 
missal 
of  the 
people 


jMter  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

that  I  should  sin  against  Jehovah  in  ceasing  to  intercede  for  you;  but  I  will 

instruct  you  in  the  good  and  the  right  way.     ^^Only  fear  Jehovah  and  serve 

him  in  truth  with  all  your  heart,  for  you  see  what  a  great  thing  he  hath  done 

in  your  presence.     -^But  if  you  persist  in  doing  wrong,  both  you  and  your 

king  shall  be  destroyed. 

10  '-"^Tlms  Samuel  ^e^•ealed  to  the  people  the  manner  of  the  kingdom,  and  wrote 
it  in  a  book,  and  laid  it  up  before  Jehovah.  And  Samuel  sent  all  the  people  away, 
each  man  to  his  home.  20  4^^  Saul  also  went  to  his  home  at  Gibeah ;  and  there  went 
with  him  the  brave  mens  whose  hearts  God  had  touched.  27a But  there  were  base 
scoundrels  who  said,  How  shall  this  man  save  us?  And  they  despised  him,  and  brought 
him  no  present.'' 


§  7.  The  Great  Deliverance  from  the  Philistines,  I  Sam.  7^-'*, 

jgl-la,   6,  7a,   15b_2^46,   52 

Later  Ephraimite 
Saviuel  Narratives 


Early  Judean  Saul  Narratives 


I  Sam. 

of  Israel:' 


13  ^Saul  chose  him  three  thousand  men 
two  thousand  were  with   Said  in  Mich- 


i 


7  2bThen  all  the  Confes- 
nation  Israel  turned  o/'the 
to    Jehovah.     3^\nd  people 
Samuel  spoke  to  all 
the     nation    Israel, 


Out- 
break 
of  the 
war        mash  and  on  the  mountain  of  Bethel  and  a  thousand 

ad-        were  with  Jonathan  his  son^  in  Gibeah  of  Benjamin. 

of?he     ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^  the  people  he  had  sent  each  to  his  home. 

Philis-      

E  10-^  So  Gk.     Heb.,  army  or  fighting 'force. 

h  io25-2"a  These  verses  appear  to  be  simply  editorial,  and  are  intended  to  explain  Saul's 
appearance  in  the  role  of  a  private  citizen  in  11. 

§  7  Originally  in  the  early  .Tudean  Saul  history  13,  14  immediately  followed  11.  The 
garrison  of  the  Philistines,  peculiar  to  this  source,  again  figures  prominently  in  the  story. 
Cf.  IS''  *.  To  the  original  narrative  in  13,  however,  there  was  closely  joined  at  an  early  period 
a  secondary  tradition  which  represents  Saul  as  rallying  liis  forces  not  at  Gibeah,  the  seat  of  the 
battle,  but  at  the  ancient  sanctuary  of  Gilgal,  far  down  in  the  Jordan  valley,  where  he  waits 
seven  days  for  Samuel  to  appear  and  offer  a  sacrifice.  Its  interest  is  not  in  the  war,  but  in 
the  reason  why  Saul's  family  was  rejected  by  Jehovah  and  forfeited  the  throne  to  David. 
Cf.  §  8.  This  story  is  found  in  '"'•  *■  7b-i5a_  Vs.  '"  appears  to  be  common  to  the  older  and  later 
narratives.  The  exaggerated  numbers  in  ^^  probably  belong  to  the  later.  The  fact  that  the 
Philistines  encamped  in  Michmash  is  first  stated  in  the  earlier  narrative  in  "'''.  Removing 
these  later  editions,  a  remarkably  complete  and  consistent  record  remains  of  the  epoch-making 
deli%'erance  of  the  Hebrews  from  their  Philistine  oppressors. 

Of  the  manner  in  which  the  great  victory  was  wrought  a  very  different  tradition  was 
current  in  the  later  Ephraimite  prophetic  circles.  Since  the  deliverance  took  jjlace  wliile 
Samuel  was  still  alive  (cf.  15),  it  was  an  inevitable  result  of  their  peculiar  conception  of  the 
history  of  the  period  (cf.  note  §  6)  that  they  should  tliink  of  him  as  the  leading  agent  in  accom- 
plishing it,  and  of  the  method  as  direct  supernatural  intervention.  Their  version  is  found 
in  7'^'*.  It_  has  been  supplemented  at  many  points  by  a  late  projahetic  editor,  but  the  language 
and  the  point  of  view  are  those  which  characterize  the  later  Ephraimite  prophetic  school. 

The  points  of  contact  between  the  primitive  and  late  tradition  are  suggestive:  not  Gibeah 
of  Saul,  but  .Mizpah,  the  place  where  according  to  the  later  source  Samuel  gathered  the  people 
to  elect  Saul  king,  10'^,  is  where  he  again  assembles  them,  y^-"'  ".  Thither  the  Philistines 
come,  when  they  hear  of  the  rally  of  the  Israelites,  '',  just  as  in  the  earlv  Judean  they  advance 
after  Jonathan's  attack  on  the  garrison  at  Gibeah,  1.33.  ^a.  le.  in  hoth  the  Hebrews  were  seized 
Viath  terror.  In  the  older  account  Jonathan  precipitates  the  battle  bv  attacking  the  Philistine 
stronghold,  in  the  later  Samuel  offered  a  sacrifice  and  praved  to  Jehovah  for  deliverance, 
^ne  reeords  that  the  earth  quaked.  14'5,  the  other  that  Jehovah  thundered  irith  a  lovd  voice; 
both  that  the  Philistines  retreated  in  confusion,  pursued  by  the  Israelites.  The  older  source 
states  that  there  was  bitter  war  with  the  Philistines  all  the  days  of  Saul,  14''2,  while  the  later, 
losmg  the  historical  perspective  and  reflecting  conditions  first  realized  in  the  days  of  David, 

. '  1^2  The  Gk.  which  begins  the  chapter  with  2  has  here  been  followed.  The  Heb.  has 
the  impossible  reading  in  •,  Saul  iras  a  year  old  when  he  began  to  reign  and  he  reigned  tiro  years 
over  Israel.  The  fact  that  it  is  lacking  in  the  Gk.  strongly  suggests  that  it  is  a  very  late  addi- 
J^?"t,  A'  *  scnbe  who  felt  that  the  framework  of  Sam.-Kgs.  demanded  some  such  introduction. 
Cf.  II  Sam.  2'0,  5*.  14^i,  etc. 

,        M32  In  the  Heb.  the  designation,  his  son,  which  is  required  here  where  Jonathan  is  first 
introduced,  is  lacking,  but  is  retained  in  the  Syr. 


70 


I  S.^M.  133]     DELIVERANCE  FROM  THE  PHILISTINES    [I  Sam.  1^ 
Early  Jiidean  Saul  Narratives 


^Then  Jonathan  smote  the  garrison  of  the  Phihstines 
that  was  in  Gibeah.'^  And  the  PhiHstines  heard  the 
report,  The  Hebrews  have  revoUod.  But  Saul  had 
meantime  caused  the  trumjiet  to  be  blown  throughout 
all  the  land.'  '^'^And  all  Israel  heard  the  report,  Saul 
has  smitten  the  garrison  of  the  Philistines,  and  also 
Israel  has  brought  itself  into  ill  odor  with  the  Philis- 
tines. ^^And  the  Philistines  were  gathered  together 
to  fisrht  with  Israel.  ^When  the  men  of  Israel  saw 
that  they  were  in  a  strait  (for  the  people  were  hard 
pressed),"  the  people  hid  themselves  in  caves,  in  holes,'' 
in  rocks,  in  tombs,  and  in  pits.  ''^Also  many  peopleP 
went  over  the  Jordan  to  the  land  of  Gad  and  Gilead. 
i^^'And  Saul  numbered  the  people  who  were  with  him, 
about  six  hundred  men.  ^*^And  Saul  and  Jonathan 
his  son,  together  with  the  people  who  were  with  them, 
were  staying  in  Gibeah^  of  Benjamin,  while  the  Phi- 
listines encamped  in  Michmasli.  ^''And  the  plunderers 
came  out  of  the  camp  of  the  Philistines  in  three  divis- 
ions: one  division  turned  in  the  direction  of  Ophrah  in 
the  land  of  Sluial,  ^^and  another  division  turned  in  the 
direction  of  Bethhoron,  and  another  division  turned 
in  the  direction  of  the  hill""  that  looks  down  over  the 
valley  of  Zeboim  toward  the  wilderness. 
Lack  of  i"Xow  there  was  no  smith  found  throughout  all  the  land  of 
arms  in  Israel,  for  the  Philistines  said,  Lest  the  Hebrews  make  sword 
Israel      or  spear;  ^obut  all  the  Israelites  went  down  to  the  Philistines 


Later  Ephraimite 
Samuel  Narratives 


all 


saying.  If  with 
your  heart  you  are 
returning  to  Jeho- 
vah, then  put  away 
the  foreign  gods  and 
the  Ashtartes""  from 
among  you  and 
direct  your  hearts 
towards  Jehovah 
and  serve  him  alone 
that  he  may  deliver 
you  out  of  the  hand 
of  the  Philistines. 
^Then  the  Israelites 
put  away  the  Baal- 
im and  the  Ashtar- 
tes,  and  served 
Jehovah  only. 

^And  Samuel  said,  Victory 
Assemble  all  Israel  ^fjf^^^ 
at  Mizpah  and  I  will  t'^es 
intercede     for     you 
with  Jehovah.     ^So 
they    assembled    at 
Mizpah,   and    drew 
water    and    poured 


asserts  that  they  were  sub  ued  and  came  no  more  within  the  border  of  Israel  and  that  all  the 
cities  from  Ekron  to  Gath  fell  into  tlie  hands  of  the  Israelites,  7''''  '^. 

The  evidence  in  the  Hght  of  the  oldest  sources  that  the  Philistine  encroachments  con- 
tinued without  interruption  from  the  days  of  Samson  to  those  of  Saul,  has  already  been  noted 
(cf.  note  §  5).  That  7^"  represents  in  reality  the  later  version  of  the  events  recorded  in  13,  14 
is  also  obvious.  The  reason  why  the  later  tradition  is  given  its  early  position  in  I  Sam.  is 
primarily  because  the  later  prophets  naturally  assigned  the  great  deliverance  to  that  early- 
idealized  period,  when  they  conceived  of  Samuel  as  ruling  as  a  theocratic  judge  oyer  all  Israel. 
Cf.  note  §  6.  Later  editors  also  retained  it  in  this  early  position,  for  nowhere  else  in  the  history 
could  a  place  be  found  for  it  wlicre  the  striking  inconsistencies  with  tlie  other  narratives  would 
not  be  obvious  even  in  an  uncritical  age.  It  is  chiefly  valuable  to-day  because  it  vividly  ulus- 
trates  the  growth  of  tradition  aiul  express,es  that  absolute  faith  in  Jehovah's  direct  leadership 
'and  r>rotection  of  his  peojile  which  was  one  of  the  noblest  messages  of  the  Hebrew  prophets. 

^  Vi'  So  certain  versions  and  domanded  by  10''  and  supported  by  14"',  and  by  the  Ok. 
in  1.3'".  Heb.,  Oeba;  but  in  the  original  they  are  easily  confused  as  the  variant  readings  of 
the  versions  testify.  f?    l     i     j 

'  13-'  As  it  now  stands  the  Heb.  reads,  and  Saul  blew  the  trumpet  throuohovt  all  the  land, 
saying.  Let  the  Hebrews  hear.  Hut  the  designation  ffebreus  in  the  mouth  of  an  Israelite 
i.s  unprecedented.  It  i.s  appropriate  rather  on  the  lijis  of  the  PhiHstines.  Instead  of  hear 
the  Ok.  has  revolted.  Following  this  reading  and  transposing  this  clau.se,  we  ha\e  what  was 
the  original  text.  ^    , 

'"  7-'  Ok.,  f/roves.     Cf.  .ludg.  2",  where  Ok.  has  the  Phoenician  form,  Ashlarlcs. 

n  1.3"  Or  following  a  suggestion  of  tlie  Ok.,  the  repetition  is  eliminated  by  reading,  07i 
all  sides.     Or  the  Heb.  may  moan,  for  the  army  of  the  Philistines  drew  near  for  battle. 

"  1.3"  Ileb.,  thickets.  A  slight  emendation  gives  the  above  more  consistent  reading. 
QV..,  enclosed  spaces  or  folds. 

p  13'"  The  Heb.  and  Gk.  make  no  sense.  The  simple  transposition  of  two  letters  gives 
the  above  reading. 

'I  131"  So  C.k.     Cf.  14'"  anil  note  "<,     Ilcb.,  Geba. 

'  13'»  So  Ok.     Heb.,  border. 

71 


I  Sam.  1320]  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  KINGDOM  [I  Sam.  7^ 
Early  Judcan  Saul  Narratives 


Jona- 
than's 
pro- 
posal 


to  sharpen  each  his  plowshare  and  his  coulter  and  his  ax  and 
his  mattock ;  -'yet  they  had  a  file  for  the  mattocks,  and  for  the 
coulters  and  for  the  forks  and  for  the  axes  and  to  set  the  ox- 
goatls. "  "So  it  came  to  pass  on  the  day  of  Michmash  that 
none  of  the  people  with  Saul  and  Jonathan  had  either  sword 
or  spear;  but  Saul  and  Jonathan  his  son  had  them.' 

^•^And  the  garrison  of  the  Phihstines  went  out  to  the 
pass  of  Michmash.  14  ^Now  on  that  day  Jonathan 
the  son  of  Saul  said  to  the  young  man  who  bore  his 
armor,  Come  and  let  us  go  over  to  the  Philistines'  gar- 
rison, that  is  on  the  other  side.  But  he  did  not  tell  his 
father.  ^And  Saul  was  sitting  in  the  outskirts  of  Gib- 
eah  under  the  pomegranate  tree  which  is  by  the  thresh- 
ing-Hoor,"  and  the  people  who  were  with  him  num- 
bered about  six  hundred  men.  ^And  Ahijah  the  son 
of  Ahitub,  Ichabod's  brother,  the  son  of  Phinehas,  the 
son  of  Eli.  the  priest  of  Jehovah  at  Shiloh,  was  in 
charge  of^  an  ephod.  And  the  people  did  not  know 
that  Jonathan  had  gone.  ^And  between  the  passes  by 
which  Jonathan  sought  to  go  over  to  the  Philistines' 
garrison  there  was  a  rocky  crag  on  the  one  side,  and 
a  rocky  crag  on  the  other  side;  and  the  name  of  the  one 
was  Bozez  [the  Shining],  and  the  name  of  the  other 
Seneh  [the  Thorny].  ^The  one  crag  rose  up  on  the  north 
in  front  of  Michmash,  and  the  other  on  the  south  in  front 
of  Geba.  ^And  Jonathan  said  to  the  young  man  who 
bore  his  armor.  Come,  let  us  go  over  to  the  garrison  of 
these  uncircumcised  Philistines^;  perhaps  Jehovah  will 
act  for  us,  for  there  is  nothing  that  can  prevent  Jehovah 
from  saving  by  many  or  by  few.  '^And  his  armorbearer 
said  to  him,  Do  whatever  your  judgment  dictates^;  see 
I  am  with  you;  your  wish  is  mine.  ^Then  Jonathan 
said.  See,  we  will  pass  over  to  the  men  and  show  our- 
selves to  them.  ^If  they  say  to  us,  '  Stand  still  until  we 
can  reach  you,'  then  we  will  stand  still  in  our  place, 
and  will  not  go  up  to  them,  ^^pyf  jf  they  say,  '  Come 
up  to  us,' then  we  will  go  up;  for  Jehovah  has  given 
them  into  our  hand ;  and  this  shall  be  the  sign  to  us.  ^ 


Later  Ephraimite 

Samuel  Narratives 

it  out  before  Jeho- 
vah, and  fasted  on 
that  day  and  said. 
We  have  sinned 
against  Jehovah. 
And  Samuel  judged 
the  Israelites  i  n 
M  i  z  p  a  h  .  ''And 
when  the  Philis- 
tines heard  that  the 
Israelites  had  as- 
sembled at  Mizpah, 
the  tyrants  of  the 
Philistines  went  up 
against  Israel.  And 
when  the  Israelites 
heard  it  they  were 
afraid  of  the  Philis- 
tines. 

^And  the  Israel- 
ites said  to  Samuel, 
Cease  not  to  cry  to 
Jehovah  our  God 
for  us,  that  he  will 
save  us  out  of  the 
power  of  the  Phi- 
listines. ^And  Sam- 
uel took  a  sucking 
lamb,  and  offered  it 
as  a  whole  burnt- 
offering  to  Jehovah ; 
and  Samuel  cried  to 
Jehovah  in  behalf  of 
Israel,  and  Jehovah 
answered  him. 
i^And  while  Samuel 


»  13-'  Only  a  conjectural  translation  of  this  verse  is  possible. 

I  1319-21!  These  ^■eI^ses  appear  to  be  a  later  explanatory  note.  Not  only  are  they  not  de- 
manded by  the  context,  but  they  also  are  not  entirely  consistent  with  the  representation  else- 
where.    Cf.  the  account  of  the  armed  pursuit  of  the  Philistines  in  14. 

"  142  Heb.,  Migron.  But  this  town  was  located  north  of  Michmash.  The  Heb.  word 
is  translated  by  Syr.  as  above. 

^  14-''  Lit.,  hearing.  , 

"  14'^  Heb.,  uncircumcised,  a  contemptuous  designation  of  the  Philistines. 

"  14"  So  Gk.  lit.,  all  to  ivhich  your  heart  (or  mind)  inclines,  which  appears  to  have  pre- 
served the  original  reading,  of  which  the  iiresent  awkward  Heb.,  Do  all  that  is  in  your  heart: 
turn,  behold,  I  am  with  you  according  to  your  heart,  is  the  corruption. 

a  1410  por  a,  similar  sign  cf.  Gen.  24",  where  Abraham's  servant  thus  appeals  to  Jehovah 
for  a  decision. 


72 


ISAM.  1411]  DELIVERANCE  FROM  THE   PHILISTINES   [IS.ui.7io 


Early  Judean  Saul  Narratives 

i^Now  when  both  of  them  showed  themselves  to 
the  garrison  of  the  Phihstines,  the  Phihstines  said, 
There  are  Hebrews  coming  out  of  the  holes  where  they 
have  hidden  themselves.  ^-And  the  men  of  the  garri- 
son cried  out  to  Jonathan  and  his  armorbearer,  say- 
ing, Come  up  to  us  that  we  may  tell  you  something. 
Then  Jonathan  said  to  his  armorbearer,  Come  up 
after  me;  for  Jehovah  has  given  them  into  the  hand  of 
Israel.  i-^And  Jonathan  climbed  up  on  his  hands  and 
feet,  and  his  armorbearer  after  him.  And  they  fell 
before^  Jonathan,  and  his  armorbearer  kept  despatch- 
ing them  after  him.  I'^And  in  the  first  attack  Jonathan 
and  his  armorbearer  slew  about  twenty  men  with  jave- 
lins and  rocks  from  the  field.*'  ^^And  there  was  a  trem- 
bling in  the  camp,  in  the  field,  and  among  all  the  peo- 
ple; the  garrison,  and  even  the  raiders  also  trembled; 
and  the  earth  quaked  so  that  it  produced  a  supernat- 
ural'^ panic. 

i^'And  the  watchmen  of  Saul  in  Gibeah  of  Benjamin 
looked,  and  saw  a  tumult  surging  hither  and  thither. ^ 
I'Tlien  said  Saul  to  the  j)eople  who  were  with  him.  In- 
vestigate now  and  see  who  is  gone  from  us.  And  when 
they  had  investigated  they  found  that  Jonathan  and 
his  armorbearer  were  not  there.  i^And  Saul  said  to 
Aliijah,  Bring  hither  the  ephod;^  for  at  that  time  he 
had  charge  of  the  ephod  before  Israel.  i^And  while 
Saul  was  yet  speaking  to  the  priest,  the  tumult  in  the 
camp  of  the  Philistines  kept  on  increasing.  Therefore 
Saul  said  to  the  priest,  Draw  back  your  hand.  20\j^j} 
Saul  and  all  the  people  that  were  with  him  responded 
to  the  call,  and  came  to  the  battle;  and  thereupon  every 
man's  sword  was  turned  upon  his  fellow  and  there  was 
very  great  confusion.     2i^\,ij  ti^g  Hebrews,'  who  were 


Later  Ephraimite 
Samuel  Xarratives 


was 


offering 


the 
burnt-offering,  the 
Philistines  drew 
near  to  fight 
against  Israel ;  but 
Jehovah  thundered 
with  a  loud  voice  on 
that  day  against  the 
I*  h  i  1  i  s  t  i  n  e  s ,  and 
threw  them  into 
confusion,  and  they 
were  defeated  be- 
fore Israel.  ^And 
the  men  of  Israel 
went  forth  from 
Mizpah  and  pur- 
sued the  Philistines 
and  smote  them  un- 
til they  were  below 
Bethcar. 

i^Then   Samuel  Memo- 
took  a  stone  and  set  refuft"^ 
it  between   Mizpah  of  the 
and    Yeshanas  and  ^^^  °^^ 
called    its    name 
Ebenezer,^     saying. 
Hitherto  hath  Jeho- 
vah helped  us.    i^So 
the    Philistines  were 
subdued  and  came  no 
more  within    the 

border   of    Israel. 
And    the  hand  of  Je- 


**  14"  Gk.  ami  Luc.,  iher/  looked  upon,  i.e.,  were  seized  with  terror  at  the  sight  of. 

c  i4UIj  xhe  Heb.  is  untranslatable.  The  questionable  renderinK.  irithhi  as  it  irere  half 
a  furrow's  lenijth  in  an  acre  of  land,  Rives  no  satisfactory  sense.  The  (il<.  interprets  it  as  refer- 
ring to  the  weapons  used  by  the  armorbearer.  The  Syr.  reading, ///vT  bearers  of  stone  or  like 
drivers  of  a  yoke  of  oxen  in  the  field,  is  intelligible,  but  seems  to  be  only  a  heroic  endeavor 
to  translate  certain  of  the  words.  A  radical  revision  of  the  text  gives  the  possible  rendering, 
■part  from  the  garrison  and  part  from  the  field,  which  would  refer  to  the  Philistines  slam. 

d  14>5  Ok.,  Luc,  and  Syr.,  of  Jehovah.      Heb.,  God. 

"  14'^  Making  a  slight  correction  required  in  the  Heb.,  ancl  suggested  by  the  Gk. 

'  14"*  The  fik.  has  uiifloubteilly  here  i)reserved  the  origiiKil  reading.  A  later  scribe 
evidently  substituted,  for  theological  reasons,  the  ark  of  God  for  ephod,  forgetting  that  the 
ark  was  still  at  Kirjath-jearim  and  that  according  to  the  oldest  narratives  it  never  appears 
to  have  been  used  as  an  oracle.     Acconling  tf>  ■'  .\hijah  xras  in  charge  of  the  ephod. 

«  7'-  .S()  (Jk.,  I>uc..  and  Syr.  Heb.,  Shen.  Yeshana  is  mentioned  in  II  Chr.  13'"  among 
the  Uenjamite  towns  and  was  probably  located  north  of  Ucthcl. 

''  7'''  Heb.,  Kben-ha-ezer  as  in  4  and  .5. 

'  14^'  Gk.,  slaves,  i.e.,  of  the  I'hilistines. 


73 


Saul's 
rash 
vow 
and 
Jona- 
than's 
viola- 
tion 
of  it 


I  Sam.  1421]       ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  KINGDOM      [I  Sam.  7i3 
Early  Judean  Saul  Narratives 


with  the  Phili.stiiios  heretofore,  who  had  come  up  into 
the  ciimj),'^  also  turned  to  be  with  the  Israehtes  who 
were  witli  Saul  and  Jonathan.  22Likewise  all  the  men 
of  Israel,  who  were  in  Jiiding  in  the  hill-country  of 
Ephraim,  when  they  heard  that  the  Philistines  fled, 
also  pursued  close  after  them  in  the  battle.  '-^^So  Jeho- 
vah saved  Israel  that  day,  and  the  battle  passed  over 
beyond  Bethhoron.^ 


Later  Ephraimiie 
Samuel  Narratives 

hovah  was  against  the 
Philistines  all  the  days 

of  Samuel.  J  I'^And 
the  cities  which  the 
Philistines  had 
taken  from  Israel 
were  restored  to  Is- 
rael from  E  k  r  o  n 
even  toGath;  and 
their  territorv  Israel 
delivered  from  the 
power  of  the  Philis- 
tines. And  there 
was  peace  between 
Israel  and  the  Am- 
orites. 


And  all  the  people  were  with  Saul,  about  ten  thousand  men;  and  the  fight- 
ing was  scattered  over  all  the  hill-country  of  Ephraim.  -^Then  Saul  com- 
mitted a  great  act  of  folly  that  day,"^  for  he  laid  an  oath  on  the  people,  saying. 
Cursed  is  the  man  who  shall  eat  any  food  until  evening  and  until  I  avenge 
myself  on  my  enemies.  So  none  of  the  people  tasted  food.  ^o^Tq^^  there 
was  honey  on  the  surface  of  the  groimd,"  -^and  when  the  people  came  to 
the  honeycomb,  °  the  bees  had  just  flown  away,  but  no  one  put  his  hand  to 
his  mouth,  for  the  people  feared  the  oath,  ^/g^j  Jonathan  had  not  heard 
when  his  father  adjured  the  people;  therefore  he  put  forth  the  end  of  the 
rod  that  was  in  his  hand  and  dipped  it  in  the  honeycomb  and  put  his  hand 
to  his  mouth,  and  his  eyes  were  lightened.  ^S'pj^pj^  spoke  up  one  of  the  people 
and  said,  Your  father  adjured  the  people  saying,  '  Cursed  be  the  man  who 
eats  food  this  day.'  But  the  people  were  exhausted,  p  ^Q'p}^^,^  gj^jj  Jonathan, 
My  father  has  brought  disaster  on  the  land.  See  how  I  have  been  re- 
freshed,^ because  I  tasted  a  little  of  this  honey.  ^^li  only  the  people  had 
eaten  freely  to-day  of  the  spoil  of  their  enemies  which  they  found,  how 
much  greater  would  have  been  the  slaughter  of  the  Philistines  I"" 


'  713  Characteristic  late  prophetic  expressions.     Cf.  Judg.  38-'!,  and  Dt.  9. 

^  14-1  Making  a  correction  in  the  Heb.  which  is  supported  by  the  Gk. 

'  1423  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb..  Bethaven. 

m  1423b, 2ja  g^  Qjj   ^^^  Jmc.  with  a  necessary  emendation. 

"  142^  The  first  part  of  the  verse  in  the  Heb.  is  untran.slatable.  The  original  meaning 
may  have  been,  all  the  land  flowed  with  honey,  cf.  Gk..  all  the  land  dined,  but  -^'^  is  more  probably 
but  a  repetition  of  ^sa  through  the  error  of  a  copyist  (the  land  being  equivalent  to  the  people 
as  in  29). 

"  14^.  Emending  the  Heb.  to  conform  with  the  Gk. 

p  14.8b  Apparently  a  scribal  comment.  It  awkwardly  disturbs  the  context.  It  would 
y^l'^f  harmonious  after  so  Various  emendations  have  been  propo.sed  of  which  the  more 
probable  are,  and  he  strictly  warned  the  people,  or,  joining  to  the  ne.xt  verse  in  accordance 
with  a  suggestion  of  .Josephus,  and  he  (Jonathan)  left  off  eating. 

"  1429  Heb.,  my  eyes  have  been  enliohtened. 

'  1430  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  and  one  possible  reading  of  the  Heb. 


74 


THE   DELIVERANCE   FROM  THE  PHILISTINES    [I  Sam.  14^1 

Early  Judean  Saul  Narratives 

•^^But  they  smote  the  Philistines  that  day  from  Michmash  to  Aijalon,®  Saul's 
and  the  people  were  very  faint.     32'j^|^^,jj  ^j^p  peoj)le  rushed  U|)on  the  sj)oil  nta!'^° 
and  took  sheep  and  oxen  and  calves  and  struck  them  to  the  earth,  and  the  Pjecau- 
people  ate  them  with  the  blood.     ^^When  they  told  Saul,  saying.  See,  the 
j)eople  are  sinning  against  Jehovah  in  eating  with  the  blood,  he  said  to 
those  who  told  him,'  Roll  hither"  to  me  a  great  stone.     '^''And  Saul  said. 
Go  out  among  the  people  and  say  to  them,  '  Let  each  man  bring  to  me  his 
ox  and  his  sheep,  and  slay  it  here  and  eat;  but  do  not  sin  against  Jehovah  in 
eating  the  flesh  together  with  the  blood.     And  all  the  people  brought  that 
night,  each  what  he  had  in  his  hand,^'  and  slew  them  there.     ^^So  Saul 
built  an  altar  to  Jehovah;  that  was  the  first  altar  that  he  built  to  Jehovah. 

^^And  Saul  said,  Let  us  go  down  after  the  Philistines  by  night  and  jjlunder  Penalty 
among"'  them  until  daybreak,  and  let  us  not  leave  a  man  of  them.  And  broken 
they  said.  Do  whatever  you  think  best.  Then  said  the  priest,  Let  us  here  "^'o^ 
draw  near  to  God.  ^''And  Saul  asked  of  God,  Shall  I  go  down  after  the  Phi- 
listines .'  Wilt  thou  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of  Israel  ?  But  he  did  not 
answer  him  that  day.  '^^And  Saul  said.  Come  hither,  all  you  chiefs^  of  the 
people  and  know  and  see  in  whom  is  this  guilt  to-day.  ^^For  as  Jehovah 
liveth,  who  delivereth  Israel,  though  it  be  in  Jonathan  my  son,  he  shall  surely 
die.  But  no  one  of  all  the  people  answered  him.  ^"^Then  he  said  to  all 
Israel,  You  be  on  one  side,  and  I  and  Jonathan  my  son  will  be  on  the  other 
side.  And  the  people  said  to  Saul,  Do  what  seems  good  to  you.  "^^There- 
fore  Saul  said,  Jehovah,  God  of  Israel,  why  hast  thou  not  answered  thy 
servant  this  day  ?  If  the  guilt  be  in  me  or  in  Jonathan  my  son,  Jehovah, 
God  of  Israel,  give  Urim;  but  if  the  guilt  is  in  thy  people  Israel,  give  Thum- 
mim.**  Then  Jonathan  and  Saul  were  taken  and  the  peojjle  escaped.  ^^And 
Saul  said.  Cast  the  lot  between  me  and  Jonathan  my  son.  He  whom  Jehovah 
shall  take,  must  die.  And  the  people  said  to  Saul,  It  shall  not  be  so  !  But 
Saul  overruled  the  people  and  they  cast  the  lot  between  him  and  Jonathan 
his  son.'^     And  Jonathan  was  taken. 

•^'^Then  Saul  said  to  Jonathan,  Tell  me  what  you  have  done.     And  Jona-  Jona- 
than told  him  saying,  I  did  indeed  taste  a  little  honey  with  the  end  of  the  eo'nfes- 
staff  that  was  in  my  hand;  and  here  I  am!     I  am  ready  to  die.''     ^^And  !^',"("  ^ig. 
Saul  said,  May  God  do  to  me  whatever  he  pleases,  you  shall  surely  die,  Jona-  liver- 


"  14'"  The  Gk.  reads,  in  Michmash,  and  omits,  to  Aijalon.  Smith  woulii  join  (his  clause 
to  the  precedinK  speech  of  .Jonathan,  omitting,  that  dan.  Of  the  proposed  emendation  tlie 
most  plausil)le  is,    from  midday  until   eveninr). 

t  14.1:1  ifeh.,  You  deal  treacherously ;  Gk.,  Gittaim  ;  but  a  probable  correction  in  the  text 
gives  the  above  reading. 

"  14'"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     A  minor  corrui)tion  in  Hot),  (fives  the  meaningless  reading,  this  day. 

"  14-'^  So  Ok.  and  Luc.      Ileb.,  each  his  oxen  his  hand. 

"  14*'  t)r  possibly  emending  the  text  to  accord  with  1 1",  let  us  smite  them. 

X  J4.1S   lie!).,   corner- stones. 

•  14"  I'V)rtunately  flie  Gk.  and  especi.ally  Luc.  have  preserved  what  bears  on  its  face  the 
evidence  rjf  being  the  original  reading.  The  occurrence  of  the  same  word  led  tlie  Fleb.  scribe 
to  overlook   the  omitted   material. 

''  H")^  A  similar  mistake  or  delil)orate  [lurixKse  appears  to  have  here  resulted  in  a  similar 
omission  in  the  Heb.  as  in  ■".  Again  the  Gk.  has  preserved  what  seems  to  be  an  original  ele- 
ment in  the  narrative. 

«  14«  Cf.  .Jo.sephus,  Antiq.  VI,  6^ 

75 


I  Sam.  11^^]    THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  KINGDOM 


Saul's 
mili- 
tary 
policy 


Early  Judean  Saul  Narratives 

than  !*^  '^''But  the  people  said  to  Saul,  Shall  tfonathan  die  who  has  wrought 
this  great  deliverance  in  Israel  ?  Far  from  it !  As  Jehovah  liveth,  there 
shall  not  one  hair  of  his  head  fall  to  the  ground,  for  he  has  wrought  with 
God  this  day.  Therefore  the  people  redeemed  Jonathan,  so  that  he  did  not 
die.  '^'^Then  Saul  went  up  from  pursuing  the  PhiUstines;  and  the  Philistines 
went  to  their  own  country. 

°-But  the  war  against  the  Philistines  was  severe  all  the  days  of  Saul. 
And  whenever  Saul  saw  any  valiant  or  efficient  man,  he  would  attach  him 
to  himself. 


,8.  Saul's  Disobedience  and  Rejection,  I  Sam.  10^  I3<b,  b,  7b.i5b^  151.38a 


Sam- 
uel's 
coni- 
inarid 
to  Saul 


Later   Judean   Prophetic 

Narratives 

I  Sam.  10  ^Now 
when  Samuel  anointed 
Said,  he  commanded  him, 
saying.  You  shall  go  down 
before  me  to  Gilgal,  and 
then  I  will  come  down  to 
you,  to  offer  burnt-offer- 
ings and  to  sacrifice  peace- 


Later  Ej)hraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

15  ^And  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  Jehovah  sent  Com- 
me  to  anoint  you  to  be  king  over  his  people  Israel.  <"  ^Q  g]^y 
Now  therefore  listen  to  the  words  of  Jehovah. *^  *;he 
"Thus  saitli  Jehovah  of  hosts,  '  I  have  determined  kites 
to  punish  that  which  Amalek  did  to  Israel,  in  that 
he  opposed  him  in  the  way,  when  he  came  up  out 
of  Egypt.    ^Now  go  and  smite  Amalek  and  utterly 
destroy  s  him  and  all  that  he  has,  and  spare  him 


^  l^**  Gk.  and  Syr.  add,  to  me.  Cf.  3''.  The  usual  condition  is  not  given,  but  instead  the 
sentence  is  interrupted,  thus  vividly  expressing  the  intensity  of  Saul's  feeling. 

I  8  The  untimely  death  of  Saul  and  the  misfortune  which  pursued  his  family  until 
his  kingdom  passed  completely  under  the  rule  of  another,  presented  a  moral  problem  to  later 
generations  akin  to  that  which  confronted  the  friends  of  .Job.  That  like  later  kings,  he  had 
sinned  against  .Jehovah  in  disobeying  the  divine  command  proclaimed  by  his  prophet,  was 
universally  believed;  but  regarding  the  exact  nature  of  that  sin  traditions  differed.  The 
oldest  is  found  in  IS"''-''''.  I^eferences  in  "  indicate  that  '•>  belongs  to  the  same.  The  un- 
explained change  of  geographical  background  from  Geba  in  ^  to  Gilgal  (beside  the  .Jordan)  in 
■'b  is  best  explained  on  the  basis  that  ^Ij  is  also  from  this  secondary  section.  The  strange  com- 
mand in  10*  to  go  down  to  Gilgal,  etc.,  which  has  no  connection  with  its  context  finds  its  true 
place  and  meaning  as  the  introduction  to  this  secondary  tradition  of  Saul's  rejection.  The 
fact  that  this  story  has  been  so  closely  grafted  on  to  the  early  Judean  account  of  the  Philistine 
war  suggests  that  it  comes  from  a  later  stratum  of  the  same  narratives.  This  is  strongly  con- 
firmed by  the  linguistic  similarity  and  by  the  fact  that  it  is  assumed  that  it  was  quite  right  for 
Saul  to  offer  sacrifices;  his  sin  is  simply  failure  to  obey  the  divine  command,  '*. 

Parallel  to  this  tradition,  but  associating  the  rejection  with  an  entirely  different  occasion, 
is  the  slightly  later  version  in  15.  The  points  in  common  are  many.  Gilgal  is  in  both  the  place 
of  the  rejection;  the  reason  in  each  is  that  Saul  has  failed  to  comply  with  a  distinct  command 
of  Samuel,  in  each  he  forfeits  the  kingdom  to  another.  The  occasion  alone  is  different.  In 
15  Samuel  has  handed  over  his  responsibilities  as  judge  to  Saul,  but  otherwise  he  is  portrayed 
in  precisely  the  sarne  commanding  prophetic  role  as  in  7,  8,  and  12. 

The  political  situation  revealed  in  the  early  Saul  narrati\-es  and  the  necessity  of  repelling 
foreign  attacks  are  entirely  ignored.  The  one  vital  question  is  whether  or  not  Saul  will  obey 
the  divine  command  proclaimed  by  .Jehovah's  prophet.  Many  expre.ssions  peculiar  to  the  pre- 
ceding Ephraimite  narratives  also  recur.  The  story  is  the  culmination  of  that  group  of  narratives 
found m  7,  8,  10''--'  and  12,  which  starts  with  certain  outstanding  historical  facts,  like  the 
victories  over  the  Philistines  and  Amalekites  and  the  downfall  of  the  house  of  Saul,  and  with 
these  as  a  basis  develops  an  objective  philosophy  of  history  in  which  the  religious  teachings  of 
Amos  and  Isaiah  and  especially  those  of  the  great  prophet  of  the  north,  Hosea,  are  concretely 
illustrated. 

1-1  ^u  ''''''  ^^^  later  prophetic  writer  has  apparently  quoted  from  an  older  tradition  which 
Uke  the  early  Judean  narratives  of  9-11,  13,  14,  tells  in  a  natural,  circumstantial  manner  of 
Saul  s  campaign  against  the  Amalekites.  The  same  primitive  sources  may  have  also  recorded 
the  tact  that  Agag  was  slain  by  the  hand  of  the  stern,  patriotic  seer  of  Raniah. 

<  ^1  Jf^ese  words  were  probably  added  by  a  scribe  familiar  with  Q'-IO'". 
15    So  Gk.     The  Heb.  combines  two  forms  of  expression,  listen  to  the  voice  of  the  words 
of  Jehovah. 

s  15*  Hsb.,  devote,  place  under  the  ban. 


So  throughout  the  chapter. 

76 


I  Sam.  IQS] 


SAUL'S  DISOBEDIENCE 


[I  Sam.  133 


Later   Judean   Prophetic 
Narratives 

oflFerings.  "Wait  seven 
days  until  I  come  to  you 
and  show  you  what  you 
shall  do. 

13  ^'^Therefore,  when 
he  had  been  made  king, 
the  people  were  assem- 
bled together  after  Saul 
at  Gilgal.  sb^^j  ^lie 
Philistines  were  gathered 
together  to  fight  with 
Israel  —  thirty  thousand 
chariots  and  six  thousand 
horsemen  and  people,*^ 
as  numerous  as  the  sand 
on  the  sea.  And  they 
came  up  and  encamped  in 
Michmash,  east  of  Beth- 
aven.*^  "''But  Saul  was 
still  in  Gilgal,  and  all 
the  people  followed  him 
trembling.* 

^And  he  waited  seven 
days  for  the  appointed 
time  which  Samuel  had 
set;  but  Samuel  did  not 
come  to  Gilgal,  and  the 
people  scattered  away 
from  him.  ^Therefore 
Saul  said,  Bring  here  to 
me  the  burnt-offering  and 
the  peace-offerings.  And 
he  offered  the  burnt-offer- 
ing. '"^And  then,  just  as 
he  had  finished  offering: 
the  burnt-offering,  Sam- 
uel came;  and  Saul  went 
out  to  greet  him.J  ^^But 
Samuel  said,  What  have 
you  done  ?  And  Saul 
said,  Because  I  saw  that 


Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

not,  but  slay  both  man  and  woman,  child  and 
infant,  ox  and  sheep,  camel  and  ass.' 

Wnd   Saul  summoned   the  people   and   mus-  The 
tered   them  in  Telaim,   two  hundred   thousand  ^nd 
footmen  and  ten  thousand  men  of  Judah.     ^And  Saul's 
when  Saul  came  to  the  city  of  Amalek,  he  lay  in  dience 
wait  in  the  valley.     "^And  Saul  said  to  the  Ken- 
ites,  Go  away,  withdraw  from  among  the  Amale- 
kites,  lest  I  destroy  you  with  them,  for  you  showed 
kindness  to  all  the  Israelites  when   they  came 
up  from  Egypt.      So  the  Kenites  departed  from 
among  the  Amalekites.     ''And  Saul   smote  the 
Amalekites  from  Havilah  as  far  as  Shur,  which 
is  before  Egypt.     *And  he  took  Agag  the  king  of 
Amalek  alive  and  completely  destroyed  all  the 
people  with  the  sword.     ^But  Saul  and  the  peo- 
ple spared  Agag  and  the  best  of  the  sheep,  the 
oxen,  the  fathngs,  the  lambs,  and  all  that  was 
good,  and  would  not  completely  destroy  them; 
but  everything  that  was  worthless  and  despised, 
that  they  completely  destroyed. 

I'^Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Samuel  Sam- 
saying,  ^^I  repent  that  I  have  made  Saul  king,  "ebukg 
for  he  has  turned  from  following  me  and  has  not 
carried  out  my  commands.  And  Samuel  was 
angry  and  cried  to  Jehovah  all  night.  ^-And 
early  in  the  morning  Samuel  rose  to  meet  Saul. 
Then  Samuel  was  told,  Saul  came  to  Carmel  and 
has  just  set  up  a  monument  and  lias  turned  and 
passed  on  and  gone  down  to  Gilgal.  ^^And 
when  Samuel  cam.e  to  Saul,  Saul  said  to  him. 
Blessed  be  thou  of  Jehovah  !  I  have  fulfilled 
the  command  of  Jehovah.  ^^And  Samuel  said. 
What  then  is  this  bleating  of  the  slicep  in  my 
ears  and  the  lowing  of  the  cattle  which  I  hear  ? 
^'^And  Saul  said,  They  have  brought  them  from 
the  Amalekites,  for  the  people  sf)ared  the  best  of 
the  .sheep  and  of  the  oxen  to  sacrifice  to  Jehovah 
your  God;  and  the  rest  we  have  completely  de- 
stroyed. ^^Then  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  Stop  !  and 
let  me  tell  you  what  Jehovah  hath  saitl  to  me 


Gk.,   Belhhoron. 
Luc.  reads,  trembled  from  after  him,  i.e.,  because  of  fright 


h  13«  I.e.,  Bethel.     So  Sjt. 

'  13">  The  Heb.  is  difficult 
had  deserted  hirn. 

'  V.V  Heb.,  to  bless  him,  i.e.,  to  greet  him  with  the  customary  salutation,  May  you  be 
blessed,   cf.   II   Kgs.  4^". 


77 


IS.^i.  131 1]     ESTABLISHMENT  OE  THE  KINGDOM      [I  Sam.  I516 


Later  J  ml  can   Prophetic 
Narratives 

the  people  were  scattering 
away  from  me  and  you 
did  not  come  within  tlie 
appointed  time,  and  the 
Phihstines  were  gather- 
ing together  at  Mich- 
mash,  i-I  said,  '  Now 
will  the  Philistines  come 
down  to  me  at  Gilgal,  and 
I  shall  not  have  appeased 
Jehovah.''^  So  I  con- 
strained myself  and  of- 
fered the  burnt-offering. 
i^Then  Samuel  said  to 
Saul,  You  have  acted 
foolishly.  If  you  had 
kept  the  command  of  Je- 
hovah your  God,*  which 
he  commanded  you,  then 
would  Jehovah  have  es- 
tablished your  kingdom 
over  Israel  forever.  ^"^But 
now  your  kingdom  shall 
not  continue.  Jehovah 
hath  sought  out  a  man 
after  his  own  heart,  and 
Jehovah  hath  appointed 
him  a  leader  over  his  peo- 
ple, because  you  have 
not  kept  that  which  Je- 
hovah commanded  you. 
^^^Then  Samuel  arose 
and  went  up  from  Gilgal 
and  proceeded  on  his  way 
to  Gibeah  of  Benjamin. ^^ 


Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

this  night.  And  he  said  to  him,  Speak.  ^''And 
Samuel  said.  Though  you  are  little  in  your  own 
sight,  are  vou  not  the  head  of  the  tribes  of  Israel  ? 
And  Jehovah  anointed  you  king  over  Israel, 
i^and  Jehovah  sent  you  on  an  expedition  and 
said,  '  Go,  and  completely  destroy  the  sinners  of 
Amalek  and  fight  against  them  until  they  are 
consumed.'  ^^Why  then  did  you  not  obey  the 
voice  of  Jehovah  and  why  did  you  swoop  upon 
the  spoil  and  displease  Jehovah  ?  ■^'^Xnd  Saul 
said  to  Samuel,  I  have  obeyed  the  voice  of  Je- 
hovah and  have  gone  on  the  expedition  upon 
which  Jehovah  sent  me  and  have  brought  back 
Agag  the  king  of  the  Amalekites  and  have  com- 
pletely destroyed  the  Amalekites.  ^^But  the 
people  took  of  the  spoil,  sheep  and  oxen,  the  best 
of  the  things  which  were  placed  under  the  ban 
to  sacrifice  to  Jehovah  your  God  in  Gilgal.  -^And 
Samuel  said. 

Does  Jehovah  delight  in  burnt-offerings  and  sacrifices 

As  in  obedience  to  the  voice  of  Jehovah .'' 
Behold  to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice. 

And  to  hearken  than  the  fat  of  rams. 
^^For  rebellion  is  as  bad  as  the  sin  of  di\ination. 

And  obstinacy  as  the  iniquity  of  the  teraphim.™ 
Because  you  have  rejected  the  word  of  Jehovah, 

He  hath  rejected  you  from  being  king." 

2^And   Saul  said  to  Samuel,  I  have  sinned,  Saul's 

for  I  have  transgressed  the  command  of  Jehovah  gfJii^*" 

and  vour  words  because  I  feared  the  people  and  ^"^.^. 
1-        '      1  1     •  •  9--s.^  1         i>  1        petition 

listened  to  their  voice.     -^Now  theretore  pardon  for 

my  sin  and  turn  back  with  me,  that  I  may  wor-  ^^^'^^ 

ship  Jehovah,     ^eg^^^  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  I  will 

not  turn  back  with  you,  for  you  have  rejected 

the  word  of  Jehovah  and  Jehovah  hath  rejected 


you  from  being  king  over  Israel.  2' And  as 
Samuel  turned  to  go  away,  Saul  seized  the  skirt  of  his  robe,  but  it  tore. 
^^Then  Samuel  said  to  him,  Jehovah  hath  to-day  torn  the  kingdom  of  Israel 
from  you   and   hath   given  it  to  your  neighbor  who  is  better  than  you. 


^  1312  Heb.,  mollify  the  face  of  Jehovah. 

'  13|3  Making  a  slight  change  in  the  Heb.  to  conform  to  the  context. 

m  1523  xhe.  Heb.  is  confused.  The  above  conforms  to  the  parallelism  and  the  reading 
of  Symmachus.     The  teraphim  is  an  allusion  to  the  early  use  of  household  gods  for  divination. 

°  loj  Gk.  adds,  over  Israel;  but  this  may  be  taken  from  ^  and  it  disarranges  the  rhythm. 
The  words  of  Samuel  are  cast  in  rhythmical  form,  as  are  most  of  the  sermons  of  the  prophet3. 

o  1315a  So  gij  Some  copyist  evidently  mistook  the  second  Gilgal  for  the  first  with  the 
result  that  the  intervening  clauses  have  been  omitted. 


78 


SAUL'S  DISOBEDIENCE  [I  S.\m.  1529 

Later  Ephraimite  Samuel  Narratives 

29Moreover  the  GloryP  of  Israel  will  not  lie  nor  repent;  for  he  is  not  a  man 
that  he  should  repent. <3  ^^Then  he  said,  I  have  sinned,  yet  honor  nie  now 
at  least  before  the  elders  of  my  people  and  before  Israel,  and  turn  back  with 
me,  that  I  may  worship  Jehovah  your  God.  ^^So  Samuel  turned  back  and 
followed  Saul,  while  Saul  worshipped  Jehovah. 

^-Then  Samuel  said.  Bring  here  to  me  Agag  the  king  of  the  Amalekites.  Fate  of 
And  Agag  came  to  him  trembling.      And  Agag  said.  Surely  death  is  bitter.'"  ^nl^ 
^^And  Samuel  said.  As  vour  sword  has  bereaved  women,  so  shall  your  mother  Sam- 
be  the  most  bereaved  of  women.     Thereupon  Samuel  hewed  Agag  in  pieces  depart- 
before  Jehovah  in  Gilgal.     ^^Then  Samuel  went  to  Ramah,  but  Saul  went  ""^^ 
up  to  his  house  to  Gibeah  of  Saul.     ^^^And  Samuel  saw  Saul  no  more 
until  the  day  of  his  death,  for  Samuel  grieved  over  Saul. 

§  9.  Summary  of  Saul's  Reign,  I  Sam.  14*^-" 
Early  Editorial  Epitome 

I  Sam.   14  ^"Now  when  Saul  had  taken  the  kingdom  over  Israel,  he  Saul's 
fought  against  all  his  enemies  on  every  side:  against  Moab  and  the  Ammon-  ^^^^ 
ites  and  Edom  and  Beth-rehob,®  the  king  of  Zobah  and  the  Philistines;  and 
wherever  he  turned  he  was  victorious.^     ''^And  he  did  mighty  deeds  and 
smote  the  Amalekites  and  delivered  Israel  out  of  the  hands  of  its  plunderers. 

^^Now  the  sons  of  Saul  were:  Jonathan,  Ishbaal,"  and  Malchishua.     And  His 
these  are  the  names  of  his  two  daughters :  the  eldest,  Merab,  the  young-         ^ 
est,  Michal.     ^^^nd  the  name  of  Saul's  wife  was  Ahinoam  the  daughter  of 
Ahimaaz.     The  name  of  the  commander  of  his  army  was  Abner  the  son 
of  Ner,  Saul's  cousin.     ^^And  Kish  the  father  of  Saul  and  Ner  the  father 
of  Abner  were  sons  of  Abiel. 

p  1529  The  exact  meaning  of  the  Heb.  word  is  doubtful.  The  Faithful  One  (Syr.  following 
context)  and  the  Victor  have  been  suggested. 

•1  \5rJ  For  the  older  expression  of  this  idea  cf.  Num.  23'9,  from  whence  a  later  editor  may 
have  derived  this  verse.  Cf.  also  i'  of  this  chapter.  Originally  ^s,  29  were  probably  poetical 
in  form. 

'  1.5^  Following  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  Heb.  text  has  probably  suffered  from  dittography. 
The  current  translation  is  not  justified  even  by  the  Heb. 

§  9  The  conchision  of  the  account  of  the  great  deliverance  from  the  Philistines  is  interrupted 
by  the  insertion  between  *'  and  ''-'  of  a  summary  of  Saul's  wars  and  of  the  names  of  the  important 
members  of  his  family.  It  corresponds  to  the  summary  of  Samuel's  activity  in  T'"''",  of  David's 
in  II  Sam.  8,  and  of  Solomon's  in  1  Kgs.  4'-5".  Its  attitude  toward  Saul  is  sym|ia(hetic  not 
critical,  and  there  are  none  of  the  chronological  data  which  are  usually  found  in  the  correspond- 
ing epitomes  from  the  hand  of  the  late  i)roi)hetic  eflitor.  Its  connection  with  the  early  .ludean 
Saul  narratives  is  evidently  clo.se.  The  citations  from  them  cease  in  14  and  it  may  have  been 
their  original  conclusion,  but  nif)re  i)robably  it  is  an  editorial  eijitome  Ija.sed  tijion  them.  A 
few  of  tlie  facts,  as  for  example,  the  references  to  the  wars  of  the  Moahites  and  Arameans  and 
the  name  of  Saul's  wife  are  given  only  here,  indicating  that  the  editor  probaljly  had  a  fuller 
narrative  before  him.  It  is  difficult  (o  determine  his  date.  The  reference  to  the  Amalekite 
war  seems  to  be  quite  independent  of  l.").  It  wouki  appear,  therefore,  that  his  work  antedated 
that  of  the  editor  who  added  the  later  Kphraimite  narratives,  for  their  contents  are  completely 
ignored. 

'  14^^  Following  the  Gk.  anri  T>uc.,  Edom  may  be  a  mistaken  reading  for  Armn.  Budde 
maintains  that  the.se  references  to  Israel's  foes  are  derived  from  the  account  of  David's  wars, 
II  Sam.  S'*'  '^.  The  present  record  of  Saul's  reign  is,  however,  too  incomplete  to  justify  such 
a  negative  conclusion.  Excepting  in  tlie  three  citations  frotn  his  history,  the  tendency  is  to 
miniini/e  the  importance  of  his  rule. 

'  14"  (ik.  lit.,  v'hh  driivcrrd  by  .lehovah.  The  Heb.,  acted  impiously,  is  evidently  corrupt 
or  el.se  has  been  deliberately  ohangeil  by  a  later  scribe  who  harl  no  sympathy  with  Saul. 

"  14'''  So  many  Gk.  ,MSS.  and  elsewhere,  e.a.,  II  Sam.  2"*  and  Introd.,  p.  42.  The  name, 
because  it  contains  the  name  of  the  heathen  deity,  Hani,  is  usually  mutilated  by  later  scribes. 
The  word  here  translated  lahvi  is  for  Ish-Jahweh,  man  of  Jehovah  instead  of  7)ian  of  Baal. 

19 


I  Saai.  1614] 


THE  RISE   OF  DAVID 


[I  Sam.  1535b 


David's 
intro- 
tluction 
to  the 
court  of 
Saul 


II 

THE   DECLINE    OF   SAUL   AND   THE   RISE    OF   DAVID, 
I    Sam.   1535b_3li3,    I    Chr.   10,   121-22 

§  10.  David's  Introduction  to  Public  Life,  I  Sam.  IS^^"'-!?" 


Earbj  Judean  David  Nar- 
ratives 

I  Sam.    16  i^Now  the 

spirit  of  Jehovah  had  de- 
parted from  Saul  and  an 
evil  spirit  from  Jehovah  tor- 
mented him.  I5^nd  Saul's 
servants  said  to  him,  See 
now,  an  evil  spirit  from  Je- 
hovah^ is  tormenting  you. 
i^Let  your  serv^ants  who  are 
before  you  speak  and  they 
will  seek  for  our  lord^  a  man 
skilful  in  playing  the  lyre. 
Then  whenever  the  evil 
spirit °  comes  upon  you  he 
shall  play  with  his  hand,  and 
you  will  be  better.  ^"Then 
Saul  said  to  his  servants, 


Venj  Late  Popular  Prophetic  Tradition 

15  35b]sj-Q^  Jehovah  repented  that  he  had  The 
made  Saul  king  over  Israel,  16  ^and  Jehovah  fngof*" 
said  to  Samuel,  How  long  wilt  thou  grieve  over  David 
Saul,  when  I  have  rejected  him  from  being  Samuel 
king  over  Israel  ?     Fill  thy  horn  with  oil  and 
go.     I   will    send   thee   to   Jesse    the    Bethle- 
hemite;  for  I  have  provided  me  a  king  among 
his  sons.     2^n(i  Samuel  said.  How  can  I  go, 
since  Saul  will  hear  of  it  and  kill  me .''     But 
Jehovah  said.  Take  a  calf  with  thee  and  say, 
'  To  sacrifice  to  Jehovah  am  I  come ! '     ^^^d 
invite  Jesse  to  the  sacrifice,  and  I  will  show 
thee  what  thou  shalt  do,  and  anoint  him  whom 
I  name  to  thee.     "^And  Samuel  did  that  which 
Jehovah    had    commanded.     And    when    he 
came  to    Bethlehem,   the    elders  of  the  city 
came  trembling  to  meet  him  and  said.  Does 


I 


The  Decline  of  Saul  and  Rise  of  David — Beginning  with  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  I  Sam. 
and  throughout  11  Sam.  the  interest  of  the  narratives  centres  in  David.  Most  of  the  material 
is  evidently  derived  from  the  early  Judean  David  history.  Cf.  Introd.,  pp.  10-12.  With  one 
or  two  exceptions,  these  extracts  appear  to  stand  in  their  original  order.  They  have  been  sup- 
plemented, however,  by  variant  versions  of  the  more  important  incidents  and  by  two  or  three 
additional  stories.  The  interest  in  the  variant  versions  is  still  focus.sed  on  David;  but  many 
details  have  been  forgotten,  while  the  element  of  the  marvellous  is  more  prominent  than  in  tlie 
corresponding  early  narratives.  Evidently  they  have  been  subject  to  a  longer  period  of  oral 
transmission.  They  repre.sent  the  popular  David  traditions,  probably  current  and  first  com- 
mitted to  writing  in  the  southern  kingdom.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  14.  From  the  large  and  varied 
cycle  of  David  traditions  the  editors  have  selected  and  combined  their  material  so  effectively 
that  the  result  is  a  remarkably  vivid,  sympathetic,  and  on  the  whole,  consecutive  account  of 
David's  life  and  deeds. 

§  10  The  difficulties  and  contradictions  in  16  and  17  have  long  been  recognized.  Thus, 
for  example,  in  16'^--3,  David  has  already  won  fame  as  a  warrior  and  has  been  appointed  an 
armorbearer  by  Saul;  but  in  1712-31  he  is  but  a  lad,  and  in  17^-'  not  even  his  name  is  known  to 
Saul  and  Abner.  The  explanation  of  the  wide  variations  in  representation  is  that  these  chap- 
ters contain  at  least  three  different  accounts  of  David's  introduction  to  public  life.  IG'-'-^^  ig 
evidently  the  oldest  and  is  the  original  continuation  of  the  Judean  narrative  in  14.  Davitl  the 
young  shepherd,  attractive,  athletic,  and  skilled  in  the  u.srf  of  the  sling,  is  brought  to  Saul's 
court,  to  soothe  the  king  by  his  playing,  whenever  the  latter  was  seized  with  what  appears  from 
the  symptoms  to  have  been  attacks  of  either  acute  melancholia  or  epilepsy.  There  he  quickly 
wins  Saul's  favor  and  is  made  his  armorbearer. 

Although  not  recognized  as  such  by  the  majority  of  scholars,  it  seems  probable  that  the 
sections  of  17  found  in  both  the  Heb.  and  Gk.  represent  the  original  sequel  of  the  preceding. 

»  16"  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Targ.  A  later  scribe,  as  in  many  other  places,  has  substituted 
God  m  the  Heb. 

"^  16'^  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  Heb.,  Let  our  Lord  now  command  your  servants,  who  are  before 
you  to  seek,  etc. 

'  16i«  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds,  from  God. 


80 


I 


I  Sa.m.  161^        INTRODUCTION  TO  PUBLIC   LIFE         [I  Sa.m.  IG* 

Very  Late  Popular  Prophetic   Tradition 


Early  Judcan  David  Nar- 
ratives 

Provide  me  now  a  man  who 
plays  well,  and  bring  him  to 
me.  ^^Thereupon  one  of  the 
vounor  men  answered  and 
said,  Behold,  I  have  seen  a 
son  of  Jesse  the  Bethlehem- 
ite  who  is  skilful  in  playing 
and  a  valiant  man,  a  soldier, 
judicious  in  speech,  a  man 
of  good  appearance,  and  Je- 
hovah is  with  him.  ^^There- 
fore  Saul  sent  messengers  to 
Jesse  and  said.  Send  me 
David  your  son,  who  is  with 
the  flock.  -^And  Jesse  took 
ten  loaves s  of  bread,  and  a 
skin  of  wine,  and  a  kid,  and 
sent  them  to  Saul  by  David 
his  son.  2igo  David  came 
to  Saul  and  entered  his  ser- 


your  coming  betoken  good  ?  ^And  he  said 
Yes,  to  sacrifice  to  Jehovah  am  I  come.  Puri- 
fy yourselves  and  rejoice"^  with  me  in  the  sac- 
rifice. And  he  purified  Jesse  and  his  sons 
and  invited  them  to  the  sacrifice.  ^And  when 
they  came  and  he  saw  Eliab,  he  said,  Surely 
in  Jehovah's  presence  is  his  anointed.®  'But 
Jehovah  said  to  Samuel,  Look  not  on  his  ap- 
pearance or  on  the  height  of  his  stature,  since 
I  have  rejected  him ;  for  Jehovah  doth  not  see^ 
as  man  sees,  for  man  looks  on  the  outward 
appearance,  but  Jehovah  looks  at  the  heart. 
^Then  Jesse  called  Abinadab,  and  brought  him 
before  Samuel.  But  he  said,  Neither  hath 
Jehovah  chosen  this  one.  ^Then  Jesse  brought 
forward  Shammah.  But  he  said.  Neither 
hath  Jehovah  chosen  this  one.  ^*^Then  Jesse 
brought  his  seven  sons  before  Samitel.  But 
Samuel  said  to  Jesse,  Jehovah  hath  not  chosen 
these.     ^^And  Samuel  said  to  Jesse,  Are  these 


David  is  already  in  the  army,  ^,  attendant  upon  Saul,  ^',  and  feels  the  responsibility  of  his  new 
position.  While  he  is  a  youth,  as  in  16'*---*,  he  is  also  more  than  the  mere  lad  of  the  parallel 
version,  otherwise  the  king  would  not  have  confidence  in  his  ability  to  vanquish  the  Philistine, 
3',  and  have  tried  the  experiment  of  [jutting  upon  him  his  own  giant's  armor,  ■**••  ■'s.  As  might  have 
been  anticipated,  it  proves  but  a  hindrance,  for  he  had  not  tried  it.  Consequently  he  goes  forth 
and  wins  his  victory  with  the  weapons  natural  to  a  peasant  warrior,  of.  Judg.  20'^.  The  point 
of  view  throughout  is  Judean,  and  the  achievement  is  referred  to  subsequently  in  the  Judean 
narratives,  of.  18'*,  19^  2P,  22'".  The  slaying  of  Goliath  also  best  explains  David's  sudden  leap 
into  public  favor  and  Saul's  bitter  jealousy.  The  fact  that  in  II  Sam.  21"  it  is  attributed  to 
Klhanan  the  Bethlehemite  does  not  absolutely  invalidate  the  preceding  conclusion,  for  II  Sam. 
21  evidently  contains  extracts  from  a  popular  cycle  of  traditions.  Cf.  §  34.  Whatever  be  the 
historic  fact,  it  .seems  clear  that  in  two  distinct  traditions — one  of  which  is  the  early  Judean — 
David  figured  as  the  slayer  of  Goliath. 

The  second  account  of  David's  introduction  to  public  life  is  found  only  in  the  Heb.  version 
of  17.  That  it  represents  a  recension  distinct  from  the  Gk.  is  demonstrated  by  analogies  (cf. 
Introd.,  p.  14),  by  the  fact  that  it  was  originally  lacking  in  both  of  the  leading  Gk.  texts,  and 
because  it  is  complete  in  itself  and  presents  many  variations  from  the  older  parallel.  These  are 
perfectly  obvious:  in  12  Oavid  is  introduced  as  for  the  first  time,  he  is  but  a  stripling,  and  is 
unknown  to  Saul.  It  was  probably  the  popular  idealized  version  of  the  story  preserved,  like 
certain  others  in  the  appendix  to  .Tudges  and  II  Sam.  and  in  the  book  of  Ruth,  at  Bethlehem 
in  Juilah  and  still  later  introduced  into  the  O.T. 

The  third  account  is  found  in  10'-"  and  is  closely  related  to  the  second,  but  yet  it  is  dis- 
tinct. In  17"-^'''  the  brothers  know  nothing  of  David's  i)ublic  anointing,  recorded  in  16'-". 
Three,  rather  than  seven,  brothers  are  mentioned.  The  introduction  in  17'-  would  also  be 
unnecessary  after  IG'"''.  The  point  of  view  of  this  latter  section  is  also  similar  in  many  ways  to 
that  of  the  later  Kphraimite  Samuel  narratives,  but  the  prrphet's  fear  of  Saul  in  -'  is  very  dif- 
ferent from  his  attitude  in  1.5.  That  the  story  is  very  late  and  that  it  is  modelled  after  the  .lu- 
flean  account  of  the  anointing  of  Saul  in  9,  10  seem  obvious.  Its  aim  is  to  make  clear  David's 
di\  ine  call  to  the  kingship.  It  was  i)robably  current  in  very  late  prophetic  circles  and  by  an 
exilic  or  post-exilic  editor  placed  where  it  now  stands,     ("f.  Introd.,  p.  13. 

■^  10'  So  Gk.  and  old  Lat.  Heb.  simply,  come.  The  rejoicing  was  a  prominent  element 
in  the  ancient  sacrificial  feasts  but  <\'as  viewed  askance  by  later  Jewish  scribes,  who  probably 
changed  the  Heb.  text. 

•  IG"  Or,  Surely  he  is  the  prince  of  Jehovah,  his  anointed. 

'  10'  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  omits,  doth  ./ehovah  see. 

«  IG-"  Cf.  the  jtarallel  17'",  ten  loaves.  The  expression,  lit.,  an  ass  of  bread,  is  unprece- 
dented. The  text  followed  by  the  Gk.  was  unintelligible,  but  favors  the  correction  adopted 
above.     The  corruption  was  due  to  a  very  slight  error  in  the  Heb. 


81 


I  Sam.  1621] 


THE  RISE   OF  DAVID 


[I  Sam.  1611 


Early  Judcan  David  Nar- 
ratives 

vice;^  and  he  loved  him  so 
much  that  he  became  one  of 
his  armorbearers.  '^'^hnd 
Saul  sent  to  Jesse,  saying, 
Let  David  enter  my  service, 
for  he  has  found  favor  in  my 
sight.  -^And  whenever  the 
evil  spirit  from  God  came 
upon  Saul,  David  would 
take  the  lyre  and  play  with 
his  hand  and  Saul  would 
breathe  freely  and  would 
feel  better  and  the  evil  spirit 
would  depart  from  him. 


Go-  1 7  iNow  the  Philistines  mus- 

chaU^  tered  together  their  forces  for 
lenge  to  ^ar,  and  they  were  gathered  to- 
brews  gether  at  Socoh,  which  belongs 
to  Judah,  and  encamped  between 
Socoh  and  Azekah,  in  Ephes- 
dammim.  ^knd  Saul  and  the 
men  of  Israel  were  gathered  to- 
gether and  encamped  in  the  val- 
ley of  Elah;  and  they  drew  up  in 
battle-array  against  the  Philis- 
tines. ^And  the  Philistines  were 
standing  on  the  mountain  on  the 
one  side,  and  the  Israelites  were 
standing  on  the  mountain  on  the 
other  side,  and  the  valley  was 
between  them.  "^And  there  came 
out  a  champion  from  the  camp 
of  the  Philistines,  named  Goliath 
of  Gath,  whose  height  was  about 
ten  feet.  ^And  he  had  a  helmet 
of  bronze  upon  his  head,  and  he 
was  clad  with  a  bronze  breast- 
plate of  scales,  the  weight  of 
which  was  about  two  hundred 
pounds.'     6And  he  had  greaves 


Very  Late  Popular  Prophetic   Tradition 

all  the  young  men  ?  And  he  said,  There  is  still 
the  youngest,  and  he  is  a  shepherd  with  the 
flock.  Therefore  Samuel  said  to  Jesse,  Send 
and  bring  him,  for  we  will  not  sit  down  until 
he  is  brought  here.  i-So  he  sent  and  brought 
him  in.  Now  he  was  ruddy,  a  youth  with  beau- 
tiful eyes  and  attractive  appearance.  And 
Jehovah  said.  Arise,  anoint  him,  for  he  it  is. 
i^Then  Samuel  tookthe  horn  of  oil  and  anointed 
him  in  the  midst  of  his  brothers.  And  the 
spirit  of  Jehovah  came  with  power  upon  David 
from  that  day  forward.  And  Samuel  arose 
and  went  to  Ramah. 


Pojndar  Judean  David  Stories 

17  i^Now  David  was  the  son  of  an  David 
Ephrathite  of  Bethlehem  in  Judah,  whose  "o'the" 
name  was  Jesse,  and  he  had  eight  sons.  "?"??'' . 
And  the  man  was  old  in  the  days  of  Saul, 
advanced  in  years  among  men.  i^And  the 
three  eldest  sons  of  Jesse  had  gone  after 
Saul  to  the  war;  and  the  names  of  his 
three  sons  who  went  to  the  war  were  Eliab 
the  eldest,  his  second  Abinadab,  and  the 
third  Shammah.  i^But  David  was  the 
youngest;  and  the  three  eldest  had  fol- 
lowed Saul.  i^Now  David  went  to  and 
fro  from  Saul  to  feed  his  father's  sheep  at 
Bethlehem.  i^And  the  Philistine  drew 
near  morning  and  evening  and  took  his 
stand  forty  days.  I'^And  Jesse  said  to 
David  his  son.  Take  now  for  your  brothers 
a  bushel  of  this  parched  grain  and  these 
ten  loaves  and  carry  them  quickly  to  the 
camp  to  your  brothers.  i^But  bring  these 
ten  cheeses  to  the  commander  of  the 
thousand  and  look  after  your  brothers' 
welfare  and  take  a  definite  assurance  from 
them.  i^Now  Saul  and  they  and  all  the 
men  of  Israel  are  in  the  valley  of  Elah 
fighting  with  the  Philistines. 


I 


stand    before   me.      I.  e.,    became   a  trusted    attendant.      Cf.    Gen.    41*^, 


*'Wi.22   Lit., 
I  Kgs.  128. 

'  ^^^-  u  '  According  to  the  Heb.  Goliath's  height  was  six  cubits  and  a  span,  and  his  breast- 
plate weighed  five  thousand  shekels,  and  his  spear  six  hundred  shekels.  To  make  the  pictur* 
denmte  the  approximate  modern  equivalents  are  given. 


82 


I 


I  Sam.  176]         INTRODUCTION  TO  PUBLIC   LIFE         [I  Sam.  IT-'o 


Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 

of  bronze  upon  his  legs  and  a 
javelin  of  bronze  between  his 
shoulders.  ^And  the  shaft  of  his 
spear  was  like  a  weaver's  beam, 
and  the  heatl  of  his  iron  spear 
weighed  twenty-four  pounds ;' 
and  his  shield-bearer  went  before 
him.  ^And  he  stood  and  cried 
out  to  the  ranks  of  Israel  and 
said  to  them,  Why  ha\e  you 
come  out  to  draw  up  the  line  of 
battle  ?  Am  not  I  a  Philistine 
and  you  Saul's  servants  ?  Choose 
a  man  for  yourselves  and  let  him 
come  down  to  me.  ^If  he  be  able 
to  fight  with  me  and  kill  me, 
then  will  we  be  your  servants; 
but  if  I  prevail  against  him  and 
kill  him,  then  shall  you  be  our 
servants  and  serve  us.  ^^And  the 
Philistine  said,  I  have  insulted 
the  ranks  of  Israel  to-day;  give 
me  a  man  that  we  may  fight  to- 
gether. ^^And  when  Saul  and  all 
Israel  heard  these  words  of  the 
Philistine,  they  were  terrified  and 
greatly  afraid. 
Da\-id's  32j3yj^  David  said  to  Saul,  Let  not  my 
fight  °  lortl's  courage'^  fail  him;  your  servant 
G^ll  ^'i'l  go  ^^*^  %ht  with  this  Philistine, 
ath  2-^ And  Saul  said  to  David,  you  are  not 
able  to  go  against  this  Philistine  to  fight 
with  him,  for  you  are  only  a  youth  and 
he  has  been  a  warrior  from  his  youth. 
^^But  David  said  to  Saul,  Your  servant 
was  a  she{)li(Td  with  his  father's  flock; 
and  when  a  lion,  or  a  bear  would  come 
and  take  a  lamb  out  of  the  flock,  ^^I 
would  go  out  after  him  and  smite  him 
and  deliver  it  from  his  mouth;  and  if  he 
rose  up  against  me,  I  would  seize  him 


Popidar  Judean  David  Stories 

-'^So  David  rose  up  early  in  the  morn-  Go- 
ing and  left  the  flock  with  a  keeper  and  cha\-^ 
took  and  went,  as  Jesse  had  commanded  ^^'^se 
him.  And  he  came  to  the  entrenchment J 
just  as  the  army  was  going  forth  to  the 
battle-array,  shouting  the  war  cry.  -^And 
Israel  and  the  Philistines  drew  up  the  line 
of  battle,  army  confronting  army.  --And 
David  left  his  vessels  in  the  charge  of  the 
keeper  of  the  baggage  and  ran  to  the  line 
of  battle  and  came  and  asked  for  the  wel- 
fare of  his  brothers.  -^And  just  as  he  was 
talking  with  them,  the  champion,  the  Phi- 
listine of  Gath,  Goliath  by  name,  came 
up  out  of  the  ranks  of  the  Philistines 
and  spoke  the  same  words  as  before;  and 
David  heard  them.     24\^j  ^jj  ^j^^  j^^^j^  ^f 

Israel,  when  they  saw  the  man,  fled  from 
him  and  were  greatly  afraid.  -^And  the 
men  of  Israel  said,  Have  you  seen  this 
man  who  has  come  up  ?  Surely  to  in- 
sult Israel  has  he  come  up.  Whoever 
smites  him,  the  king  will  greatly  enrich 
and  will  give  him  his  daughter  also  and 
will  make  his  father's  house  free  in 
Israel. 


^''Then  David  spoke  to  the 
men  who  stood  by  him,  saying, 
What  shall  be  done  to  the  man 
who  smites  that  Philistine  and 
takes  away  the  reproach  from 
Israel .''  For  who  is  this  uncir- 
cumcised  Philistine,  that  he  has 
dared  to  insult  the  armies  of  the 
living  God  ?  -"And  the  people 
answered  him  in  the  words  just 
given,  saying,  Thus  shall  it  be  done 
to  the  man  who  smites  him.  ^Sjjyj 
Eliab  his  eldest  brother  heard 
when  he  spoke  to  the  men;    and 


'  17  '  See  note  on  previous  page. 

i  ]72o  'j'jig  word  apparently  niean.s  a  barricade  made  of  wagons.  But  there  are  no  refer- 
ences to  wagons  in  this  early  period.  Budde  acutely  suggests  that  it  is  a  later  enibellishment 
of  this  popular  version  of  the  story. 

''  \7'"  So  Clk.  and  Luc.    Heb.,  Let  no  man's  courage.     But  the  context  and  other  parallels 


favor  the  above, 


83 


I  Sam.  1735] 


THE  RISE  OF  DAVID 


[I  Sam.  1728 


The 
duel 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

by  liis  board,  and  slav  bim  witli  a  blow. 
^''Your  servant  smote  both  lion  and 
bear.  Now  this  uncircumcised  Philis- 
tine shall  be  like  one  of  them,  since  he 
has  insulted  the  armies  of  the  living 
God.  "^'^David  also  said,  Jehovah  who 
delivered  me  from  the  paw  of  the  Hon, 
and  from  the  paw  of  the  bear,  will  de- 
liver me  from  the  hand  of  this  Philis- 
tine. Therefore  Saul  said  to  David, 
Go,  and  may  Jehovah  be  with  you. 
^^And  Saul  clothed  David  with  his  gar- 
ments, and  put  a  helmet  of  bronze  on 
his  head  and  clad  him  with  a  coat  of 
mail.™  ^^And  David  girded  his  sword 
over  his  coat  and  made  a  vain  attempt 
to  go,  for  he  had  not  tried  them.  °  Then 
David  said  to  Saul,  I  cannot  go  with 
these,  for  I  have  not  tried  them.  And 
David  ])ut  them  off  him. 

■^•^And  he  took  his  club  in  his  hand,  and  chose  five 
smooth  stones  out  of  the  brook  and  put  them  in  his 
bag,'^  and  took  his  sling  in  his  hand,  and  he  drew 
near  to  the  Philistine.  ^^  Vj^fj  ^yhon  the  Philistine 
looked  and  saw  David,  he  despised  him,  for  he  was 
but  a  youth  and  ruddy,  a  young  man  of  attractive  ap- 
pearance.i  ^^And  the  Philistine  said  to  David,  Am 
I  a  dog  that  you  come  to  me  with  a  club  ?  And 
the  Philistine  cursed  David  by  his  gods.  '*^And  the 
Philistine  said  to  David,  Come  to  me  that  I  may 
give  your  flesh  to  the  birds  of  the  heavens  and  to 
the  beasts  of  the  field.  '^^Then  David  answered  the 
Philistine, 

You  come  to  me  with  a  sword  and  a  spear  and  a  javelin, 
But  I  come  to  you  in  tlie  name  of  JehovaJi  of  hosts. 
And  tlie  God  of  the  ranl^s  of  Israel  whom  you  have  in- 
sulted. 
^"To-day  Jehovah  will  deliver  you  into  my  hands. 
That  I  may  smite  you  and  cut  off  your  head; 


Popular  Jiidean  David  Stories 

Eliab's  anger  was  kindled  against 
David,  and  he  said.  Why  have  you 
come  down  ?  And  with  whom  have 
you  left  those  few  sheep'  in  the 
wilderness  ?  I  know  you  well  and 
the  wickedness  of  your  heart;  for 
to  see  the  battle  you  have  come 
down.  2^And  David  said,  What 
have  I  now  done  ?  Is  it  not  a 
matter  of  importance  ?  ^'^And 
turning  away  from  him  to  an- 
other, he  spoke  as  before ;  and  the 
people  answered  him  again  as  at 
the  first  time.  ^^And  when  the 
words  were  heard  which  David 
spoke,  they  reported  them  to  Saul. 
And  they°  took  liim  and  brought 
him  before  Saul. 


^^But  the  Philistine  The 
kept  coming  nearer  to  ^^^^ 
David,  and  the  man 
who  was  bearing  the 
shield  went  before 
him.  48bxhen  David 
quickly  ran  toward  the 
line  of  battle  to  meet 
the  Philistine,  ^o^nd 
David  prevailed  over 
the  Philistine  with  a 
sling  and  with  a  stone 
and  smote  the  Philis- 
tine, and  slew  him, 
although  there  was  no 
sword  in  David's 
hand.  55\j^^j  when 
Saul  saw  David  going 
out  against  the  Philis- 


^^11  ^'*'  inorsel  of  a  flock.     The  tone  of  contempt  is  clear. 

"  1738  The  last  clause  is  not  found  in  the  Gk. 

°  Wr   i°  t'*^'  ^'^''  ""  *^''  ha.i^\s  of  a  slight  correction  of  the  Heb. 

•°  I  '  u  i'''  Heb.,  and  he  took  him.  Probably  at  this  point  a  part  of  the  secondary 
version  has  been  lost,  but  it  is  nearly  complete  as  it  is,  and  Saul's  ignorance  of  David's  name  and 
Klentity^^revealed  in  »\  suggests  that  no  conversation  was  recorded  here  as  in  the  other  account. 
,  ,  "  ^'i  ^,.,^'^;  ^  scribe  has  added  the  explanatory  note,  in  the  shepherd's  bag  which  he 
had,  and  this  has  been  incorporated  in  the  Heb 

9  17"  Apparently  a  gloss  taken  from  I612. 

84 


I  Sam.  17^6]       INTRODUCTION  TO  PUBLIC   LIFE 

Early  Jiidcan   David  Xarraiives 


[I  S.ui.  1755 


And  I  will  this  day  give  the  dead  of  the  army  of  the  Phi- 
listines 

To  the  birds  of  the  heavens  and  to  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
earth, 

That  all  the  world  may  know  that  there  is  a  God  in  Israel, 

*"And  that  all  this  assembly  may  know 

That  not  with  the  sword  and  spear  doth  Jehovah  save, 

For  the  battle  is  Jehovah's  and  he  will  give  you  into  our 
hand."^ 

^^^Then  when  the  Philistine  arose  and  came  and 
drew  near  to  meet  David,  "^^David  put  his  hand  in 
his  bag  and  took  from  it  a  stone  and  slung  it  and 
smote  the  Philistine  on  his  forehead;  and  the  stone 
sank  into  his  forehead,  so  that  he  fell  on  his  face  to 
the  earth.  ^^Then  David  ran  and  stood  over  the 
Philistine,  and  took  his  sword,  and  drew  it  out  of  its 
sheath,'  and  slew  him,  and  cut  off  his  head  with  it. 
And  when  the  Philistines  sa\v  that  their  champion 
was  dead,  they  fled.  ^-And  the  men  of  Israel  and 
Judah  arose  and  raised  the  battle  cry  and  pursued 
the  Philistines  to  the  entrance  to  Gath  and  to  the 
gates  of  Ekron,  so  that  the  wounded  of  the  Philis- 
tines fell  down  on  the  way  from  Shaaraim,  even  to 
Gath  and  Ekron.  ^"^And  when  the  Israelites  re- 
turned from  pursuing  the  Philistines,  they  plun- 
dered their  camp,  ^^but  David  took  the  head  of 
the  Philistine  and  brought  it  to  Jerusalem;  and  he 
put  his  armor  in  his  tent. 

§  11.  David's  Growing  Popularity  and  Saul's  Insane  Jealousy, 

I  Sam    18'-19'' 

Popnlar    Judean    David 
Stories 


Popular  Judean  David 
Stories 

tine,  he  said  to  Abner, 
the  commander  of  the 
army,  Abner,  whose 
son  is  this  lad  ?  And 
Abner  said.  As  you 
live,  O  king,  I  cannot 
tell.  56^\nd  the  king 
said.  Inquire  whose 
son  the  young  man  is. 
^~  And  when  David 
returned  from  smiting 
the  Philistine,  Abner 
took  him,  and  brought 
him  before  Saul  with 
the  Philistine's  head 
in  his  hand.  °^And 
Saul  said  to  him, 
Whose  son  are  you, 
my  lad  ?  And  David 
answered,  I  am  the  son 
of  your  servant  Jesse 
the  Bethlehemite. 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 


David's  I  Sam.  18  ^Now  when  they  came  back,  as 
David  returned  from  slaying  the  Philistine,  the 
women  came  out  dancing  from  all  the  cities  of 
Israel  to  meet  Saul  the  king  with  tambourines, 
with  cries  of  rejoicing,  and  with  cymbals.*   "And 


f)0|Ui- 
arity 
ami 
Saul's 
fear  of 
hirn 


18  ^Now  when  [David] 
had  ceased  speaking  with 
Saul  the  soul  of  Jonathan 
was  knit  to  the  soul  of 
1  )avi(l,  and  Jonathan  lox cd 


r  i7«b-47  Like  most  of  the  longer  .speeches  in  the  historical  books,  the  words  of  David  are 
here  expressefl  in  poetry — the  five-beat  measure  prevailing. 

•  17^'  Not  found  in  the  Gk. 

S  11  Again  the  Gk.  has  a  much  briefer  (18«-9.  "^a,  is-w,  20,  sia,  22-201,  19)  and  yet  complete 
and  consistent  text.  Its  contents,  as  well  as  the  literary  style,  indicate  that  it  is  tlie  original 
sequel  of  the  early  .Judean  David  narratives  in  10  and  17.  The  Heb.  in  IS  as  in  17  evidently 
represents  a  different  text  which  has  been  supplemented  by  extracts  from  a  secondary  source. 
They  introduce  inevitable  confusion  and  contr.-idictions  into  text.  Thus  in  IS-"-^'-',  consistent 
with  the  representation  elsewhere,  David  is  given  Saul's  daughter  Michal  as  wife,  but  in  "-'" 
it  is  not  Michal  but  Merab.     The  account  in  '"•  "  of  Saul's  attempt  to  kill  David,  is  a  duplicate 

» 18*  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  text  has  become  slightly  confused. 

85 


Jona- 
than's 
cove- 
nant 
with 
Davi(l 
and  his 
great 
popu- 
larity 


I  Sam.  187]  THE  RISE   OF  DAVID  [I  Sam.  18i 

Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 


His 

mar 
riage 


Popular  Judean  David 
Stories 

him  as  his  own  Hfe.  ^  \nd 
Saul  took  him  that  day 
and  would  not  let  him  re- 
turn to  his  father's  house. 
^And  Jonathan  made  a 
covenant  with  David,  be- 
cause he  loved  him  as  his 
own  life.  *And  Jonathan 
stripped  himself  of  the 
cloak  which  he  had  on 
and  gave  it  to  David  and 
his  military  coat,  even  to 
his  sword  and  to  his  bow 
and  to  his  girdle.  ^And 
David  went  out ;  in  all 
for  which  Saul  sent  him, 
he  acted  wisely  and  with 
success,  so  that  Saul  ap- 
pointed him  over  the 
warriors.  And  he  was  be- 
loved alike  by  all  the  peo- 
ple and  by  the  servants  of 
Saul. 

^"And     Saul     said     to  nis 
David,     See,    my    oldest  fsed™' 
daughter,  Merab,  her  will  ".^^'"" 

f  nage 

. . with 

Merab 
almost  word  for  word  of  the  version  in  19'' '".  Of  these  two,  the  one  in  19''  i"  is  evidently  the 
older  and  in  its  true  setting;  while  the  secondary  one  in  18'°.  "  fits  very  awkwardly  in  its  con- 
text, no  sufficient  motive  being  given  for  Saul's  act;  while  the  events  recorded  in  IS'^^-IQ"  are 
hardly  consistent  with  a  previous  open  attempt  upon  David's  life.  It  would  seem  that  the  later 
editor,  who  collected  and  introduced  the  secondary  popular  versions  of  the  events,  recognized 
the  close  resemblance  between  the  two  duplicates  and  therefore  placed  the  later  version  as 
early  in  the  narrative  as  possible.  An  analogous  editorial  treatment  of  duplicates  has  already 
been  noted  in  7-14  and  in  the  pentateuchal  books  cf.  Vol.  I,  §  18.  The  introductory  formula  in 
IS'",  now  on  the  next  day,  confirms  the  conclusion  that  originally  it  stood  in  a  different  context, 
part  of  which  has  been  lost  in  the  process  of  combination.  The  result  is  that  the  late  popular 
version  of  David's  experiences  in  Saul's  court  is  not  nearly  as  coherent  as  the  early  Judean. 

191-1^  appears  to  be  the  immediate  sequel  of  the  early  Judean  narrative  in  18.  It  records 
the  growing  jealousy  of  Saul  and  its  ever  more  active  and  open  exjiression.  The  successive 
stages  are  vividly  portrayed,  until  finally  Saul  flings  the  spear  and  then,  in  his  anger,  does  not 
even  regard  the  sanctity  of  David's  home.  The  references  to  the  killing  of  Goliath  in  =■  and  to 
Michal  in  "-'^  still  further  confirm  the  relationship  to  the  older  sections  in  17  and  18.  The 
statement  regarding  Jonathan's  affection  for  David  in  19"'  would  have  been  quite  unnecessary 
if  it  was  originally  a  part  of  the  secondary  narratives  in  18'*.  19-'  ^  alone  seem  to  be  editorial 
additions,  for  they  are  but  a  reflection  of  20.     Vs.  *  is  also  the  natural  sequel  of  '. 

"  18^  I.e.,  sang  antiphonally  accompanying  their  words  by  the  dance  as  in  the  ancient 
ballad. 

^'  18"  The  song  of  the  women,  like  the  riddles  of  Samson,  has  rhyme  as  well  as  rhythm  and 
parallelism. 

w  jgsb  xhis  last  cause  is  lacking  in  the  Gk.  and  has  the  characteristics  of  a  late  editorial 
addition. 

I  igi2b  This  is  not  found  in  the  Gk.  and  appears  to  be  a  late  explanatory  note,  probably 
introduced  from  ^**>. 

a  Igu,  15  xhe  Heb.  verb  has  the  double  meaning  of  acting  wisely  and  of  enjoying  the  suc- 
cess which  results  from  such  action. 

86 


the  women  sang  to  each  other  as  they  danced,^ 
and  said, 

Saul  ha.s  slain  his  thousands, 
But  David  his  ten  thousands.^ 

®And  it  made  Saul  very  angry,  and  this  saying  dis- 
pleased him  and  he  said.  They  ascribed  to  David 
ten  thousands,  while  to  me  they  ascribed  but 
thousands,  and  what  can  he  have  more  but  the  king- 
dom?" ^And  Saul  kept  his  eye  on  David  from 
that  day  forward,  ^^^d  Saul  was  afraid  of 
David,  because  Jehovah  was  with  him  and  had  de- 
parted from  Saul.  ^  ^^xherefore  Saul  removed  him 
from  him,  and  made  him  his  commander  over 
a  thousand;  and  he  went  out  and  came  in  at 
the  head  of  the  people.  ^^And  David  acted 
wisely  and  prospered^  in  all  his  ways,  for  Jeho- 
vah was  with  him.  ^^And  when  Saul  saw  that 
he  acted  wisely  and  prospered,  he  stood  in  dread 
of  him.  i^But  all  Israel  and  Judah  loved  David, 
for  he  went  out  and  came  in  at  their  head. 


^^Michal,  Saul's  daughter,  also  loved  David. 

And   when    they    told    Saul,    he    was    pleased. 

with      21  ^YjjJ  gg^^l  gg^jjj  J  ^jjj  „jyg  jjgj.  ^q  him,  that  shc 

Michal  ^  ' 


1  Sam.  18-1]  SAUL'S  JEALOUSY  OF  DAVID 

Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 


[I  Sam.  1817 


mav  be  a  snare  to  him  and  that  the  hand  of  the 
Philistines  may  be  upon  him.  Therefore  Saul  said 
to  David,  you  shall  this  day  be  my  son-in-law  a  second 
time.''  --So  Saul  commanded  his  servants,  say- 
ing, Communicate  with  David  secretly  and  say, 
'See,  the  king  is  pleased  with  you  and  all  his 
servants  love  you;  now  therefore  become  the 
king's  son-in-law.'  -"^And  Saul's  servants  spoke 
these  words  in  the  ears  of  David.  And  David 
said,  Is  it  an  easy  thing  in  your  opinion  to  be- 
come the  king's  son-in-law,  when  I  am  a  poor 
man  and  of  no  reputation  ?  ^^^And  the  servants 
of  Saul"  told  him  saying,  David  spoke  thus. 
2^And  Saul  said.  Thus  shall  you  say  to  David, 
'  The  king  desires  no  bride-price,  but  a  hundred 


foreskins  of   the  Philistinet 
vengeance   on   the   king's 


m  order  to  take 
enemies.'  But  Saul 
thought  to  make  David  fall  by  the  hand  of  the 
Philistines.  2*^And  when  his  servants  told  David 
these  words,  David  was  well  pleased  with  the 
prospect  of  being  the  king's  son-in-law.  And  the 
days  were  not  yet  expired;'!  ^''and  David  arose  and 
went  together  with  his  men  and  slew  of  the 
Philistines  a  hundred *^  men;  and  David  brought 
their  foreskins  and  paid  them  in  full  to  the  king, 
in  order  to  become  the  king's  son-in-law.  There- 
fore Saul  gave  him  Michal  his  daughter  as  wife. 
2^And  when  Saul  saw  and  knew  that  Jehovah 
was  with  David  and  that  all  Israel  ^  loved  him, 
2^''Saul  feared  David  still  more. 

19  ^And  Saul  commanded  Jonathan  his  son  and  all 
his  servants  to  put  David  to  death.  But  Jonathan,  Saul's 
son,  was  very  fond  of  David.  ^And  Jonathan  told  David, 
saying,  Savil  my  fatlier  is  sookinp;  to  put  you  to  death ;  now  there- 
fore, I  jiray  you,  take  rare  in  Iho  niorniiip;  and  stay  in  conceal- 
ment and  hide  yourself.  ''And  I  will  go  out  and  stand  beside 
my  father  in  the  field  wliere  you  are,  and  I  will  converse  re- 
garding you  with  my  father,  and  whatever  I  see  I  will  tell  you. 

^And  Jonathan  spoke  well  of  David  to  Saul  his  father. 


Popular  Judean  David 
Stories 

I  give  to  you  as  wife;  only 
be  a  valiant  champion  and 
fight  Jehovah's  battles. 
For  Saul  said  to  himself, 
Let  not  my  hand  be  upon 
him,  but  let  the  hand  of 
the  Philistines  be  upon 
him.  i^And  David  re- 
plied to  Saul,  Who  am  I, 
and  what  is  my  father's 
clan  in  Israel,  that  I 
should  be  the  king's  son-in- 
law  .''  i^But  when  the  time 
came  that  Merab,  Saul's 
daughter,  should  have 
been  given  to  David,  she 
was  given  as  wife  to 
Adriel"  the  Meholathite. 
2^^But  Saul  remained  hos- 
tile to  David.  ^OAnd  the 
princes  of  the  Philistines 
went  forth ;  and  as  often  as 
they  went  forth,  David 
acted  more  wisely  and 
with  greater  success  than 
all  the  servants  of  Saul, 
so  that  his  name  was  held 


m 


high  repute. 


l^Now  on  the  Saul's 
next  day  the  evil  a"!^"^ 
spirit  from  God  tempt 

f  ,  to  kill 

rushed    upon  David 
Saul,    and    h  e 
became  frenzied 
within  the  house, 


b  ig2ib  Not  found  in  the  Ok.  and  evifiently  an  interpolation  which  anticipates  what  \s 
stated  subsequently.  The  reailiiiK  of  the  last  word  is  very  doubtful.  It  may  mean,  on  tu'o 
conditions,  but  these  are  not  expressed. 

■=  18'a  Aram,  form  of  the  name.  The  Heb.  is,  Esdriel,  of.  Jer.  362".  cf.  II  Sam.  218  (Gk.). 
The  TIeb.  makes  him  the  husband  of  Michal. 

''  lS-'''i'   Lacking  in  the  (Ik.  and  not  sur)ported  by  the  context  which  suRgests  no  time  limit. 

'  IS'"'  Heb.,  v'UK  very  preciou/i. 

'  IK-'  So  (;k.  Heb.,  Iv'o  hundred.  The  cliange  was  doubtless  due  to  the  later  tendency 
to  idealize  David's  acts. 

«  18^8  So  Gk.     Heb.,  Michal,  Saul's  daugMcr,  repeated  from  '". 

87 


I  Sam.  IQi]  THE  RISE   OF  DAVID 

Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 


and  said  to  him,  Let  not  the  king  sin  against  his  servant 
David,  because  he  has  not  sinned  against  you  and  because 
his  conduct  toward  you  has  been  exceedingly  good; 
^for  he  look  his  hfe  in  his  hand  and  smote  the  PhiHs- 
tine,  and  Jehovah  wrought  a  great  dehverance  for  Israel 
You  saw  it  and  rejoiced.  Why  then  will  you  sin  against 
innocent  blood,  in  slaying  David  without  a  cause  ?  '^And 
Saul  barkened  to  the  voice  of  Jonathan;  and  Saul  gave  an 
oath.  As  Jehovah  liveth,  he  shall  not  be  put  to  death.  '^And 
Jonathan  called  David,  and  Jonathan  made  known  to 
him  all  these  words.  And  Jonathan  brought  David  to 
Saul,  so  that  he  was  again  in  his  presence  as  formerly. 
^But  when  there  was  war  again,  David  went  out  and 
fought  against  the  Philistines,  and  slew  great  numbers  of 
them,  so  that  they  fled  before  him.  ^Then  an  evil  spirit 
from  Jehovah  came  upon  Saul,  while  he  was  sitting  in  his 
house  with  his  spear  in  his  hand,  and  David  was  playing 
on  the  lyre.  ^^And  Saul  sought  to  pin  David  to  the  wall 
with  the  spear,  but  he  slipped  away  out  of  Saul's  presence, 
so  that  he  smote  the  spear  into  the  wall,  and  David  fled 
and  escaped. 

Da^ad's  ^^And  that  night^  Saul  sent  messengers  to  David's  house  to  watch  him, 
escape  ^^  ^^  ^^  j,jjj  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^  morning.  But  Michal,  David's  wife,  told  him,  saying. 
If  you  do  not  save  your  life  to-night,  to-morrow  you  will  be  slain.  ^'^&o 
Michal  let  David  down  through  the  window;  and  he  fled  away  and  escaped. 
l^And  Michal  took  the  household  god™  and  laid  it  in  the  bed,  and  put  a 
cloth  of  goat's  hair  for  its  head  and  covered  it  with  the  garment.  ^^And 
when  Saul  sent  messengers  to  take  David,  she**  said.  He  is  sick.  ^^Then 
Saul  sent  the  messengers  to  see  David,  saying,  Bring  him  up  to  me  in  the  bed, 
that  I  may  put  him  to  death.  I'^And  when  the  messengers  came  in,  there 
the  household  god  was  in  the  bed,  with  the  cloth  of  goat's  hair  for  its  pillow. 
i''And  Saul  said  to  Michal,  Why  have  you  deceived  me  thus,  and  let  my 
enemy  go,  so  that  he  has  escaped  ?  And  Michal  answered  Saul,  He  said  to 
me,  '  Let  me  go;  why  should  I  kill  you  ?  '° 


[I  Sam.  1810 

Popular  Judean 
David  Stories 


while  David  was 
playing  on  the 
lyre**  as  he  did 
each  day.  And 
Saul  had  his 
spear  inhishand; 
l^and  he  lifted 
up*  the  spear, 
saying  to  himself, 
I  will  pin  David 
tothewaU.J  But 
David  escaped 
from  his  pres- 
ence twice,  ^ 


h  1810  Heb.,  u'ith  his  hand. 

\  18"  So  Gk.  A,  Luc,  Targ.  and  a  possible  reading  of  the  Heb. 

>  IS'i  Heb.,  /  u'ill  smite  David  and  the  wall. 

•=  18"  The  meaning,  of  the  Heb.  is  exceedingly  doubtful.  It  may  have  been  added  by  an 
editor  who  recalled  the  parallel  incident  in  19'''  '"  and  wished  to  harmonize  them.  Possibly  it 
also  indicates  that  this  duplicate  once  followed  rather  than  preceded  IQ'-''  '". 

'  19"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  present  division  of  verses  joins  the  clause,  that  night,  to  'o. 

■"  19'3  Heb.,  teraphim.     Cf.  Vol.  I,  p.  115,  note  '. 

o  19"  Gk.,  they. 

°  IQi'  A  common  form  of  threat. 


88 


DAVID  AS  A  FUGITIVE  [I  S.ui.  20ib 

§  1^2.  David  as  a  Fugitive,  I  Sam.  IQ^^-Sl',  22^-\  23^5-i8 
Earli/  Judean  David  Narratives 

I  Sam.  20  I'^Then  [David]  came  and  said  before  Jonathan,  ^Tiat  have  David's 
I  done  ?     \Miat  is  my  guilt  ?     And  what  is  my  sin  before  your  father,  that  *^°ew" 
he  is  seeking  mv  Hfe  ?     -And  he  replied  to  him,  Far  be  it !     You  shall  not  Y^^^ 
die.     See,  my  father  does  nothing  great  or  small,  but  that  he  discloses  it  to  than 
me;  and  why  should  my  father  hide  this  from  me?     Not  so.     ^And  David 
answeredP  and  said,  Your  father  well  knows  that  I  have  found  favor  in  your 
eyes,  and  he  is  saying  to  himself,  '  Let  not  Jonathan  know  this  lest  he  be 
pained.'     Nevertheless  as  surely  as  Jehovah  liveth,  and  as  you  live,  there  is 
but  a  step  between  me  and  death.     ^Then  Jonathan  said  to  David,  What 
do  you  desire  to  have  me  do  for  you .''     ^And  David  answered  Jonathan, 
Behold,  to-morrow  is  the  new  moon  and  I  should  not  fail  to  sit"^  at  the  table 
with  the  king;  therefore  let  me  go  and  I  will  hide  myself  in  the  field •"  until 
evening.     ^If  your  father  misses  me,  then  say,  '  David  urgently  asked  leave 
of  me  to  run  to  Bethlehem  his  city;  for  the  yearly  sacrifice  is  there  for  all 
the  family.'     "If  he  says  'Good,'  then  it  is  well  with  your  servant;  but  if  it 
arouses  his  anger,  then  know  that  evil  is  determined  upon  by  him.     ^Now 

§  12  The  events  in  20'-^^  evidently  followed  immediately  those  recorded  in  19'-^'.  Before 
finally  fleeing  from  the  court  of  Saul,  David,  through  Jonathan,  whose  friendship  is  attested  in 
all  the  traditions,  seeks  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  a  reconciliation  with  the  half-insane  king  is 
not  still  possible.  Contents  and  literary  style  both  indicate  that  the  passage  is  from  the  early 
Judean  David  narratives.  Its  theme,  however,  lent  itself  readily  to  expansion  and  the  story  is 
told  with  unusual  fulness.  Certain  scholars  regard  •'-i"  as  a  later  addition,  but  the  evidence  is 
not  conclusive.  The  story  may  have  been  expanded,  while  still  in  the  oral  stage,  and  therefore 
have  been  recorded  in  its  present  form  (excepting  a  few  textual  errors')  in  the  early  Judean  David 
history. 

The  contents  of  ^''-42_  however,  contradict  the  implication  of  the  preceding  verses,  namely, 
that  it  was  exceedingly  dangerous  for  the  two  friends  in  the  circumstances  to  speak  directly  with 
each  other.  If  they  could  thus  meet,  the  elaborate  method  of  communicating  recorded  in  the 
preceding  verses  was  entirely  needless.  Their  solemn  covenant  had  already  been  made,  '-■", 
and  farewells  said.  The  passage,  therefore,  appears  to  be  either  an  editorial  expansion  or  else 
an  extract  from  a  later  form  of  the  tradition. 

Still  another  popular  version  of  the  covenant  between  the  two  friends  is  found  in  23'5-is. 
Vs.  '^  is  probably  simply  its  editorial  introduction  intended  to  adjust  it  to  its  context  with  which, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  ha-s  no  real  connection.  The  same  elements  of  the  tradition  reappear 
here  in  somewhat  magnified  and  idealized  proportion.  That  David  will  be  king  is  in  ''  plainly 
a-ssumed.  This  fourfold  version  of  the  covenant  between  David  and  Jonathan,  20'-' '',  IS'^-^ 
20'"'-'-.  23'^-'*,  recalls  the  fivefold  version  of  the  covenant  with  Abraham,  in  Gen.     Cf.  Vol.  I.  §  13. 

That  the  account  of  David's  flight  to  Samuel,  recorded  in  19'**- 20''',  is  .secondary  is  perfectly 
obvious.  Not  only  does  it  contain  a  tradition  regarding  the  proverb,  Is  Saul  a?nong  the  proph- 
ets? distinct  from  that  given  in  the  early  .ludean  narratives  of  10" ■  '••',  but  it  has  no  connec- 
tion with  the  sober  Judean  history  of  David,  which  represents  him  as  fleeing  southward,  21'-^, 
simply  stopping  to  get  food  for  himself  and  his  followers  at  the  sanctuary  at  Nob.  The  con- 
ception of  Samuel  and  of  the  prophets  a,s  a  class  is  clearly  that  of  a  much  later  i)eriod.  Its 
Coint  of  view  resembles  that  of  the  Kphraimite  prophetic  narratives,  but  15'''"  is  contradicted 
y  19-".  Like  the  story  in  16'-'^,  it  probably  represents  a  tradition  current  in  very  late  pro- 
phetic circles. 

The  early  Judean  narratives  trace  each  step  in  the  fortunes  of  David.  After  leaving 
Nob  he  found  refuge  in  the  stronghold  at  .\dullam,  probably  located  in  the  southeastern  border 
of  Judah,  where  his  family  joins  him.  For  the  cla.ssification  of  21'"''',  cf.  §  16.  That  he  placed 
his  father  and  mother  under  the  protection  of  the  neighboring  Moabites  is  no  more  unusual 
than  that  he  himself  later  .>;ouEht  refuge  among  Israel's  enemies,  the  Philistines,  so  tliul  there  is 
no  conclusive  ground  for  regarding  22'-  '  as  seconriary.  The  sudden  introduction  of  the  proph- 
<»t  GafI,  however,  in  ■''  in  a  role  akin  to  that  of  Samuel  in  8,  12,  and  l."),  strongly  .suggests  tliat 
he  verse  is  from  an  editor,  who  thus  brings  David  back  from  heathen  .soil  at  the  command  of  a 
rophet. 

p  20^  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  is  corrupt  and  reads,  David  swore  again. 

'I  20''  The  Gk.  and  fJrigen  insert  a  negative  and  read,  nnd  rcrtainh/  will  iint  sit,  etc.  The 
ew  moon,  like  the  sabbath,  was  observed  by  abstaining  from  all  work.  Cf.  Am.  8'',  II  Kgs.  4-^. 
'  20''  So  tik.  and  Luc.  Ileb.  adds,  uJitil  the  third  d(n-  '^"t,  this  is  not  suj^ported  by  the  con- 
xt  and  in  in  form  ungrai"'Tia.tic«l 

89 


ISam.  208]  THE   RISE   OF  DAVID 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

deal  kindly  with  your  servant,  for  you  have  brought  your  servant  into  a 
sacred®  covenant  witli  yourself;  but  if  there  be  guilt  in  me,  slay  me  yourself, 
for  why  should  you  bring  me  to  your  father?  ^And  Jonathan  said.  Far  be 
it  from  you  !  for  if  I  should  learn  that  my  father  had  determined  that  evil 
should  come  upon  you,  I  would  tell  you.  ^^Then  David  said  to  Jonathan, 
Who  will  tell  me,  if  your  father  answers  me  harshly?  ^^And  Jonathan  re- 
plied to  David,  Come,  and  let  us  go  out  into  the  field.  So  the  two  of  them 
went  out  into  the  field. 
The  ^"And  Jonathan  said  to  David,  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  be  witness 

nant       that  I  will  sound  my  father  about  this  time  to-morrow  and  if  he  be  well 
'^^;         disposed  toward  David,  then  I  will  send  and  disclose  it  to  you.*     ^^God  do 
them      to  Jonathan  whatever  he  will,"  should  my  father  be  disposed  to  do  you  evil, 
and  I  disclose  it  not  to  you  and  send  you  away  that  you  may  go  in  peace. 
And  may  Jehovah  be  with  you,  as  he  has  been  with  my  father.     ^^And  if 
I  am  yet  alive,  O  may  you  show  me  the  kindness  of  Jehovah  !     But  if  I 
should  die,  ^^may  you  never  withdraw  your  kindness  from  my  house.    And 
if,  when  Jehovah  hath  cut  off  the  enemies  of  David,  every  one  from  the 
face  of  the  earth,  ^^the  name  of  Jonathan  should  be  cut  off  by  the  house  of 
David,   may  Jehovah  require  it  at  the  hand  of  David's  enemies. "^     ^''So 
Jonathan  took  oath  again  to  David,^^  because  of  his  love  to  him;  for  with 
all  his  heart  he  loved  him. 
Their         ^^Then  Jonathan  said  to  him,  To-morrow  is  the  new  moon  and  you  will 
com-  °'^  ^^6  missed,  because  your  seat  will  be  empty.     ^^And  on  the  third  day  you 
muni-     yy[\\  be  greatly  missed.'^     Then  you  shall  come  to  the  place  where  you  hid 
yourself  on  the  day  of  the  affair,^  and  you  shall  sit  down  there  beside  the 
heap  of  stones.''     ^°And  on  the  third  day  I  will  shoot  arrows  on  one  side 
of  it,  as  though  I  shot  at  a  mark,     ^ifj^ei^^  j  -^yin  sgi^^i  ^j^g  Jaj^  saying,  '  Go, 
find  the  arrows.'     If  I  say  to  the  lad,  '  See,  the  arrows  are  on  this  side  of 
you;   pick  them   up  !  ' — then  come;   for  it  is  well  for  you,  and,  as  Jehovah 
liveth,  there  is  nothing  the    matter.     22gy^  jf  j  g^y  ^^  ^jjg  j^^y^  'See,  the 
arrows  are  beyond  you,'  go,  for  then  Jehovah  sends  you  away,     ^s^j^j  g^g 
to  the  word  which  you  and  I  have  spoken,  behold,  Jehovah  is  witness  between 
you  and  me  forever. 
Discov-      ^^So  David  hid  himself  in  the  field;  and  when  the  new  moon  came,  the 
lauFs     ^^g  sat  down  at  the  table  to  eat.     ^s^j^j  ^]^g  king  sat  upon  his  seat  as  usual, 

toward  ^"^^^  ^^  *'^^  '^^^^  ^^  ^'^^  ^^^^'  ^^^  Jonathan  sat  opposite,"  and  Abner  sat  by 
David    Saul's  side;  but  David's  place  was  empty.     26]sfgyej.^}je}ggg  g^^^j  jj^j  j^^^  say 

"  20'^  Heb.,  covenant  of  Jehovah,  i.e.,  sanctified  and  confirmed  by  Jehovah. 

t  20^2  The  Heb.  is  very  obscure  and  the  Gk.  much  simpler.     The  above  reconstruction 
probably  represents  the  thou£;ht  of  the  original. 

u  20"  So  Gk.  which  follows  the  ancient  formula  of  swearing.     Cf.  3'^  23''.     Heb.,  Jeho- 
vah do  so  to  Jonathan  and  more  also. 

.  ^  -0'^  Another  exceedingly  difficult  passage.  It  seems  to  be  the  direct  continuation  of  ''. 
Agam  the  Gk.  appears  to  have  retained  the  original  reading  and  has  been  followed.  Enemiet, 
m  the  last  clause  may  be  a  later  insertion.     The  sense  is  better  without  it. 

"  2019  The  Heb.  is  corrupt.     The  Gk.  has  e\ddently  retained  a  better  reading. 

^  20'9  The  event  alluded  to  is  unknown.  , 

b  2019  Following  the  Gk.     Heb.,  hy  the  stone  of  Ezel. 

■=  20-5  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  stood  up. 

90 


DAVID  AS  A  FUGITI^^: 


[I  Sam.  2026 


Early  Jiidean  David  Xarrativcs 

am-thing  that  day,  for  he  thought,  It  is  an  accident,  he  is  not  ceremonially 
clean,  for  he  has  not  been  cleansed.*^  ^"But  when  on  the  day  following  the 
new  moon,  David's  place  was  empty,  Saul  said  to  Jonathan  his  son.  Why 
has  not  the  son  of  Jesse  come  to  the  meal,  either  yesterday  or  to-day  ?  -^And 
Jonathan  answered  Saul,  David  urgently  asked  leave  of  me  to  go  to  Bethle- 
hem, -^for  he  said,  '  Let  me  go,  since  our  family  has  a  sacrifice  in  the  city; 
and  my  brothers^  have  commanded  me.  Now  if  I  have  found  favor  in  your 
sight,  let  me  slip  away  and  see  my  kinsmen.'  Hence  he  has  not  come  to 
the  king's  table.  ^^Then  Saul's  anger  was  kindled  against  Jonathan,  and 
he  said  to  him,  Son  of  a  depraved  woman  !^  Do  I  not  know  that  you  are 
associated  with^  the  son  of  Jesse  to  your  ow^i  shame  and  to  the  shame  of 
your  mother's  nakedness  ?  ^^For  as  long  as  the  son  of  Jesse  lives  on  the 
earth,  neither  you  nor  your  kingdom  will  be  established.  Therefore  now 
send  and  bring  him  to  me,  for  he  is  doomed  to  die.^  ^-^Then  Jonathan 
answered  Saul  his  father  and  said  to  him,  Why  should  he  be  put  to  death  ? 
What  has  he  done  ?  ^^But  Saul  lifted  up  his  spear  at  him  to  smite  him.  So 
Jonathan  knew  that  his  father  had  determined  to  put  David  to  death.  ^'^There- 
fore  Jonathan  rose  from  the  table  in  hot  anger  and  ate  no  food  the  second 
day  of  the  month,  for  he  was  grieved  for  David,'  because  his  father  reviled 
him. 


The  ^^But  in  the  morning  Jonathan  went  out  into  the 

ing'^and  ^^1*^  ^t  the  time  appointed  with  David,  and  a  httle 
secret  ]a(}  ^yjth  him.  2^ And  he  said  to  his  lad.  Run,  find 
view  now  the  arrows  which  I  shoot.  And  as  the  lad  ran, 
he  shot  an  arrow  beyond  him.  ^''And  when  the  lad 
came  to  the  place  where  the  arrow  which  Jonathan 
had  shot  lay,  Jonathan  cried  after  the  lad,  and 
said.  Is  not  the  arrow  beyond  you  ?  ^^And  Jonathan 
cried  after  the  lad,  Hurrj',  quick,  do  not  stop  !  So 
Jonathan's  lad  gathered  up  the  arrows,  and  brought 
them  to  his  master.  ^^But  the  lad  had  no  kTiowledge 
of  anything;  only  Jonathan  and  David  understood 
the  matter.  ^oAnd  Jonathan  gave  his  weapons  to  his  lad, 
and  said  to  him,  Go,  carry  thorn  to  the  city.  ^lAnd  as  soon 
as  tlie  lad  had  gone,  David  rose  from  beside  the  stone  heap, ' 
and  fell  on  his  face  to  the  ground  and  prostrated  Inmself 
three  times,  and  they  kissed  each  other  and  wept  at  length 


Pojndar  Judean  Da- 
vid Stories 

I  Sam.  23   '^Now 

David  feared  because 
Saul  had  come  out  to 
seek  liis  life;  and  I^avid 
was  in  the  Wilderness  of 

Ziph  in  Horesha.  ^^And 

Jonathan,  Saul's  son, 

arose,    and    went    to 

David    in    Horesha 

and  strengthened  his 

hand  in  God.   ^'^And 

he  said  to  lu'm,  Fear 

not,  for  the  hand  of 

Saul  my  father  shall 

not  find  you,  and  you 

shall    be    king    over 

Israel  and  I  shall  be 


^  20*  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  is  a  mere  repetition. 

'  2029  So  Gk.  arifi  Luc.     Heb.,  mij  brother. 

I  20™  The  Heb.  is  doubtful.  It  may  mean,  son  of  depravity,  or  perverseness,  or,  after  tlie 
Gk.,  son  of  an  escaped  slave  oirl.  It  is  not  intended,  however,  to  reflect  at  all  on  the  mother, 
but  only  on  the  person  aridres.sed.  ,     ,.       , 

«  2030  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  Owing  to  the  transposition  of  one  letter  the  Heb.  reads,  )  ou  have 
chosen. 

''  20'"   Heb.,  he  is  a  son  of  death.  . 

'  20"  The  Gk.  omits,  for  he  was  grieved  for  David.     It  may  be  a  later  adiution. 

'  20"  So  Gk.  and  the  corrected  Heb.  text. 

91 


1  Sam.  i>0»i]  THE  RISE   OF  DAVID 

Early  Jiidcan  David  Narratives 


with  each  other.  ^  ^-Then  Jonathan  said  to  David,  Go  in 
peace!  As  to  wliat  we  two  hav^e  sworn  in  the  name  of  Jeho- 
vah— Jeho\ah  will  be  between  me  and  you  and  between 
my  descendants  and  your  descendants  forever.  Then  David 
rose  and  dei^arted  and  Jonathan  went  into  the  city. 


Da\'id's  31  ^And  David  came  to  Nob,  to  Ahime- 
to^he  Jpch  the  priest.  And  Ahimelech  came  trem- 
P"!!*?  bling  to  meet  David  and  said  to  him,  Why 
are  you  alone  and  no  one  with  yon  ?  ^And 
David  answered  Ahimelech  the  priest.  The 
king  has  entrusted  me  with  a  matter  and 
has  said  to  me,  '  Let  no  one  know  anything 
about  the  matter  upon  which  I  am  sending 
you  and  which  I  have  commanded  you;'  and 
I  have  directed  the  young  men  to  meet  me 
at  a  certain  place.  ^Now,  therefore,  if  you 
have  five  loaves  of  bread  at  hand,  or  what- 
ever can  be  found,""  give  it  to  me.  *And 
the  priest  answered  David,  saying,  There  is 
no  ordinary  bread  at  hand,  but  there  is  holy 
bread,  if  only  the  young  men  have  kept  them- 
selves from  women.  "^  ^And  David  answered 
the  priest  and  said  to  him.  Of  a  truth  women 
have  been  kept  from  us;  as  always  when  I 
set  out  on  an  expedition,  the  weapons °  of 
the  young  men  were  consecrated,  though  it 
is  but  an  ordinary  journey;  how  much  more 
then  to-day  shall  their  weapons  be  holy  !p 
^So  the  priest  gave  him  holy  bread,  for  there 
was  no   bread  there   but  the  showbread,"" 


[I  Sam.  2317 

Popular  Judean  Da- 
vid Stories 

next  to  you ;  and  that 
also  Saul  my  father 
well  knows.  ^^And 
they  two  made  a 
covenant  before  Je- 
hovah ;  and  David 
abode  in  Horesha, 
and  Jonathan  re- 
turned home. 


Very  Late  Popular  Prophetic 
Tradition 

I  Sam.  19  i^Now  David  David's 
fled  and  escaped  and  came  to  ^o^  *" 
Samuel  to  Ramah  and  told  Samuel 
him  all  that  Saul  had  done  to  mah 
him.  And  he  and  Samuel 
went  and  remained  in  Nai- 
oth.'  i^And  when  it  was  told 
Saul,  saying,  David  is  there  at 
Naioth  in  Ramah,  ^^Saul  sent 
messengers  to  take  David.  But 
when  they  saw  the  company 
of  the  prophets  prophesying 
with  Samuel  standing  as  head 
over  them,  the  spirit  of  God 
came  upon  the  messengers  of 
Saul,  so  that  they  also  prophe- 
sied. 21^11(1  when  it  was  told 
Saul,  he  sent  other  messengers, 
and  they  also  prophesied.  And 
Saul  sent  messengers  again  the 
third  time,  and  they  also  proph- 
esied. "'j'}jgj^  Saul's  anger 
was  aroused'i  and  he  himself 
went  to  Ramah.  And  when 
he  came  to  the  cistern  of  the 


^  20^'  RV,  until  David  exceeded,  i.e.,  came  out  ahead  in  the  weeping  contest.     The  idea  is, 
to  say  the  least,  peculiar.     The  Gk.  omits  David,  and  suggests  the  above  reading. 

19'8  The  meaning  of  this  word  is  unknown.     It  may  come  from  the  root,  to  dwell. 

"  213  Heb.,  What  is  under  your  hand?  give  me  five  loaves  of  bread  in  my  hand  or  whatever 
IS  found. 

°  nK  J}^^  Tieh.  omits,  as  frequently,  the  apodosis;  Gk.  and  Luc.  add,  that  they  might  eat. 
"  2V  Or,  bodies.     Gk.,  all  of  the  young  men. 

"  fot) '^^^rM*'^*^^^  '^  exceedingly  difficult,  although  the  general  sense  is  clear. 
<i  19--  80  Gk.      The  clause,  Saul's  anger  was  aroused,  has  apparently  dropped  out  of  our 
present  Heb.  text. 

'  216  J  g^  tjjg  bread  set  before  Jehovah  in  the  sanctuary.     Lit.,  bread  of  the  presence. 

92 


I  SXM.  216] 


DAVID  AS  A  FUGITIVE 


[I  S.oi.  1922 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

that  was  taken  from  before  Jehovah  in  order 
to  put  hot  bread  there  the  day  it  was  taken 
away.  '  Now  one  of  the  servants  of  Saul  was 
there  that  day,  detained  before  Jehovah/  by 
the  name  of  Doeg,  an  Edomite,  the  chief  of 
Saul's  herdsmen. '^  ^And  David  said  to 
Ahimeleeh,  Have  you  not  here  at  hand  a 
spear  or  sword  ?  For  I  brought  neither  my 
sword  nor  my  weapons  with  me,  because  the 
king's  matter  required  haste.  ^And  the 
priest  said.  The  sword  of  GoHath  the  Phi- 
listine, whom  you  slew  in  the  valley  of  Elah, 
there  it  is  wrapped  in  a  garment  behind  the 
ephod.  If  you  wish  to  take  that,  take  it,  for 
there  is  no  other  except  that  here.  And 
David  said,  There  is  none  like  that,  give  it 
tome. 


Very  Late  Popidar  Prophetic 
Tradition. 

threshing  floor,  which  is  on  the 
bare  height,^  he  asked,  saying, 
Where  are  Samuel  and  David  ? 
And  one  said,  There  they  are 
at  Naioth  in  Ramah.  -"^But 
when  he  went  thither  to  Nai- 
oth in  Ramah,  the  spirit  of  God 
also  came  upon  him,  and  he 
went  along  prophesying,  until 
he  came  to  Naioth  in  Ramah. 
2"^And  he  also  stripped  ofl^  his 
clothes  and  prophesied  before 
Samuel,  and  lay  naked  all  that 
day  and  all  that  night.  There- 
fore   they    say.    Is    Saul    also 

among  the  prophets?^'  20 
i'»Tlien  David  fled  from  Naioth  in 
Ramah.  «■ 


23  ^David  therefore  departed  thence  and  escaped  to  the  stronghold^  of  David 
Adullam.     And  when  his  brethren  and  all  his  father's  clan  heard  it,  they  ouflaw 
went  down  there  to  him.     -And  every  one  who  was  in  distress,  and  everv  leader 
one  who  was  in  debt,  and  every  one  who  was  embittered  gathered  about  him, 
and  he  became  their  leader.^     And  there  were  with  him  about  four  hundred 
men. 

■^And  David  went  from  there  to  Mizpeh  in  Moab;  and  he  said  to  the  king  His 

of  Moab,  Let  my  father  and  my  mother  dwell  with''  you,  until  I  know  what  ^v1th°  ^ 

God  will  do  for  me.     ^And  he  left  them  in  the  presence*'  of  the  king  of  Moab;  *l>e     . 

and  they  dwelt  with  him  all  the  while  that  David  was  in  the  stronghold.  Moab 
'And  the  prophet  Gad  said  to  David,  Do  not  remain  in  Mizpeh;''  depart  and  come  into 
the  land  of  Judah.     Then  David  departed  and  came  into  the  forest  of  Hereth. 

■  19^  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  to  the  great  cistern  which  is  in  Secu. 

'  2V  Because  of  some  ceremonial   obUgation. 

"  2F  Gk.,  mideherd. 

'•'  19^^  For  the  older  tradition  rcgardinK  the  origin  of  the  proverb,  of.  lO'",  §  6. 

"  20'^  Evidently  from  the  editor  and  intended  to  introduce  the  narrative  which  follows 
in  20. 

»  22'  Heb.,  cave;  but  the  parallels  in  II  Sam.  23'3,  I  Chr.  11''',  and  the  reference  in  '  de- 
mand the  very  similar  Heb.  word  ineaninK,  stroncihold. 

"  22^  Cf.  the  similar  band  of  outlaws  who  Rathcred  about  .Jephthah,  Judg.  II-''. 

^  22'  So  Syr.  and  Lat.  Gk.,  he.  A  scribal  error  in  the  Heb.  gives  the  unnatural  reading, 
come  forth. 

'  22<  So  Syr.,  Lat.,  Targ.,  and  a  .slightly  modified  reading  of  the  Heb. 

•^  22'  So  Syr.  Heb.,  stronghold,  but  accorcHng  to  2.3'  the  stronghold  of  Adullam  was  in 
Judah.     The  change  of  one  letter  gives  the  harmonious  reading  followed  above. 


93 


IS.^M.  226]  THE  RISE   OF  DAVID 

§  13.  Saul's  Vengeance  upon  the  Priests  of  Nob,  I  Sam.  ;22°-^^ 

Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 

Doeg's  I  Sam.  23  ^Xow  when  Saul  heard  tliat  David  and  the  men  with  him  were 
dous  discovered  (Saul  was  sitting  in  Gibeah,  under  the  tamarisk-tree  on  the  high 
testi-  place,  ^  with  his  spear  in  his  hand,  and  all  his  servants  were  standing  about 
him),^  "Saul  said  to  his  serv'ants  who  were  standing  before  him,  Hear  O 
Benjamites!  Will  the  son  of  Jesse  likewise  give  you  all  fields  and  vine- 
yards ?  Will  he  make  you  all  commanders  of  thousands  and  commanders 
of  hundreds,  ^that  all  of  you  have  conspired  against  me,  and  no  one  dis- 
closes to  me  that  my  son  has  made  a  covenant  with  the  son  of  Jesse,  and 
none  of  you  has  pity^  upon  me  or  discloses  to  me  that  my  son  has  stirred 
up  my  servant  to  be  an  enemy  against  me,^  as  is  now  the  case  ?  ^Then 
Doeg  the  Edomite,  who  was  standing  by  the  servants  of  Saul,  answered  and 
said,  I  saw  the  son  of  Jesse  coming  to  Nob,  to  Ahimelech  the  son  of  Ahitub. 
^^And  he  inrjuired  of  God^  for  him  and  gave  him  provisions  and  the  sword 
of  Goliath  the  Philistine. 
Slaugh-  i^Then  the  king  summoned  x\himelech  the  priest,  the  son  of  Ahitub,  and 
t^g°  all  his  father's  house,  the  priests  who  were  in  Nob,  and  they  came  all  of 
priests  them  to  the  king.  ^-And  Said  said,  Hear  now,  O  son  of  Ahitub  !  And  he 
answered,  Here  am  I,  my  lord  !  ^^And  Saul  said  to  him.  Why  have  you, 
together  with  the  son  of  Jesse,  conspired  against  me,  in  that  you  have  given 
him  bread  and  a  sword  and  have  inquired  of  God  for  him,  that  he  should 
rise  against  me  as  an  enemy,  ^  as  is  now  the  case  ?  ^^Then  Ahimelech  an- 
swered the  king  and  said.  But  who  among  all  your  servants  is  like  David, 
trusted  and  the  king's  son-in-law  and  captain  over  your  retainers J  and 
honored  in  your  household  ?  ^^Is  this  the  first  time  I  have  inquired  of  God 
for  him  ?  Far  be  it  from  me  !  Let  not  the  king  impute  anything  to  his 
sen'ant  nor  to  any  one  of  my  clan,  for  your  ser\^ant  did  not  know  the  slightest 
thing  about  all  this.  ^^But  the  king  said,  A^ou  shall  surely  die,  Ahimelech, 
together  with  all  your  clan.  ^'And  the  king  said  to  the  runners  who  stood 
before  him.  Turn  about  and  slay  the  priests  of  Jehovah,  for  their  hand  also 
was  with  David,  and,  although  they  knew  that  he  was  fleeing,  they  did  not 
disclose  it  to  me.  But  the  servants  of  the  king  would  not  put  forth  their  hands 
to  strike  down  the  priests  of  Jehovah.  ^^Then  the  king  said  to  Doeg,  Turn 
and  strike  down  the  priests.     And  Doeg  the  Edomite  turned  and  himself 

§  13  While  one  or  two  new  facts,  as,  for  example,  that  Ahimelech  inquired  of  .Jehovah 
for  David,  '",  are  found  in  22^-23,  and  not  in  21'-^,  the  points  of  correspondence  are  so  many  and 
close  between  the  two  sections  that  it  is  difficult  to  believe,  as  has  sometimes  been  maintained, 
that  they  are  not  from  the  same  source;  the  former  indeed  is  the  immediate  sequel  of  the  latter. 
The  sword  of  Goliath  also  figures  in  both,  21'  and  22 '3.  Abiathar  likewise  reappears  in  the  sub- 
sequent early  Judean  David  narratives,  e.g.,  23'',  II  Sam.  lo-^'  •'^-  ^.  The  natural  representation 
and  the  vivid  style  strongly  confirm  the  conclusion  that  it  was  taken  from  the  early  Judean 
David  narratives. 

''22**  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  It  was  the  place  of  public  assembly.  Cf.  9^.  The  Heb.  has  the 
impossible  reading,  Ramah. 

'  22^  A  long  interjected  descriptive  clause,  not  uncommon  in  Heb. 

e  228  Heb.,  is  sick  for. 

•>  228- 13  So  Gk.     Heb.,  to  be  in  wait. 

■  2210  So  Syr.,  Gk.,  and  Luc,  and  in  ",  isff.     Heb.,  Jehovah. 

'  22'*  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Targ.  The  current  translation,  is  taken  into  thy  councils,  is 
hardly  tenable. 

94 


SAUL'S  VENGE.VNCE  ON  THE  PRIESTS    [I  Sam.  22i8 
Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 

struck  down  the  priests.     So  he  slew  on  that  day  eighty-five  men  who  wore 

the  ephod.        '^And  the  priestly  city  Nob  he  put  to  the  sword,  both  men  and  women, 
children  and  infants,  oxen  and  asses  and  sheep. ' 

-*^And  one  of  the  sons  of  Ahiinelech  the  son  of  Ahituh,  named  Abiathar,  Abia- 
escaped  and  fled  to  David."^  -^And  Abiatliar  told  David  that  Saul  had  I'^aY'I 
slain  the  priests  of  Jehovah.  -^And  David  said  to  Abiathar,  I  knew  that 
day,  because  Doeg  the  Edomite  was  there,  that  he  would  surely  tell  Saul. 
I  myself  am  guilty"  of  all  the  lives  of  your  clan.  ^Sj^^j^^j^jj^  with  me,  fear 
not;  for  whoever  seeks  your  life  must  also  seek  mine,°  since  you  are  placed  in 
my  charge. 


§14.  Saul's  Pursuit  and  David's  Magnanimity,  I  Sam.  231-h,i9-;9^  04,  26 


Dis- 
closure 
of  Da- 
vid's 
hiding- 
place  to 
Saul 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

I  Sam.  23  ^Now  when  David  was  told. 
The  Philistines  are  fighting  against  Keilah 
and  are  robbing  the  threshing  floors, 
-David  inc|uired  of  Jehovah,  saying,  Shall 
I  go  and  attack  these  Philistines  ?  And 
Jehovah  said  to  David,  Go,  attack  the 
Philistines,  and  save  Keilah.  "^But  Da- 
vid's men  .said  to  him,  Behold  we  are 
afraid  here  in  Judah;  how  nnich  more 


Popular  Judean  David  Stories 

23  i^Then  the  Ziphites  came 
up  to  Saul  to  Gibeah,  saying.  Is 
not  David  hiding  himself  with  us 
in  the  strongholds  in  Iloresha, 
in  the  hill  of  Ilachilah,  winch  is 
to  the  south  of  the  desert  ?^^ 
^^Now  therefore,  O  king,  accord- 
ing to  all  your  heart's  desire  come 
down,  and  it  shall  be  our  part  to 


I'  2218  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  adds,  linen. 

I  22'^  Probably  an  editorial  expansion  of  the  story.  The  language  is  closely  parallel  to 
that  of  lo-*,  which  is  a  late  account  of  tlie  destruction  of  the  Anialekites.  The  early  narratives 
contain  no  references  to  the  complete  destruction  of  an  Israelite  town. 

m  22-"  The  original  jirobably  added,  and  brought  the  ephod  with  him.  Cf.  the  omission  of 
all  reference  to  the  ephod  in  14'*. 

n  22--  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Syr.  One  letter  in  the  Heb.  has  evidently  been  changed  through 
a  copyist's  error,  so  that  at  present  it  is  untranslatable. 

o  22^  Restoring  that  which  must  have  been  the  original  order  in  this  sentence. 

§  14  23'-""  is  the  direct  continuation  of  the  Judean  narrative  in  22.  Al)iathar  the  priest, 
who  alone  escaped  from  the  slaughter  of  the  jiriests  at  Nob,  is  present  in  David's  camp,  '.  The 
language  and  spirit  are  characteristic  of  the  early  David  stories. 

Chaps.  23"'-242^  and  2(i  contain  what  a])|)ear  clearly  to  be  v.ariant  versions  of  the  same  inci- 
dent. In  both  the  Ziphites  offer  to  betray  David  to  Saul,  an<l  the  geographical  background  is 
the  same.  In  each,  Saul,  while  pursuing  hirn,  is  at  the  mercy  of  David,  who  spares  the  life 
of  the  king  because  of  his  regard  for  the  anointed  of  .lehovah.  Both  recount  much  the  same 
conversation  between  the  two  which  results  in  their  temporary  reconciliation.  The  variations 
are  no  more  striking  than  appear  in  the  different  versions  of  events  found  in  (icn.-.Iudg. 

Both  versions  have  many  of  the  expressions  and  ideas  characteristic  of  the  ,)udean  school. 
Chap.  2()  appears  to  be  the  older  and  23'''-24-'  the  later  popular  version  of  the  story.  Thus  in 
23 ''■'-24-'  the  tradition  has  been  expanded  at  .several  points:  23'''--'  tell  ;it  length,  an(l  with  much 
repetition,  of  the  preliminary  negotiations  between  the  Ziphites  and  Saul,  and  24'*  -'-'  has  a  long 
account  of  the  conversation  between  Saul  and  David  in  which  ideas  peculiar  to  later  Hebrew 
thought  (cf.  esfjecially  -"■  -')  are  prominent.  On  the  other  liaiid,  the  shorter  narrative  in  2(1  is 
much  more  circumstanti.al  and  individual  names  are  preserved.  Cf.,  for  example,  2()"'  ■*  and 
24''-';  20''-'<  and  ?4'''"'.  David's  flaring  visit  to  Saul's  camp  is  much  more  natural;  while  the 
version  in  24,  which  represents  Saul  as  falling  completely  into  Da\id's  power,  exalts  the  mag- 
nanimity of  the  .ludean  hero  and  again  strongly  suggests  a  popular  tradition.  Tlie  expression 
and  representation  in  23 ''J  24-'  are  also  much  less  reKned.  Cf.  24-'."^.  The  religious  concep- 
tions of  20  are  the  more  priinitive.     Cf.,  e.f/.,  2()'''-''  and  24-'''". 

Chap.  2f)  probably  once  followed  immeiliately  after  23'^»  and  was  removed  from  this  position 
by  a  later  eilitdr  who  rircfcrrcd  llic  fuller  version,  and  who  was,  i)crhaps,  also  iiiduencod  by  Iho 
prominent  mention  of  .Maon  in  both  2.'{-''-''' and  2.5.  As  often  in  Gen.  and  Sam.  the  older  parallel 
was  preserved  by  assigrjing  it  to  another  setting. 

p  23''-'  In  20'  the  hill  of  Ilachilah  is  east  of  the  desert  of  .ludah  (.leshimmon).  The  varia- 
tion and  tautology  suggest  that  the  second  part  of  this  verse  is  from  a  late  cilitor. 


9t 


I  Sam.  233] 


THE  RISE   OF  DA^TD 


David's 
escape 


Early  Jiidean  David  Narratives 

then  if  we  go  to  Keilali  against  the  armies 
of  the  Phihstines.  "^Then  David  inquired 
of  Jehovah  yet  again.  And  Jehovah  an- 
swered him,  saying,  Arise,  go  down  to 
Keilah,  for  I  will  deliver  the  Philistines 
into  thy  hand.  ^So  David  and  his  men 
went  to  Keilah,  and  fought  with  the  Phi- 
hstines and  drove  away  their  cattle  and 
slew  a  great  many  of  them.  Thus  David 
delivered  the  inhabitants  of  Keilah.  ^Xow 
when  Abiatliar  the  son  of  Ahimelech  fled  to 
David  to  Keilah,  he  came  down  witii  the  ephod 

in  his  hand.i  ^And  when  it  was  told  Saul 
that  David  had  come  to  Keilah,  Saul 
said,  God  has  sold  him  into  my  hand;  for 
he  has  entrapped  himself^  in  entering 
into  a  town  that  has  doors  and  bars. 

*And  Saul  summoned  all  the  people  to 
war,  to  go  down  to  Keilah,  to  besiege  Da- 
vid and  his  men.  ^And  when  David 
knew  that  Saul  was  devising  evil  against 
him,  he  said  to  Abiathar  the  priest,  Bring 
here  the  ephod.  ^^And  David  said,  O 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  thy  servant 
hath  surely  heard  that  Saul  is  seeking  to 
come  to  Keilah,  to  destroy  the  city  because 
of  me.  ^^Will  Saul  come  down,  as  thy 
servant  hath  heard  ?^  O  Jehovah,  God  of 
Israel,  I  beseech  thee,  tell  thy  servant. 
And  Jehovah  said,  He  will  come  down. 
i^Then  David  said,  Will  the  men  of  Kei- 
lah deliver  me  and  my  men  into  the  hand 
of  Saul  ?  And  Jehovah  said.  They  will 
deliver  thee  up.  ^^xhen  David  and  his 
men,  who  were  about  six  hundred,  arose 
and  departed  from  Keilah,  and  wandered 
hither  and  thither.  And  when  it  was  re- 
ported to  Saul  that  David  had  escaped 
from  Keilah,  he  abandoned  his  expedi- 
tion.    I'^So  David  dwelt  in  the  wilderness 


[I  Sam.  2320 

Popular  Judcan  David  Stories 

deliver  him  into  the  king's  hand. 
^^Then  Saul  said,  Blessed  may 
you  be  of  Jehovah,  for  you  have 
had  compassion  on  me.  22Qq^ 
I  pray,  make  yet  more  sure,  and 
know  and  see  the  place  where  his 
haunt  is  and  who  has  seen  him 
there;  for  I  am  told  that  he  is 
very  cunning.  ^Sg^^g  therefore, 
and  gain  knowledge  of  all  the 
lurking-places  where  he  hides, 
and  return  to  me,  with  sure  in- 
formation, and  I  will  go  with 
you,  and,  if  he  be  in  the  land, 
I  will  search  him  out  of  all  the 
thousands  of  Judah.r 

^^So  they  arose  and  went  to 
Ziph  before  Saul.  But  David 
and  his  men  were  in  the  Wilder- 
ness of  Maon,  in  the  Arabah  to 
the  south  of  the  desert,  ^s^j^j 
when  Saul  and  his  men  went  to 
seek  him,  they  told  David  and  he 
went  down  to  the  rock  which  is 
in  the  Wilderness  of  ^laon.  And 
when  Saul  heard,  he  pursued 
after*  David  in  the  Wilderness  of 
Maon.  -*^And  Saul  went  on  the 
one  side  of  the  mountain  and  Da- 
vid and  his  men  on  the  other  side 
of  the  mountain;  and  David  was 
anxiously  trying  to  escape  from 
Saul,  for  Saul  and  his  men  were 
about  to  surround  David  and  his 
men,  to  seize  them,  -^when  a 
messenger  came  to  Saul,  saying. 
Come  quickly,  for  the  Philistines 
have  made  a  raid  upon  the  land. 
^^So  Saul  returned  from  pursu- 


1  23^  Following  the  order  of  the  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  verse  was  probably  inserted  in  its 
present  position  by  a  later  editor  who  recognized  the  omission  in  2220  and  wished  to  prepare  the 
reader  for  the  introduction  of  Abiathar  with  the  ephod  in  ^. 

r  2323  xhe  verse  has  probably  been  expanded  by  a  scribe.     The  Gk.  has  a  much  briefer  text. 

'  23'  So  Gk.  and  the  restored  Heb.  text. 

*  23-^  Following  the  Gk.,  the  Heb.  text  has  been  slightly  changed,  so  that  it  reads,  and 
dwelt  in. 

"  23"  A  scribe  by  mistake  introduced  the  question  in  ^^,  also  at  the  beginning  of  ".  It  is 
not  found  in  the  Gk.  and  has  been  omitted  in  the  translation. 


96 


IS.oi.  2314]  SAUL'S  PURSUIT 

Early  Judean  David  Xarratives 

in  the  strongholds  and  remained  in  the 
hill-coiintrv  in  the  AVilderness  of  Ziph. 
And  Saul  sought  him  continually,  but  Je- 
hovah"' did  not  deUver  liim  into  his  hand.  == 


OF  DAMD  [I  Sam.  2328 

Popular  Judean  David  Stories 

ingr  after  David  and  went  against 
the  PhiHstine.s;  therefore  they 
called  that  place,  Rock  of  the  Di- 
visions.^ 29^^jj(j  David  went  up 
thence,  and  dwelt  in  the  strong- 
holds of  Engedi. 


26  ^Then  the  Ziphites  came  to  Saul  at  Gib- 
eah,  saying,  Is  not  David  hiding  in  the  hill  of 
Hachilah,  which  is  east  of  the  desert  ?  -Ac- 
cordingly Saul  arose,  and  went  down  to  the 
Wilderness  of  Ziph,  having  three  thousand  men  of 
Israel  with  him,  to  seek  David  in  the  Wilderness 
of  Ziph.  ^And  Saul  encamped  in  the  hill  of  Ha- 
chilah, which  is  east  of  the  desert  on  the  way. 
But  David  remained  in  the  wilderness.  And 
when  he  saw  that  Saul  was  pursuing  him  into 
the  wilderness,  "^David  sent  out  spies  and  learned 
that  Saul  had  come  from  Keilah.^  ^And  David 
arose  and  came  to  the  place  where  Saul  had  en- 
camped. And  David  saw  the  place  where  Saul 
with  Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  the  commander  of 
his  army  lay,  and  Saul  lay  within  the  barricade,^ 
and  the  people  were  encamped  around  about 
him. 

^Then  David  spoke  and  said  to  Ahimelech 
the  Hittite  and  to  Abishai  the  .son  of  Zeruiah, 
Joab's  brother,  saying.  Who  will  go  down  with 
me  to  Saul  to  the  camp  ?  And  Abishai  said,  I 
will  go  down  with  you.  ^So  David  and  Abishai 
came  to  the  people  by  night;  and  Saul  was  lying 
there  asleep  within  the  barricade,  with  his  spear 
stuck  into  the  earth  at  his  head,  with  Abner  and 
the  peof)le  lying  around  about  him.  ^Then  Abi- 
shai said  to  David,  God  has  delivered  your  enemy 
into  your  hand  to-day.  Now  therefore  let  me 
smite  him  with  his  .spear  to  the  earth  at  one 
stroke,  and  I  will  not  need  to  smite  him  twice  ! 


34  ^And  when  Saul  re- 
turned from  following  the 
Philistines,  it  was  told 
him,  saying,  See,  David 
is  in  the  Wilderness  of 
Engedi.  -Then  Saul  took 
three  thousand  men  chos- 
en from  all  Israel  and 
went  to  seek  David  and 
his  men  upon  the  Wild 
Goats'  Crags.  ^And  he 
came  to  the  sheepfolds  by 
the  way,  and  there  was  a 
cave.  And  Saul  went  in 
to  cover  his  feet,  while 
David  and  his  men  were 
staying  in  the  recesses  of 
the  cave. 

■^^And  the  men  of  Da- 
vid said  to  him.  See  this 
is  the  day  of  which  Jeho- 
vah said  to  you,  '  Behold, 
I  give  thine  enemy  into 
thy  hand  and  thou  shalt 
do  to  him  as  thou  ])lea.s- 
est.'°  ^And  he  said  to 
his  men,  Jehovah  forbid 
that  I  should  do  this  thing 
to  my  lord,  Jehovah's 
anointed,  to  put  forth  my 
hand   against   him,    since 


T  2.32'  The  implication  is  that  it  was  so  callerl  because  the  two  forces  separated  from  each 
other  at  this  point.  In  connection  witli  this  rock  the  story  was  probably  preserved,  becau.se, 
like  many  of  the  traditions  of  Gen.,  it  gave  the  popular  derivation  of  its  name. 

"  2rV"  So  f;k.      Ileb.,  God. 

»  2.3'"'  The  direct  continuation  of  14"  is  found  in  26'.  Vs.  '■">  appears  to  be  a  general  ex- 
planatory kIoss. 

'  2(>*  SoGk.  The  preceding  verb  demands  the  name  of  some  place.  The  Heb.  is  evidently 
corrui)t  anil  gives  no  help. 

•'205  Cf.  172",   §  10,  note  '. 

0  24'"-'  The  oriKinal  order  has  evidently  been  disarranged  in  transmission,  or  else  *^'  ^  rep- 
re.sent  a  later  marginal  c.xpansion  of  the  story  which  has  been  introduced  in  the  wrong  place. 


97 


ISAM.  269]  THE  RISE   OF  DA^^D 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 


[I  Sam.  246 


His 

words 
to  Saul 


^But  David  said  to  Abishai,  Destroy  him  not; 
for  who  can  lay  his  hand  upon  Jehovah's  anointed 
and  be  innocent  ?  ^^  \nd  David  said,  As  Jeho- 
vah hveth,  either  Jehovah  shall  smite  him,  or  his 
day  shall  come  to  die,  or  he  shall  go  down  into 
battle  and  be  destroyed.  ^ ^Jehovah  forbid  that 
I  should  put  forth  my  hand  against  Jehovah's 
anointed;  but  now  take  the  spear  that  is  at  his 
head  and  the  jug  of  water  and  let  us  go.  ^^So 
David  took  the  spear  and  the  jug  of  water  from 
Saul's  head  and  they  departed.  And  no  man 
saw  it  or  knew  it  neither  did  any  awake,  for  they 
were  all  asleep  because  a  deep  sleep  from  Je- 
hovah had  fallen  upon  them. 


i^Then  David  went 
over  to  the  other  side  and 
stood  on  the  top  of  a 
mountain  at  a  distance,  a 
great  space  being  be- 
tween them.  ^^And  Da- 
vid cried  to  the  people 
and  to  Abner,  the  son  of 
Ner,  sa^nng,  Do  you 
make  no  answer  Abner? 
Then  Abner  answered 
and  said.  Who  are  you 
that  calls  ?«  i^^nd  David 
said  to  Abner,  Are  you 
not  a  man  ?  And  who  is 
like  you  in  Israel .''  Why 
then  have  you  not  kept 
guard  over  your  lord  the 
king.?  For  one  of  the 
people  came  to  destroy 
your  lord.  ^^This  that 
you  have  done  is  not 
good.  As  Jehovah  liveth, 
you  are  deserving  of 
death, ^  because  you  have 


Popular  Judean  David 
Stories 

he  is  Jehovah's  anointed. 
^'^So  David  upbraided'^ 
his  men  with  these  words, 
and  did  not  permit  them 
to  attack  Saul,  ^bxhen 
David  arose,  and  secretly 
cut  off  the  skirt  of  Saul's 
mantle.  ^But  afterward 
David  was  seized  with  re- 
morse because  he  had  cut 
off  Saul's  skirt. 


^I'And  when  Saul  rose  from  the  cave  and  went 
on  his  way,  ^David  also  rose  after  him  and  went 
from  the  cave  and  cried  after  Saul,  saying.  My 
lord  the  king.  And  when  Saul  looked  behind  him, 
David  bowed  his  face  to  the  earth,  and  did  obei- 
sance. ^And  David  said  to  Saul,  Why  did  you 
listen  to  the  words  of  the  men  who  said,  '  See,  Da- 
vid seeks  your  hurt  ?  '  ^^To-day  your  eyes  see 
that  Jehovah  gave  you  into  my  hand  in  the  cave, 
but  I  refused  to  kill  you^  and  had  pity  on  you, 
and  I  said,  '  I  will  not  put  forth  my  hand  against 
my  lord,  for  he  is  Jehovah's  anointed.'  ^ ^More- 
over, my  father,  see  the  sldrt  of  your  mantle  in 
my  hand,  for  in  that  I  cut  off  the  skirt  of  your 
mantle  and  did  not  kill  you,  know  and  see  that 
there  is  neither  evil  nor  guilt  on  my  hands,  and 
I  have  not  sinned  against  you,  though  you  are 
aiming  to  take  my  life.  I'^Jehovah  judge  be- 
tween me  and  you ;  but  my  hand  shall  not  be  upon 
you.     ^^As   runs   the  proverb   of   the   ancients, 

Out  of  the  wicked  cometh  forth  wickedness,  s 

But  my  hand  shall  not  be  raised  against  you. 
^^After  whom  is  the  king  of  Israel  come  out.'' 
After  whom  are  you  pursuing.'     After  a  dead 


<l  24'^*  Heb.,  tear.  rend.     Gk.,  persuaded. 

'  26'*  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds,  to  the  king,  but  this  is  not  supported  by  the  context. 

f  24'0  Following  the  suggestion  of  the  Gk;  in  restoring  the  otherwise  incorrect  Heb.  Lat., 
and  I  thought  to  kill  you. 

«  2415  The  infelicitous  introduction  of  the  proverb  is  further  evidence  of  the  popular  em- 
bellishment of  the  story. 

■»  26'6  Heb.,  children  of  death. 


98 


ISAM.  26ifi]      HIS  :\L\GNAXBIITY  TOWARD   SAUL 

Popular  Judean  David  Stories 


[I  Sam.  2414 


Early  Judean  David 
Narratives 

not  kept  watch  over  your 
lord,  Jehovah's  anointed. 
And  now  see  where  the 
king's  spear  is  and  the  jug 
of  water  that  was  at  his 
head. 

^'Then  Saul  recognized  David's  voice  and 
said,  Is  this  your  voice,  my  son  David  ?  And 
David  said,  It  is  my  voice,  my  lord,  O  king. 
^*And  he  said.  Why  is  my  lord  pursuing  his 
servant  ?  For  what  have  I  done  ?  Or  of  what 
kind  of  evil  have  I  been  guilty  ?  ^^Now  there- 
fore let  my  lord  the  king  hear  the  words  of  his 
servant.  If  Jehovah  hath  stirred  you  up 
against  me,  let  him  accept  an  offering  ;J  but  if 
they  be  men,  cursed  be  they  before  Jehovah, 
for  they  have  driven  me  out  to-day,  so  that  I 
have  no  part  in  the  inheritance  of  Jehovah, 
sa^-ing,  '  Go  ser\x  other  gods.'  20>,jQ^y  there- 
fore, may  my  blood  not  fall  to  the  earth  far 
away  from  the  presence  of  Jehovah,  for  the 
king  of  Israel  has  come  out  to  seek  my  life,  as 
one  hunts  a  partridge'^  on  the  mountains. 
^^Then  Saul  said,  I  have  done  wrong;  return, 
my  son  David,  for  I  will  do  you  no  more  harm, 
because  my  life  was  regarded  as  sacred  by 
you™  to-day.  I  have  acted  foolishly  and  have 
erred  exceedingly.  ^^Xud  David  answered 
and  said.  There  is  the  king's  spear  !  Let  one 
of  the  young  men  come  over  and  take  it.  ^'^And 
Jeliovah  will  reward  each  man's  righteousness 
and  fidelity ;  for  Jehovah  delivered  you  into  my 
hand  to-day,  but  I  would  not  raise  my  hand 
against  Jehovah's  anointed.  ^^And  just  as 
your  life  was  to-day  of  great  value  in  my  sight, 
so  may  my  life  be  of  great  value  in  Jehovah's 
sight,  and  let  him  deliver  me  out  of  all  afllic- 
tion.  2o'pj^(jjj  SaxxX  said  to  David,  Be  blessed, 
my  son  David;  you  shall  do  great  things  and 


dog  ?  After  a  flea  ?  ^^Jehovah  therefore  be 
judge  and  decide  between  me  and  you  and  see 
and  plead  my  cause  and  obtain  justice  for  me 
from  you. 


^^Now  when  David  had 
finished  speaking  these 
words  to  Saul,  Saul  said,  Is 
this  not  your  voice,  my  son 
David?  'Then  Saul  'lifted 
up  his  voice  and  wept.  ^"And 
he  said  to  David,  You  are 
more  righteous  than  I,  for 
you  have  done  to  me  that 
which  is  good,  while  I  have 
done  to  you  that  which  is 
evil.  ^^And  you  have  done 
great  good  to  me  in  that  to- 
day,' when  Jehovah  had  shut 
me  up  in  your  hand,  you  did 
not  kill  me.  ^^For  when  a 
man  finds  his  enemy,  does 
he  send  him 
safe  and  sound 
may  Jehovah 
richly  for  what  you  have 
done  to  me  this  day.  -^And 
now  see,  I  know  that  you 
will  surely  be  king,  and  that 
through  you  the  kingdom  of 
Israel  shall  be  established. 
-^Swear  now  therefore  to  me 
by  Jehovah,  that  you  will 
not  cut  off  my  descendants 
after  me  and  that  you  will 
not  destroy  my  name  from 
my  father's  house.  ^-So 
David  took  oath  to   Saul. 


on  his  way 
''  Therefore 
reward    you 


i  24"  Heb.,  And  you  have  declared  to-day.  A.  sliRht  emendation  gives  the  above  reading, 
which  is  much  more  intelligible  and  consonant  with  the  context. 

'  26''-'  Lit.,  inhale,  i.e..  be  appeased  by  an  offerinc. 

■t  2(r"  So  Gk.  texts.  Heb.  has,  a  flea,  which  hardly  fits  the  context  here.  It  was  probably 
introduced  from  24"^.     Or,  making  a  slight  change  iu  the  text,  as  the  eagle  hunts  the  partridge. 

'  24'"  Heb.,  on  a  (jood  way. 

■"  20^'  Heb.,  was  precious  in  your  eyes. 


99 


I  Sam.  2625]  THE  RISE  OF  DAVID  [I  Sam.  2423 

Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 


shall  surely  succeed  !     So  David  went  his  way, 
but  Saul  returned  to  his  place. 


Popular  Judean  David 
Stories 

And  Saul  went  to  his  home; 
but  David  and  his  men  went 
up  to  the  stronghold. 


§  15.  David  and  Abigail,  I  Sam.  ^5^^-'^* 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Nabal  I  Sam.  25  ^'^Then  David  arose  and  went  into  the  Wilderness  of  Maon." 
Caleb-  ^^^^  there  was  a  man  in  Maon,  whose  business  was  in  Carmel.  And  the 
''e  man  was  very  rich,  and  he  had  three  thousand  sheep  and  a  thousand  goats, 

and  he  was  shearing  his  sheep  in  Carmel.     ^Now  the  man's  name  was  Nabal; 
and  his  wife's  name  was  Abigail;  and  the  woman  was  sensible  and  comely, 
but  the  man  was  rough  and  ill-mannered;  and  he  was  a  Calebite. 
David's      *And  David  heard  in  the  wilderness  that  Nabal  was  shearing  his  sheep. 
^as:e       ^And  David  sent  ten  young  men,  and  David  said  to  the  young  men.  Go  up 
to  him    to  Carmel  and  enter  Nabal's  house  and  greet  him  in  my  name;   ^and  you 
shall  say  to  him  and  to  his  clan,"  '  Peace  be  to  you  and  your  house  and  all 
that  you  have.     ''And  now  I  have  heard  that  you  have  shearers.     Your 
shepherds  were  with  us,  and  we  did  not  jeer  at  them,  and  nothing  of  theirs 
was  missing  all  the  while  they  were  in  Carmel.     ^Ask  your  young  men  and 
they  will  tell  you.     Therefore  let  the  young  men  find  favor  in  your  eyes, 
for  we  have  come  on  a  feast  day.     Give,  therefore,  whatever  you  have  at 
hand  to  your  servants  and  to  your  son  David.'     ^And  when  David's  young 
men  came,  they  spoke  to  Nabal  in  the  name  of  David  and  waited  as  di- 
rected. 
Nabal's       ^'^Then  Nabal  answered^  David's  servants,  and  said.  Who  is  David  ?    And 
ing^re-    ^^'^o  is  the  SOU  of  Jcssc  ?     Many  are  the  slaves  these  days  who  break  away, 
ply  and  each  from  his  master!     ^l  Should  I  then  take   my  bread  and  mv  water*i 

i  )UVIQ  S 

plans      and  my  meat  that  I  have  slain  for  my  shearers,  and  give  it  to  men  of  whom 

•usance'  ^  know  not  whence  they  are .''     ^2go  David's  young  men  turned  back  on 

their  way,  and  came  and  reported  all  these  words  to  him.     ^^^n^  David 

said  to  his  men.  Let  every  man  gird  on  his  sword.     And  they  girded  on  each 

man  his  sword.     And  David  also  girded  on  his  sword;  and  there  went  up 

after  David  about  four  hundred  men;  and  two  hundred  remained  with  the 

baggage. 

Ai)i-  I'^But  one  of  the  young  men  had  told  Abigail,  Nabal's  wife,  saying,  David 

prompt  ^1^^  just  sent  messengers  from  the  wilderness  to  salute  our  master,  and  he 

action      ^ 

§  15  This  account  of  how  David  acquired  a  wife  and  possessions  is  one  of  the  most  char- 
acteristic products  of  the  early  Judean  school.  It  gives  an  exceedingly  realistic  picture  of 
David's  life  during  his  outlaw  period.  Excepting  the  opening  words,  which  were  evidently 
intended  b.y  the  editor  of  I  Sam.  to  connect  it  with  the  jireceding  editorial  note  regarding  the 
death  of  Samuel,  '■■>,  the  story  has  apparently  received  little,  if  any,  additions. 

■>2oib  SoGk.      Heb.,  Pamn. 

"  25^  Restoring  the  otherwise  unintelligible  Heb.  in  accordance  with  the  exceedingly  plaus- 
ible suggestions  of  Smith  (Sam.,  223). 

p  2.59.  10  The  Gk.  and  Luc.  translate,  possibly  preserving  an  original  text,  Nabal  jumped  up 
and  answered. 

1  25"  Gk.,  unne.  But  this  was  probably  introduced  by  the  translators  from  ^^,  because 
they  did  not  appreciate  the  value  of  water  in  the  wilderness  of  southern  Judah. 

100 


DAVID   AND  ABIGAIL  [I  Sam.  25i4 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

railed  at  them.  ^^But  the  men  have  been  very  good  to  us  and  we  have  not 
been  jeered  at  nor  have  we  missed  an>i;hing,  as  long  as  we  went  with  them, 
when  we  were  in  the  fields.  ^^They  were  a  wall  about  us  both  by  night 
and  by  day  all  the  while  we  were  with  them  keeping  the  sheep.  ^^Now 
therefore  know  and  consider  what  you  will  do,  for  evil  is  determined  against 
our  master  and  against  all  his  house,  for  he  is  such  a  base  scoundrel  that 
no  one  can  speak  to  him.  ^^Then  Abigail  quickly  took  two  hundred  loaves 
of  bread  and  two  skins  of  wine  and  five  roasted  sheep  and  three  and  a  third 
bushels'"  of  parched  grain  and  a  hundred  bunches  of  raisins  and  two  hundred 
cakes  of  figs  and  laid  them  on  asses.  ^^And  she  said  to  her  young  men,  Go 
on  before  me;  see,  I  am  coming  after  you.  But  she  said  nothing  about  it 
to  her  husband  Nabal.  20\j^j  j,^jg|^  a^^  gj^^  ^^^g  riding  on  the  ass  and  coming 
down  under  cover  of  the  mountain,  David  and  his  men  were  also  coming 
down  toward  her,  so  that  she  met  them.  2i>,jQ\y  David  had  said.  Surely 
for  nothing  did  I  guard  all  that  belongs  to  this  fellow  in  the  wilderness,  so 
that  nothing  of  all  that  belongs  to  him  was  missing,  for  he  has  returned  me 
evil  for  good.  ^-God  do  whatever  he  will  to  David,®  if  I  leave  by  day- 
break of  all  who  belong  to  him  as  much  as  a  single  man. 

^^And  when  Abigail  saw  David,  she  alighted  quickly  from  her  ass  and  Her 
fell  on  her  face  before  David  and  bowed  to  the  ground.  ^^And  she  fell  at  counsel 
liis  feet  and  said.  Upon  me,  my  lord,  upon  me  be  the  guilt.  Only  let  your  to  Da- 
maid-servant  speak  in  your  ears,  and  heed  the  words  of  your  maid-servant. 
^^Let  not  my  lord  pay  any  attention  to  that  base  scoundrel,  Nabal,  for  as 
his  name  is,  so  is  he;  "Reckless  Fool,"  is  his  name  and  folly  is  his  master; 
but  your  maid-servant  saw  not  the  young  men  of  my  lord,  whom  you  sent. 
^^Now  my  lord,  as  Jehovah  liveth  and  as  you  live,  since  Jehovah  has  kept 
you  from  committing*  an  act  of  bloodshed  and  from  delivering  yourself  by 
your  own  hand — and  may  your  enemies  and  those  who  seek  to  do  e\'il  to  my  lord  be 
as  Nabal" — ^"\et  this  present,"^  which  your  servant  has  brought  to  my  lord, 
be  given  to  the  young  men  who  follow  my  lord.  -'^Forgive.  I  pray  the 
trespass  of  your  maid-servant,  for  Jehovah  will  certainly  make  for  my 
lord  a  secure  house,  for  my  lord  is  fighting  the  wars  of  Jehovah,  and  no 
evil  shall  be  found  in  you  as  long  as  you  live.  -^And  should  a  man  rise  up 
to  pursue  you  and  to  seek  your  life,  the  life  of  my  lord  shall  be  bound  in  the 
bundle  of  the  living"'  in  the  care  of  Jehovah  your  God,  but  the  lives  of  your 
enemies  will  he  sling  oiit  as  from  the  hollow  of  a  sling.  ^''And  when  Jehovah 
has  done  to  my  lord  all  the  good  that  he  has  promised  you  and  has 
made  you  prince  over  Israel,  •^'then  this  shall  not  be  a  fiualm  or  a  bur- 
den on  the  conscience^  of  my  lord,  that  you  have  shed  blood  without  cause 

'  2.51*  Heh.,  five  measures. 

•  2.5^  So  Ok.  The  Heh.  adds,  to  the  enemies  of.  Rut  this  clause  .seems  to  have  been  in- 
serted by  a  scribe  to  deliver  David  from  the  charge  of  forswearing  himself. 

'  25--'''  Ilcb.,  from  enterint/  into. 

u  2.5-""''  This  half  verse  anticipates  the  judgment  which  has  not  yet  overtaken  Nabal.  The 
entire  verse  is  f)rohal)ly  an  editorial  adilition. 

»■  2.5-'  ("f.  (icn.  .'i.'ii",  .ludg.  1''.      It  was  a  cift  brought  for  the  purpo.se  of  securing  a  blessing. 

»  2.5-»  Cf.  the  later  figure,  the  hool:  of  the  living,  l>s.  09'-",  i:.\.  32*-.  ^'. 

»  25"  Heb.,  cause  of  slumbiiny  of  the  heart. 

101 


ISAM.  2531]  THE   RISE   OF  DAVID 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

or  that  my  lord  has  dehvered  himself  by  his  own  hand.     And  when  Jehovah 
shall  give  prosperity  to  my  lord,  then  remember  your  maid-servant. 
David's      32\i^(j  David  said  to  Abigail,  Blessed  be  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  who 
grateful  g^j^j.  ^^^^  ^^j^jg  j^y  ^^  rneet  me,  "^'^and  blessed  be  your  discretion,  and  blessed 
sponse    be  you  yourself,  who  have  kept  me  this  day  from  committing  an  act  of  blood- 
shed and  from  delivering  myself  by  my  own  hand.     ^4^^^  g^g  g^j.^  g^g  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  Israel,  liveth,  who  hath  kept  me  from  doing  you  harm,  except  you 
had  quickly  come  to  meet  me,  surely  there  would  not  have  been  left  to  Nabal 
by  daybreak  so  much  as  one  man.     ^ogg  David  received  from  her  hand  that 
which  she  had  brought  him;  and  to  her  he  said,  Go  up  in  peace  to  your  house. 
See,  I  have  heeded  your  advice,^  and  granted  your  request. 
Death         ^cgy^  ^yhen  Abigail  came  to  Nabal,  he  was  just  having  a  banquet  in  his 
Nabal     liouse,  like  a  king.     And  Nabal's  heart  was  merry  within  him,  for  he  was 
very  drunk,  so  that  she  did  not  tell  him  anything  at  all  until  daybreak.  ^"But 
then  in  the  morning  when  the  effects  of  the  wine  were  gone  from  Nabal, 
his  wife  told  him  these  things,  and  his  heart  died  within  him'^  and  he  became 
a  stone.     ^S^^^j  a^  ^\^Q  gi^^j  of  about  ten  days  Jehovah  smote  Nabal,  so  that 
he  died. 
David's      ^"^  Now  when  David  heard  that  Nabal  was  dead,  he  said.  Blessed  be  Je- 
riage       hovah  who  hath  avenged  the  case  of  my  insult  at  the  hand  of  Nabal  and 
^''^.h       hath  kept  back  his  servant  from  evil;  and  the  evil-doing  of  Nabal  hath  Je- 
hovah brought  back  upon  his  own  head.     Thereupon  David  sent  and  wooed 
Abigail  to  take  her  to  him  to  be  his  wife.      ^"^And  when  the   servants  of 
David  came  to  Abigail  at  Carmel  and  said  to  her,  David  has  sent  us  to  you 
to  take  you  to  him  to  be  his  wife,  '^ish'fe  arose  and  bowed  with  her  face  to 
the  earth  and  said,  See,  your  slave  is  willing  to  be  a  maid-servant  to  wash 
the  feet  of  my  lord's  servants,      ^^'j'j^ereupon  Abigail   quickly  arose  and 
mounted  an  ass,  and  five  maidens  followed  as  servants.     So  she  accompanied 
the  messengers  of  David  and  became  his  wife. 
His  ^3j)avid  also  took  Ahinoam  of  Jezreel,  and  they  both  became  his  wives, 

wives     ■^^But  Saul  had  given  Michal  his  daughter,  David's  wife,  to  Palti  the  son 
of  Laish  of  Gallim. 

§  16.  David  among  the  Philistines,  I  Sam.  21'<^-'\  27,  I  Chr.  Igi" 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

David  I  Sam.  27  ^Then  David  said  to 
ge'eat  himself,  I  shall  be  destroyed  some 
the         day  by  the  hand  of  Saul.    There  is 

court  of        -^       •' 

Achish 


Popular  Judean  David  Stories 

31  i^Then  David  arose  and  fled 
that  day  from  before  Saul,  and  went 
to  Achish  the  king  of  Gath.     ^^And 


*  25^  Lit.,  lifted  up  your  countenance,  i.e.,  relieved  your  gloom  or  anxiety  by  granting  your 
request.     Cf.  Gen.  19-'",  Job  42S-  a. 

i"  25^"  The  grapliio  description  points  to  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  the  result  of  his  debauchery 
and  the  sudden  news. 

§  16  Chap.  27  is  the  natural  sequel  to  the  preceding  sections  and  introduces  the  events 
recorded  in  |§  18  and  19.  A  brave,  warlike  people,  like  the  Philistines,  naturally  attracted 
David  and  his  followers  and  offered  the  asylum  and  protection  which  they  desired.  Like  the 
foreigners  who  later  figure  prominently  in  David's  court,  tlie  outlaw  chief  became  a  ger  or  alien 
resident  in  the  Philistine  territory  and,  as  such,  enjoyed  the  rights  and  privileges  which  Semitio 


102 


I  Sam.  271]  DAVID   AMONG  THE   PHILISTINES       [I  Sail  SI" 

Popular  Judcan  David  Stories 

the  servants  of  Achish  said  to  him,  Is 
not  this  David  the  king  of  the  land  ? 
Was  it  not  of  him  that  they  used  to 
sing  responsively  in  the  dances,  saying, 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

nothing  better  for  me  than  that  I 
should  escape  into  the  land  of  the 
Philistines.  Then  Saul  will  despair 
of  seeking;  me  longer  in  all  the  ter- 
ritory  of  Israel,  and  I  will  escape 
from  his  hand.  -So  David  arose  and 
went  over,  together  with  the  six  hun- 
dred men  who  were  with  him,  to 
Achish  the  son  of  Maoch,  king  of 
Gath.  ^And  David  dwelt  with 
Achish  at  Gath,  together  with  his 
men,  each  with  his  household,  Da- 
vid with  his  two  wives,  Ahinoam  the 
Jezreelitess  and  Abigail  the  Carmel- 
itess,  Nabal's  wife.  ^And  when 
Saul  was  informed  that  David  had 
fled  to  Gath,  he  sought  him  no  more. 


"But  David  said  to 
Achish,  If  now  I  have 
found  favor  in  your 
sight,  let  a  place  in 
one  of  the  towns  in 
the  open  country  be 
given  me,  that  I  may 
dwell  there;  for  why 
shoidd  your  servant 
dwell  in  the  royal 
city  with  you  ?  '^Then 
Achish  gave  him  Zik- 
1  a  g  at  that  time; 
therefore  Ziklag  be- 
longs to  the  kings  of 


Saul  has  slain  his  thousands, 
But  DaA-id  his  ten  thousands? 

i^And  David  took  these  words  to  his 
heart  and  was  greatly  afraid  of  Achish 
the  king  of  Gath.  ^^  \i^(j  }^g  pretended 
to  be  insane*^  before  them,  and  raved 
in  their  hands  and  drummed"^^  on  the 
doors  and  let  his  spittle  run  down  upon 
his  beard.  ^^Then  said  Achish  to  his 
servants.  You  see  plainly  that  the  man 
is  mad;  why  do  you  bring  him  to  me  ? 
i^Do  I  lack  madmen  that  you  have 
brought  this  fellow  to  act  the  madman 
in  my  presence .''  Should  this  one 
come  into  mv  house  ? 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

I  Clir.  12  ^Now  these  are  they  who  came  to  David 
at  Ziklag,  while  he  still  kept  at  a  distance  from  Saul 
the  son  of  Kish;  and  they  were  among  the  mighty 
heroes,  his  helpers  in  war.  ^'phgy  ^yere  armed  with 
bows  and  could  use  both  the  right  hand  and  the 
left  in  slinging  stones  and  in  shooting  arrows  from 
the  bow;  they  were  of  Saul's  tribesmen  of  Benjamin. 
^The  chief  was  Ahiezer;  then  Joash,  the  sons  of  She- 
maah  the  Gibeathite,  Jeziel,  and  Pelet,  the  sons  of 
Azmaveth,  Beracah,  Jehu  the  Anathothite,  '^Ishmaiah 
the  Gibeonite,  a  mighty  warrior  among  the  Thirty 
and  at  the  head  of  the  Thirty,  Jeremiah,  Jahaziel, 
Johanan,  Jozabad  the  Gedcrathite.  ''Eluzai.  Jcrimoth, 
Bealiah,  Shemariah,  Shcphatiah  the  Harujjhite,  ^'El- 
kanah,  Isshiah,  Azarel,  Joezer,  Jashobeam,  the  Ko- 


custom  confirms  to  one  who  puts  himself  under  the  protection  of  a  foreign  chief  or  race.  Cf. 
Vol.  V  in /oro  for  the  detailed  Israclitish  laws  rcKardinK  the  !7Pr. 

The  brief  |>arallel  in  2V-'''  has  no  real  connection  with  its  context.  It  is  also  inconsistent 
with  the  representation  of  27,  for  it  is  inconceivable  that  after  such  an  experience,  as  is  recorded 
in  21'"-'',  David  would  seek  or  find  protection  at  (lath.  The  fact  that  he  is  called,  A-i'no  of  the 
Ifi-nd  in  "  and  the  naive  picture  of  the  wa.v  in  which  he  effected  his  escape  by  (ieception  indicate 
that  tliis  is  evidently  the  late  popular  version  of  his  sojourn  imder  the  protection  of  Achish.  The 
Jews  appeared  to  have  preserved  it  because  it  was  more  in  accord  with  their  views  than  the  older 
version  in  27  which  represented  David's  relations  witii  the  Philistines  as  friendly. 

■^  21'3  Lit.,  changed  his  cliaracter  or  understanding,  as  in  25".  The  word  literally  means, 
taste. 

<•  21''  Interpreting  this  doubtful  Heb.  word  with  the  aid  of  the  Gk. 


103 


I  Sam.  276] 

Early  Judean  David 
Narratives 

Judah  to  this  day- 
^And  the  length  of 
the  time  that  David 
dwelt  in  the  open 
country  of  the  Philis- 
tines was  a  year  and 
four  months.*^  ^And 
David  and  his  men 
went  up,  and  made  a 
raid  upon  the  Ge- 
shurites,  the  Gir- 
zites,f  and  the  Amal- 
ekites;  for  these 
tribes  dwell  in  the 
land  which  extends 
from  Telem^  as  far 
as  Shur,  even  to  the 
land  of  Eg>"pt.  ^And 
as  often  as  David 
smote  the  land,  he 
did  not  leave  alive 
man  or  woman,  but 
taking  the  sheep,  the 
oxen,  the  asses,  the 
camels,  and  the  cloth- 
ing, he  returned  and 
came  to  A  c  h  i  s  h  . 
^^Then  when  Achish 
said, Where*  haveyou 
made  a  raid  to-day  ? 
David  answered. 
Against  the  South 
Country  of  Judah,  or 
against  the  South 
Country  of  the  Jer- 
ahmeelites  and 
against  the  South 
Country  of  the  Ken- 


THE  RISE  OF  DAVID 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


n  Chr.  126 


rahites,  ^Joelah,  and  Zebadiah,  the  sons  of  Jeroham 
of  Gedor.  ^x\nd  of  the  Gadites  there  went  over  to 
David  to  the  stronghold  in  the  wilderness, 

Brave  warriors, 

]\Ien  trained  for  war. 

Who  could  handle  shield  and  spear, 

Wliose  faces  were  like  the  faces  of  lions. 

And  they  were  as  swift  as  the  gazelles  upon  the  mountains. 

^Ezer  the  first,  Obadiah  the  second,  Eliab  the 
third,  ^^Mishmannah  the  fourth,  Jeremiah  the  fifth, 
^^ Altai  the  sixth,  Eliel  the  seventh,  ^-^Johanan  the 
eighth,  Elzabad  the  ninth,  ^-^Jeremiah  the  tenth, 
Machbannai  the  eleventh.  ^^These  of  the  sons  of 
Gad  were  commanders  of  the  army. 

The  least  was  equal  to  a  hundred,'' 
And  the  greatest  to  a  thousand. 

^°These  are  they  who  went  over  the  Jordan  in 
the  first  month,  when  it  had  overflowed  all  its 
banks,  and  they  put  to  flight  all  those  who  dwelt  in 
the  valleys,  both  toward  the  east  and  toward  the 
west.  i^And  once  there  came  some  of  the  Benja- 
mites  and  Judahites  to  the  stronghold  to  David. 
^'And  David  went  out  to  meet  them  and  spoke 
and  said  to  them.  If  you  come  peaceably  to  me  to 
help  me,  my  heart  shall  be  knit  to  you;  but  if  to  be- 
tray me  to  my  adversaries,  since  there  is  no  wrong  in 
my  hands,  the  God  of  our  fathers  look  down  and  re- 
buke it.  ^^Then  the  spirit  came  upon  Abishai,J  the 
chief  of  the  Thirty: 

Thine  we  are,  O  Da\id, 
And  on  thy  side,  O  son  of  Jesse ! 
Peace,  peace  to  thee. 
And  peace  to  thy  helpers ! 
For  thy  God  helpeth  thee ! 


0  I  Sam.  27"  This  verse  is  regarded  by  many  as  a  later  addition,  but  the  tivo  years  of  29^ 
included  the  period  of  residence  at  Gath. 

'  I  Sam.  27''  The  identification  of  these  peoples  is  very  doubtful. 

K  I  Sam  27^  Following  certain  Gk.  manuscripts,  Telem  is  mentioned  in  15*  as  the  place 
where  Saul  rallied  his  forces  to  attack  the  Amalekites.  A  change  of  one  letter  gives  the  incon- 
sequential reading,  from  of  old. 

['  I  Chr.  121*  Qp    commander  over  a  hundred.     But  cf.  Is.  30'^,  Lev.  28''. 

1  I  Sam.  27'"  So  Syr.,  Targ.,  and  certain  Heb.  te.\ts.     Gk.,  against  ivhom. 

>  I  Chr.  12's  Heb.,  Amasai;  but  he  is  not  mentioned  among  Da\dd's  heroes.  According 
to  11-"  Abishai  was  chief  of  the  Three. 


lOi 


ISAM.  2710]        DAVID   AMONG  THE  PHILISTINES 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


[I  Clin.  12 


18 


Early  J  lid  can  David 
Narratives 

ites.  11  But  David 
never  left  alive  man 
or  woman,  to  bring 
them  to  Gatli,  for  he 
thought,  They  might 
give  information 
against  us  and  sav, 
'  Thus  has  David 
done.'  And  such  was 
his  custom  all  the 
while  he  dwelt  in  the 
open  country  of  the 
Philistines.  i-And 
Achish   trusted   Da- 


vid. 


He  has 


brought  himself  into 
ill  odor  with  his  peo- 
ple Israel;  therefore 
he  shall  be  my  ser- 
vant forever. 


Then  David  received  them   and  made  them  com- 
manders of  the  guerilla  band. 

i^Of  Manasseh  also  some  went  over  to  David,  when 
he  came  with  the  Philistines  against  Saul  to  battle; 
but  they  helped  them  not,  for  the  tyrants  of  the  Phi- 
listines after  consultation  sent  him  away,  saying,  he 
will  fall  away  to  his  master  Saul  to  the  jeopardy  of 
our  heads.  ^0\g  i^g  went  to  Ziklag,  there  came  over 
to  him  of  Manasseh,  Adnali,  Jozabad,  Jediael, 
Michael,  Jozabad,  Elihu,  and  Zillethai,  commanders 
of  thousands,  who  were  of  Manasseh.  ^^And  they 
helped  David  against  the  guerilla  bands,  for  they 
were  all  brave,  valiant  warriors  and  were  com- 
manders in  the  army.  22'j'|jyg  from  day  to  day 
men  came  to  David  to  help  him,  until  there  was  a 
great  army,  like  the  army  of  God. 


1.  2 


29 


§  17.  David  and  the  Philistine  Invasion,  I  Sam.  28 
Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

I  Sam.  28  ^Now  in  those  days  the  Philistines  assembled  their  forces  to  David's 
make  a  campaign  against  Israel.     And  Achish  said  to  David,  Be  assured  monsto 
that  you,  together  with  your  men,  must  go  with  me  alongr  with  the  forces.  fiK'>>   ^ 
^And  David  said  to  Achish,  Therefore  you  shall  now''  know  what  your  ser-  Israel 
vant  can  do.     And  Achish  said  to  David,  Therefore  I  make  you  my  body- 
guard' from  this  time  on. 

29  'And  the  Philistines  hud  assembled  their  forces  at  Aphck;  aiid  the  Protest 
Israelites  encamped  by  the  fountain  in  Jezreel.     -And  the  tyrants  of  the  Phi-  phuis- 
listiues  were  marching  past,  with  hundreds  and  with  thousands;  and  David  ''"^ 

.  com* 

and  his  men  marched  in  the  rear  guard  with  Achish.     -^Then  the  commanders  mand- 
of  tlic  Plilh'stiiU'S  said,  What  are  these  Hebrews?     And  Achish  said  to  the®" 
coninianders  of  the  I'hiiistines,  'J'his  is  David,  the  .servant  of  Saul  the  king 
of  Israel,  who  has  now  already  been  with  me  two  years,"'  and  I  have  found 


§  17  The  continuation  of  27  is  found  in  28' •  2,  29.  and  .30.  Not  only  does  28^-''  interrupt 
the  story,  but  it  also  introduces  a  different  theme  and  contains  references  to  (hita  not  found  in 
the  early  .ludean  I)a\id  narratives.  Cf.  note  §  19.  Its  insertion  here  is  evidently  the  work 
of  a  Later  editor.  UestorinK  the  oriRinal  order,  (he  early  narr.ative  continue.s  the  ^■ivid  recital 
of  David's  e.xperience  at  this  crisis  in  his  life.  The  popular  account  of  David's  experiences  at 
the  court  of  ,\chish.  21'"''',  §   Ki,  also  reflects  certain  elements  found  in  the  present  story. 

''28-  .So  (ik.,   Luc,  and  Lat. 

'  28^  Ileb.,  krcper  of  my  lirad. 

"■  29"  llel).,  llicHP  itiiifs  or  lliese  years,  is  e\idently  corrupt.  All  the  Gk.  texts  make  the  (iiuo 
two  years  and  facihtate  the  correction  of  I  he  Heb. 


105 


ISAM.  293]  THE  RISE  OF  DAVID 

Early  Jvdean  David  Narratives 

no  fault  in  him  from  the  time  that  he  came  over  to  me  to  the  present. 
^But  the  commanders  of  the  Phihstines  were  enraged  against  him,  and"^ 
said  to  him,  Send  back  the  man  that  he  may  return  to  the  place  where  you 
have  stationed  him.  Let  him  not  go  down  with  us  to  battle  and  let  him  not 
be  in  the  camp*'  an  adversary  to  us;  for  with  what  could  this  fellow  better 
insrratiate  himself  with  his  master  than  with  the  heads  of  these  men  ?  ^Is 
not  this  David  of  whom  they  sang  responsively  in  the  dances,  saying, 

Saul  lias  slain  his  thousands, 
But  David  his  ten  thousands  ? 

David's  ^Then  Achish  called  to  David  and  said  to  him.  As  Jehovah  liveth,  you 
mfssal  ^""^  upright,  and  it  is  my  desire  that  you  should  go  out  and  in  with  me  in 
the  camp;  for  I  have  found  no  evil  in  you  from  the  time  that  you  came  to 
me  to  the  present,  but  you  are  not  regarded  favorably  by  the  tyrants.  "There- 
fore now  return  and  go  in  peace,  that  you  may  do  nothing  to  displease  the 
tyrants  of  the  Philistines.  ^And  David  said  to  Achish,  But  what  have  I 
done  ?  And  what  have  you  found  in  your  servant  from  the  day  that  I  en- 
tered into  your  service  to  this  day,  that  I  may  not  go  and  fight  against  the 
enemies  of  my  lord  the  king?  ^And  Achish  answered  and  said  to  David, 
I  know  that  you  are  as  good  in  my  sight  as  a  Messenger  of  God,  but  the 
commanders  of  the  Philistines  have  said,  '  He  shall  not  go  up  with  us  to  the 
battle.'  ^*^Therefore  now  rise  early  in  the  morning,  with  the  servants  of  your 
lord  who  came  with  you,  and  go  to  the  place  where  I  have  stationed  you, 
and  do  not  entertain  any  evil  design  in  your  heart,  for  you  are  good  in  my 
sight,  P  but  rise  early  in  the  morning  and  as  soon  as  it  is  light,  depart.  ^^So 
David  rose  early,  together  with  his  men,  to  depart  in  the  morning  to  return 
to  the  land  of  the  Philistines.     And  the  Philistines  went  up  to  Jezreel. 

§  18.  David's  Pursuit  and  Defeat  of  the  Amalekites,  I  Sam.  30 
Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

The  I  Sam.  30  ^Now  when  David  and  his  men  on  the  third  day  came  to 

Amale-  2iklag,  the  Amalekites  had  made  a  raid  on  the  South  Country  and  upon 
raid  on  Ziklag,  and  had  smitten  Ziklag  and  burnt  it  with  fire,  ^and  had  carried 
away  captive  the  women  and  all  who  were  in  it,  both  small  and  great,  with- 
out slaying  any,  and  had  carried  them  off  and  gone  on  their  way.  ^^nd 
when  David  and  his  men  came  to  the  city,  there  it  was  burned  down,  and 
their  wives  and  their  sons  and  their  daughters  had  been  taken  captive.  ^Then 
David  and  the  people  who  were  with  him  wept  aloud  until  they  were  no 

"  29*  So  Gk.,  Syr.,  and  Lat.     The  Heb.  repeats,  commanders  of  the  Philistines. 

o  29*  So  Gk.  and  I.uc. 

p  29*"  A  line  has  apparently  dropped  out  of  the  Heb.  which  the  Gk.  and  Luc.  retain,  re- 
lie\'ing  the  verse  of  its  awkward  repetition  in  immediately  succeeding  sentences.  The  current 
English  translations  are  only  artificial  attempts  to  eliminate  the  tautology. 

§  18  Vss.  5.  ^^^'  fit  awkwardly  in  their  respective  contexts  and  appear  to  have  been  added 
later  by  an  editor  or  scribe  especially  interested  in  David's  family  history.  Otherwise  the  chap- 
ter is  all  from  the  earliest  source. 

106 


THE  PIIILISTLNE  INVASION  [I  Sam.  30^ 

Early  Jiidcan  David  Narratives 

longer  able  to  weep.    ^And  David's  two  wives   had  been  taken  captive,  Aliinoam 
the  Jezreehtess,  and  Abigail  the  wife  of  Nabal  the  CarmeUte. 

f'And  David  was  in  great  straits,  for  the  people  spoke  of  stoning  him,  The 
because  the  soul  of  all  the  people  was  embittered,  each  for  his  sons  and  for  <^'^'»e 
his  daughters;  but  David  strengthened  himself  in  reliance  on  Jehovah  his  mand 
God.     "And  David  said  to  Abiathar  the  priest,  the  son  of  Ahimelech,  Bring  sue\"he 
here  to  me  the  ephod.     And  Abiathar  brought  thither  the  ephod  to  David,  "augers 
^And  David  inquired  of  Jehovah,  saying. 


Shall  I  pursue  this  marauding  band? 
Shall  I  overtake  them  ? 


And  he  answered  him, 

Pursue, 

For  thou  shalt  surely  overtake. 

And  thou  shalt  surely  rescue. "J 

^So  David  went,  together  with  the  six  hundred  men  who  were  with  him,  and  The 
came  to  the  Brook  Besor,  where  those  who  were  left  behind  remained.  ^^But  f'^'"^"'* 
David  pursued  together  with  four  hundred  men;  while  two  hundred  re- 
mained behind,  who  were  too  faint  to  cross  the  Brook  Besor.  ^^And  they 
found  an  Egyptian  in  the  field  and  brought  him  to  David  and  gave  him  food 
to  eat  and  water  to  drink;  ^^and  they  gave  him  a  piece  of  a  cake  of  figs,  and 
iwo  clusters  of  raisins. "■  And  when  he  had  eaten,  his  spirit  revived,^  for  he 
had  eaten  no  bread  and  drunk  no  water  for  three  days  and  nights.  ^^And 
David  said  to  him,  To  whom  do  you  belong  ?  And  whence  are  you  ? 
And  he  said  I  am  an  Egyptian  lad,  an  Amalekite's  servant,  and  my  master 
abandoned  me  because  three  days  ago  I  fell  sick.  ^''We  made  a  raid  upon 
the  South  Country  of  the  Cherethites  and  upon  that  which  belongs  to  Judah 
and  uj)on  the  South  Country  of  Caleb,  and  Ziklag  we  burned  with  fire. 
^^And  David  said  to  him,  Will  you  bring  me  down  to  this  band  ?  And  he 
said.  Swear  to  me  by  God,  that  you  will  neither  kill  me  nor  deliver  me  into 
the  hands  of  my  master,  and  T  will  bring  you  down  to  this  band. 

^•"And  when  he  had  brought  him  down,  there  they  were  spread  over  all  The 
the  land,  eating  and  drinking  and  dancing,  on  account  of  all  the  great  spoil  alufre- 
that  they  had  taken  from  the  land  of  the  Philistines  and  from  the  land  of  ^'Hf^^ 
Judah.     ^"And  David  smote  them  from  twilight  to  evcninfj  in  order  to  de-  phm- 
stroy  them   completely.*     And   none  escay)ed   except  four  hundred  young 
men,  who  rode  upon  the  camels  and  fled.    ^^And  David  recovered  all  the  per- 
sons whom  the  Amalekites  had  taken ;  and  David  rescued  his  two  wives.     ^^And 


1  .30'  The  brief,  sententious,  poetic  form  of  the  question  and  the  oracle  is  strikingly  a\y- 
parent . 

r  3Q12  TJig  Q\^    does  not  have  the  Iwo  clusters  of  raisins. 

'  30'-   Heh.,  his  spirit  returned  to  him. 

'  30''  The  Hf'b.  is  untran.'ilatal)le,  and  all  (he  >-ersions  found  (liflicultips  with  tlie  pass.aRC. 
The  current  I'.nnlii^h  translations  seem  to  follow  a  conjecture  of  Jcronio.  The  above  reading  is 
ba-sed  upon  the  reconstruction,  which  does  least  violence  to  the  le.\t  and  wliick  is  most  cou- 
siatent  with  early  lleb.  u.sage.     Cf.  Josh.  G^'',  8^. 

107 


ISAM.  3019]  THE  RISE  OF  DAVID 

Early  Jitdcan  David  Narratives 

there  was  nothing  of  them  missing  either  small  or  great,  sons  or  daugh- 
ters, spoil  or  anything  that  they  had  taken  to  themselves — David  brought 
back  all.     -'^And  he  took  all  the  flocks  and  the  herds  and  drove  those  ani- 
mals before  the  people,  and  they"  said.  This  is  David's  spoil. 
The  2i]sjow  when  David  came  to  the  two  hundred  men,  who  had  been  too 

denT'  faint  to  follow  him,  so  that  he"^'  had  to  leave  them  behind  at  the  Brook  Besor, 
regard-  they  went  out  to  meet  David,  and  the  people  who  were  with  him.  And 
division  when  thev  came  near  to  the  people,  thev  saluted  thera.^'     --Then  all  the 

r  ■  1  •■  Alt 

o  spoi  ^.jj.]^p(j  a^j^j  base  scoundrels  among  the  men  who  went  with  David  began 
to  say.  Because  they  did  not  go  with  us,  we  will  not  give  them  any  of  the 
spoil  that  we  have  recovered,  except  to  each,  his  wife  and  his  children,  that 
he  mav  take  them  away  and  depart.  -"^But  David  said.  Do  not  so,  after 
that  which  Jehovah  hath  given  us^  and  after  he  hath  preserved  us  and  de- 
hvered  the  marauding  band  that  came  against  us  into  our  hand.  ^'^And 
who  will  give  heed  to  you  in  this  matter  ?     For : 

As  is  the  share  of  him  who  goes  down  into  battle, 
So  is  the  share  of  him  who  remains  with  the  baggage. 
They  shall  share  alike. 

2^And  from  that  time  on  he  made  it  a  statute  and  precedent  in  Israel*  to 

this  day. 
Pres-  26  \j^(j  when  David  came  to  Ziklag,  he  sent  some  of  the  spoil  to  the  elders 

sent  to  ^^  Judah,  his  friends,^  saying.  See  !  a  present  for  you  from  the  spoil  of  the 
t'le  enemies  of  Jehovah,  ^"to  them  who  were  in  Bethel,*'  in  Ramoth  in  the  South 
ern         Country,  in  Jattir,  ^^in  Aroer,  in  Siphmoth,  and  to  them  who  were  in  Esh- 

temoa,  -^in  Carmel,'^  in  the  cities  of  Jerahmeelites,  in  the  cities  of  the  Ken- 

ites,  ^^in  Hormah,  Beersheba,*'  in  Athach,  ^^in  Hebron,  and  to  those  in  all 

the  places  where  David  and  his  men  had  sojourned. 

u  30^0  The  Heb.  is  unintelligible,  if  translated  literally.  As  it  stands,  the  first  verb  is  in 
the  singular,  liut  the  rest  in  the  plural  with  no  suggestion  as  to  what  is  their  antecedent.  Gk. 
and  Luc.  have  all  three  in  the  singular  and  with  the  Lat.  agree  in  omitting  the  David  inserted 
in  the  Heb.  in  the  first  part  of  the  verse.  In  the  Lat.  the  first  two  verbs  are  in  the  singular 
and  the  last  in  the  plural.  The  texts  are  clearly  corrupt.  The  above  reading  involves  only 
minor  corrections  and  fairly  represents  the  thought  of  the  original.  It  was  natural  that  David 
should  take  the  initiative  in  dividing  the  spoil  and  that  to  him  should  fall  the  animals,  while 
the  people  shared  the  booty  secured  in  the  camp. 

"  30-'  Heb.,  they ;  but  Gk.,  Syr.,  and  Lat.  and  certain  manuscripts  have,  he. 

"■  3CF'  Heb.,  David  came  near  to  the  people  and  saluted  them;  but  the  consistent  reading 
suggested  by  Gk.,  Syr.,  and  certain  manuscripts  has  been  followed  above. 

=■  30^  Restoring  the  Heb.  with  the  aid  of  the  Gk.,  otherwise  the  Heb.  gives  no  sense. 

a  3Gf  In  Nuni.  31-'  the  late  priestly  writers,  following  their  usual  custom,  attribute  the  ori- 
gin of  this  institution  to  Moses.  The  present  tradition  is  undoubtedly  by  far  the  older  and  well 
illustrates  the  origin  of  many  of  Israel's  early  laws.     Cf.  Introd.,  Vol.  IV. 

t'  SCF"'  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Syr.,  and  to  his  friends  or  kinsmen. 

<:  SO-'  Not  the  Bethel  north  of  Jerusalem  but  probably  the  Bethuel  of  I  Chr.  430  near  Ziklag. 

d  3029  So  Gk.     Heb.,  Racal. 

o  3030  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  has,  Bor-ashan. 


chief- 
tains 


108 


SAUL'S  VISIT  TO  THE  MEDIUM  [I  Sam.  283 

§  19.  Saul's  Visit  to  the  Medium  of  Endor,  I  Sam.  25'%  28^" 
Late  Popular  Prophetic  Narratives 

I  Sam.  28  ^Now  Samuel  had  died  and  all  Israel  had  lamented  for  him  Saul's 
and  buried  him  in  Ramah,  his  own  city.     And  Saul  had  put  the  mediums  f^r^^^ 
and  the  wizards  out  of  the  land.^     '*And  when  the  Philistines  assembled  and  super- 
came  and  encamped  in  Shunem,  Saul  assembled  all  Israel,  and  they  en-  rexe-'^'' 
camped  in  Gilboa.     ^And  when  Saul  saw  the  army  of  the  Philistines,  he  ^'^^'^^ 
was  afraid  and  his  heart  was  filled  with  apprehension.     ^And  Saul  inquired 
of  Jehovah,  but  Jehovah  did  not  answer  him  either  by  dreams  or  by  Urim 
or  by  prophets.     'Then  Saul  said  to  his  servants.  Find  for  me  a  medium 
who  has  a  talisman  that  I  may  go  to  her  and  inquire  of  her.     And  his  ser- 
vants said  to  him.  Behold,  there  is  at  Endor  a  medium  who  has  a  talisman. 

^Therefore  Saul  disguised  himself   and  put  on  other  clothes  and  went,  The 
taking  two  men  with  him,  and  they  came  to  the  woman  by  night.     x\nd  he  ^[^\^t 
said,  Divine  for  me  bv  the  talisman  and  bring  up  for  me  the  one  whom  I  scene  in 
shall  name  to  you.     ^And  the  woman  said  to  him,  Behold,  you  know  what  at 
Saul  has  done,  how  he  has  cut  off  the  mediums  and  the  wizards  from  the  ^""°'" 
land.     Why  then  are  you  laying  a  snare  for  my  life,  to  put  me  to  death  ? 
^'^And  Saul  swore  to  her  by  Jehovah,  saying,  As  Jehovah  liveth,  no  guilt 
shall  come  upon  you  for  this  thing.     ^^Then  the  woman  said.  Whom  shall  I 
bring  up  to  you  ?     And  he  said,  Bring  up  Samuel.     ^-And  when  the  woman 
saw  Samuel,  she  screamed.     And  the  woman  said  to  Saul,  Why  have  you 
deceived  me,  for  you  are  Saul  ?     ^^And  the  king  said  to  her,  Do  not  be 
afraid  !     What  do  you  see  ?     And  the  woman  said  to  Saul,  I  see  a  god  com- 
ing up  out  of  the  earth.     ^^And  he  said  to  her,  What  is  his  a{)pearance  ? 
And  she  said,  An  old  man  is  coming  up,  and  he  is  wrapped  in  a  mantle. 
Then  Saul  knew  that  it  was  Samuel,  and  he  bowed  with  his  face  to  the 
earth  and  worshipped. 

§19  The  natural  sequel  of  the  early  .Tudean  narrative  in  28i, -,  29  (and  the  account  of 
Da\-id's  fortunes  in  .30),  is  the  description  of  the  final  battle  found  in  31,  In  29"  the  Philistines 
have  already  advanced  to  Jezreel  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Gilboa.  It  is  difficult  to  find  a  place  for 
the  |)resent  story,  which  represents  them  as  encamped  at  Shunem,  ^,  to  the  north  of  (he  |ilain  of 
Esdraelon.  This  fact  only  confirms  the  other  indications  that  it  is  from  a  difTcrent  cycle  of 
traditions.  Its  theme  and  representation,  as  well  as  its  style,  strongly  sufjKCst  that  it  was  a 
story  long  cherished  in  the  minds  of  the  people,  whose  beliefs  it  vixidly  reflects.  It  also  has 
many  points  in  common  with  the  account  of  Saul's  rejection  by  Samuel  in  1,'j. 

A  later  editor  has  furtiier  brought  the  two  chapters  into  close  connection  by  inserting  in 
•'■  's  an  allusion  to  and  paraphrase  of  the  prediction  in  15"'.  In  both,  not  Saul,  but  Samuel  is 
the  dominant  figure  and  the  king  is  under  the  shadow  of  the  di\ine  displeasure.  Samuel,  how- 
ever, is  not  the  proi)hetic  judge  as  in  the  later  ICphraimite  i)ropli<'(ic  narratives,  but  the  seer 
whom  Saul  consults  to  secure  an  oracle  much  as  in  the  early  .luiioaii  story  of  9''  -'".  Samuel  is 
still  conceived  of  as  the  friend  of  Saul,  cf.'"'  The  pathetic  i)icturo  wliicli  it  gi\os  of  Saul  also  tends 
to  support  the  conclusion  that  the  tradition  took  written  form  in  s(;me  later  .ludean  rather 
than  i^phraimite  prophetic  school  at  a  perio<l  not  long  before  the  exile.  The  linguistic  evidence 
also  on  the  whole  favors  this  conclusion.  .\t  the  same  time  it  is  evident  that  the  story,  like  15, 
emborlies  some  much  earlier  material  and  may  well  rest  on  a  firm  historical  basis. 

'28'  Smith  has  a  valuable  note  on  this'passage  (Sam.,  2.39),  in  which  he  addiices  many 
references  (cf.  especially  II  Kgs.  21",  23-',  I)t.  18'"'  "  and  Lev.  20''")  to  demonstrate  that  the 
reference  here  is  not  to  necromancers  and  wizards,  but  to  the  paraphernalia  used  in  consulting 
spirits  of  the  dead.  IVom  Dt.  IS'"'  "  and  Lev.  20-'",  as  well  as  the  i)resont  story,  it  is  e\  ident  tliat 
they  were  something  through  which  an  answer  coiild  be  secured  and  supposed  coimcction  with 
the  dead  established.  The  wom.an  of  luidor,  who  possesses  one,  corresponds  to  the  imxleni 
medium.     The  Gk.  translation,  ventrilotiuiuls,  suggests  the  manner  in  which  the  dci'option  was 

Sracti.sefl.     The  fact.  that,  according  to  the  story,  not  Saul  but  only  the  woman  claims  to  see 
amuel  is  likewise  suggestive. 

109 


ISAM.  2815]  THE  DECLINE   OF  SAUL 

Late  Popular  Prophetic  Narratives 
The  is^nd  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  Why  have  you  disturbed  me  by  bringing  me 

sa^e'of  "P  '  ^"*^^  ^^"^'^  answered,  I  am  in  great  straits,  for  the  Philistines  are  making 
doom  ^var  against  me  and  God  has  turned  from  me  and  answers  me  no  more, 
either  by  prophets  or  by  dreams;  so  I  have  called  you  to  tell  me  what  I  shall 
do.  i^And  Samuel  said,  Why  do  you  ask  of  me  when  Jehovah  hath  turned 
from  you  and  become  your  adversary  ?  I'And  Jehovah  hath  done  to  you  as  he 
declared  by  me ;  and  Jehovah  hath  rent  the  kingdom  out  of  your  hand,  and  given  it  to 
vour  associate  (David).  i^Because  you  did  not  heed  the  voice  of  Jehovah,  and  did 
iaot  execute  his  fierce  wrath  upon  vUnalek,  therefore  Jehovah  hath  done  this  thing  to 
you  to-day.  ^^And^  to-morrow  you  and  your  sons  with  you'^  shall  fall ;  Je- 
hovah w^ill  deliver  the  army  of  Israel  also  into  the  power  of  the  Phihstines. 
Effect  -^Then  Saul  fell  at  once  at  full  length  upon  the  earth  and  was  greatly 
Sauf  afraid,  because  of  the  words  of  Samuel ;  also  he  had  no  strength  in  him,  for 
he  had  not  eaten  bread  during  all  the  day  and  all  the  night,  ^i^nd  when  the 
woman  came  to  Saul  and  saw  that  he  was  greatly  troubled,  she  said  to  him, 
See,  your  maid-servant  has  heeded  your  voice,  and  I  have  taken  my  life  in 
my  hand  and  have  listened  to  your  words  which  you  spoke  to  me.  "'^l>io\v 
therefore,  listen  also  to  the  advice  of  your  maid-servant  and  let  me  set  before 
you  a  morsel  of  meat,  and  eat  that  you  may  have  strength  when  you  go  on 
your  way.  '^^'Qwi  he  refused,  and  said,  I  will  not  eat.  But  his  servants, 
together  with  the  woman  urged  him,  until  he  Hstened  to  their  advice.  So 
he  rose  from  the  earth  and  sat  upon  the  couch.  "^^Xnd  the  woman  had  a 
fatted  calf  in  the  house;  and  she  quickly  killed  it,  and  took  flour  and  kneaded 
it  and  baked  from  it  unleavened  bread,  '^^k.nd  she  set  it  before  Saul  and 
his  servants,  and  they  ate.     Then  they  rose  up  and  went  away  that  night. 

§20.  The  Defeat  and  Death  of  Saul  and  Jonathan,  I  Sam.  31,  I  Chr.  10 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Defeat        I  Sam.   31  ^Now  the  Philistines  fought  against  Israel,  and  the  Israel- 
Israel-    ites  fled  from  before  the  Philistines  and  fell  down  slain  on  Mount  Gilboa. 
ites  and  2\n(j  ^\^q  Philistines  followed  close  after  Saul  and  his  sons;  and  the  Philistines 
of  Saul    slew  Jonathan  and  Abinadab  and  Malchishua,  the  sons  of  Saul.     ^And 
they  pressed  hard  upon  Saul,  and  the  archers  found  him  out,  and  he  was 
wounded  by  the  arcliers.     ^Then  said  Saul  to  his  armorbearer.  Draw  your 
sword  and  run  me  through  with  it,  lest  these  uncircumcised  Phihstines  come 
and  make  sport  of  me.i     But  his  armorbearer  would  not,  for  he  was  greatly 
afraid.     Therefore  Saul  took  his  owm  sword  and  fell  upon  it.     ^And  when 

E  28'9  A  scribe  has  repeated  by  mistake  at  the  beginning  the  clause  found  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  vs..  And  Jehovah  will  deliver  Israel  also  with  you  into  the  power  of  the  Philistines. 
It  has  been  omitted  in  the  above  translation. 

•i  28'9  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  has  simply,  with  me,  and  no  verb.  The  with  me  of  the  Heb.  prob- 
ably represents  the  with  you  of  the  Gk.  which  has  retained  the  original. 

§  20  Chap.  31  resumes  the  early  Judean  account  of  the  PhiUstine  invasion.  The  author 
of  Chr.  quoted  this  chapter  practically  verbatim,  doubtless  because  he  recognized  in  Saul's 
fall  the  event  which  opened  the  way  for  the  accession  of  the  king  whom  he  regarded  as  the  ^•irtual 
founder  of  the  temple.  At  the  end  of  the  quotation  he  adds  a  moral  reflection  which  indicates 
that  he  had  before  him  the  fuUer  Saul  history  in  I  Sam. 

'  31^  So  Chr.  The  Heb.  repeats,  run  me  through,  which  was  not  what  Saul  feared  but 
rather  that  the  enemy  would  torture  and' abuse  him. 

110 


HIS   DEFEAT  AND   DEATH  [I  S.^m.  3P 

Early  Judean  David  Xarratives 

his  armorbearer  saw  that  Saul  was  dead,  he  likewise  fell  upon  his  sword 
and  died  with  him.  ^So  Saul  and  his  three  sons  and  his  armorbearer  J  died 
together  on  the  same  day. 

^And  when  the  Israelites  who  were  in  the  cities  of  the  valley'^  and  in  the  Fate  of 

oil 

cities  of  the  Jordan  saw  that  the  Israelites  had  fled  and  that  Saul  and  his  body 
sons  were  dead,  they  also  left  the  cities  and  fled,  and  the  Philistines  came 
and  remained  in  them.  ^But  when  on  the  following  day  the  Philistines  came 
to  strip  the  slain,  they  found  Saul  and  his  three  sons  fallen  on  Mount  Gil- 
boa.  ^And  they  cut  ofi"  his  head  and  stripped  ofl^  his  armor  and  sent  through- 
out the  land  of  the  Philistines  to  bring  good  news  to  their  idols'  and  to  the 
people.  ^°And  they  put  his  armor  in  the  temple  of  Ashtarte,™  and  they 
fastened  his  body  on  the  wall  of  Bethshan.'^  ^^And  when  the  inhabitants  of 
Jabesh  in  Gilead°  heard  what  the  Philistines  had  done  to  Saul,  ^-all  the 
valiant  men  arose  and  marched  all  night  and  took  the  bodies  of  Saul  and 
his  sons  from  the  wall  of  Bethshan;  and  they  came  to  Jabesh  and  lamented 
over  them  there. p  ^^And  they  took  their  bones  and  buried  them  under  the 
tamarisk  tree  in  Jabesh,  and  they  fasted  seven  days. 

Chronicler^s  Ecclesiastical  History 

I  Chr.   10  ^'^So  Saul  died  for  his  faithlessness  to  Jehovah,  because  he  An  ex- 
did  not  faithfully  observe  the  word  of  Jehovah,  and  also  in  that  he  inquired  t'ion  of 
of  a  talisman,  resorting  to  it  ^^^instead  of  to  Jehovah.*^     Therefore  he  put  Saul's 
him  to  death  and  turned  the  kingdom  over  to  David  the  son  of  Jesse.  fate 


'  SI*"  The  Heb.  adds,  and  all  his  men,  wbiich  is  not  found  in  Chr.  and  Gk.  Chr.  changes, 
armorbearer,  to,  all  his  house. 

■<  .31"  The  text  is  difBcult.  The  Heb.  makes  little  sense.  Chr.  has  simply,  and  when  the 
men  of  Israel,  irho  were  in  the  valley,  saw.  The  simple  reconstruction  followed  above  gives  an 
intelligible  reading. 

'  3P  So  I  Chr.  10',  Gk.,  and  Luc.  The  Heb.  reading,  to  the  house  of  their  idols,  is  due  to  an 
obvious  scribal  error. 

■"  SI'*"  So  Gk.  and  I,uc.  Chr.,  of  their  gods.  The  Heb.,  Ashtarolh,  as  in  Judg.  2'^,  is  clearly 
due  to  a  deliberate  scribal  change. 

"  SI'"  I  Chr.  10'"  has  for  the  second  half  of  the  verse,  and  they  stuck  up  his  skull  in  the  house 
of  Daijon.     In  '-  the  reference  to  taking  the  body  from  the  wall  of  Bethshan  is  also  omitted. 

"  31"  The  loyalty  of  the  men  of  Jabesh  was  doubtless  due  to  Saul's  act  of  deliverance  re- 
corded in   11'-". 

p  31'^  Heb.,  and  burn  them  there;  but  this  is  inconsistent  with  Heb.  usage  according  to 
which  only  the  bodies  of  culprits  were  burned.  Lev.  20'^,  21'',  Josh.  7-^,  and  the  statement  in  the 
next  verse  that  they  buried  their  bones.  The  clause  is  also  not  found  in  I  Chr.  10'-.  The  mis- 
take probably  resulted  from  an  error  in  the  rearling  of  a  very  similar  Heb.  word,  to  lament  for 
the  dead. 

'I  I  Chr.  lO'^b.  iia  But  cf.  I  Sam.  28"-  ■"■  'o  which  hardly  justify  the  sweeping  judgment  of 
the  later  Jewish  traditions  which  the  Ctironicler  voices.     Cf.  Introd.,  p.  23. 


Ill 


II  S.oi.  li] 


DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  JUDAH 


III 


Arrival 
of  the 
messen- 
ger 


His  ac- 
count 
of 

Saul's 
death 


DA^^D'S    REIGN    AS    KING    OVER   JUDAH    AND    OVER   ALL 
ISRAEL,  II  Sam.  1-21,  238-2425,  I  Kgs.  l^-2^\  I  Chr.  11,  1223-2930 

^  21.  David's  Reception  of  the  News  of  the  Death  of  Saul  and 

Jonathan,  U  Sam.  1 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

1  iNow,  after  the  death  of  Saul,*  when  David  had  returned  from  smiting 
the  Amalekites,  David  remained  two  days  in  Ziklag.  2Then  on  the  third  day 
there  came  a  man  out  of  the  camp  from  Saul,  with  his  clothes  torn  and 
with  earth  upon  his  head.  And  as  soon  as  he  came  to  David,  he  fell  to  the 
earth  and  did  obeisance.  3  \n(l  David  said  to  him,  Whence  do  you  come  ? 
And  he  answered  him.  From  the  camp  of  Israel  have  I  escaped.  "^And 
David  said  to  him,  How  was  the  affair  ?  Tell  me.  And  he  answered.  The 
people  fled  from  the  battle,  and  many  of  the  people  fell,''  and  also  Saul  and 

Jonathan  his  son  are  dead. 

=Then  David  said  to  the  3'oung  man  who  told  him,  How  do  you  know  that  Saul  and 
■Jonathan  his  son  are  dead?  ^And  the  young  man  who  told  him  said,  I  happened  to 
be  on  Mount  Gilboa,  just  as  Saul  was  leaning  on  his  spear,  and  as  the  chariots  and 
horsemen  were  following  close  after  liim.  ".And  when  he  looked  behind  him,  he  saw 
me  and  called  to  me.     And  I  answered,  '  Here  am  I.'     s^nd  he  said  to  me,  '  Who  are 


David's  Reign  as  King  over  Judah  and  over  all  Israel. — The  record  of  this  thriUing  epoch 
in  Israel's  history  is  drawn  almost  entirely  from  the  early  .Judean  Da\'id  stories.  The  pohtical 
events  are  presented  in  II  Sam.  1-7,  conclufling  in  S^-"  with  an  editorial  re\-iew  of  David's  wars 
and  conquests.  To  this  original  book  of  Samuel  apparently  a  later  editor  first  added  the  long 
realistic  narratives  of  Q"— 20--,  which  present  in  detail  the  tragedy  of  Davitl's  family  and  court 
life.  Supplements  to  the  record  of  political  events  in  1-8  are  found  in  21,  23,  and  24;  while  the 
account  of  Da\'id's  family  history  in  91-20-  is  directly  continuefl  in  I  Kgs.  l'-2",  which  was  eW- 
dently  deri^•ed  from  the  same  early  David  narratives.  Ftestored  to  what  was  approximately 
their  original  order,  the  different  stories  furnish  a  remarkably  consistent  and  complete  record  of 
David's  important  reign. 

§  21  The  account  of  David's  lamentation  on  receiving  the  news  of  the  death  of  Saul  and 
Jonathan  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  early  Judean  Dav-id  narratives  which  precede  and 
follow.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  beautiful  elegy  in  's--"  first  came  from  the  lips 
of  the  former  shepherd  from  Bethlehem,  whose  skiU  as  a  minstrel  was  universally  recognized 
by  his  own  and  later  generations.  The  feeling  in  the  poem  is  strong  and  genuine  and  the  thought 
is  in  keeping  with  the  situation  and  the  spirit  of  the  age.  For  a  study  of  the  literary  form  of 
this  and  kindred  poems  cf.  Vol.  V  in  loco.  The  text  has  been  printed  so  as  to  indicate  the  num- 
ber of  beats  or  measures  in  each  line. 

Not  only  is  the  story  complete  without  the  details  found  in  ^-i"'  "^-le^  tjut  they  evidently 
embody  a  different  version  of  Saul's  death  from  that  in  I  Sam.  31.  Thus  for  example  in  3V  he 
is  pursued  by  the  archers,  but  in  l^  by  the  chariots  and  horsemen ;  in  31'  he  is  represented  as 
wounded,  but  in  1^  dizziness  seizes  him  so  that  he  cannot  stand;  in  31*  he  falls  upon  his  sword, 
but  in  1'"  the  Amalekite  slays  him;  in  3P  the  Philistines  strip  Saul's  body,  but  in  1"^  the  Amalek- 
ite.  On  the  other  hand,  there  is  no  evidence  in  the  words  or  acts  of  David  to  indicate  that  he  or 
the  historian  regarded  the  story  of  the  Amalekite  as  false.  Furthermore,  there  are  inconsist- 
encies between  l'-*  and  ^-^°-  i-'"^.  In  -  the  messenger  is  spoken  of  as  a  man.  presumably  an 
Israelitish  soldier,  who  came  as  a  mourner  directly  from  the  camp  of  Saul,  but  according  to  '■* 
he  was  a  young  man,  an  Amalekite,  who  happened  to  be  on  Mount  Gilboa  just  as  the  battle  was  in 
progress,  and  instead  of  mourning  for  Saul,  he  comes  with  gory  proofs  of  his  crime  to  claim  a 
reward  from  David.  The  question  in  "  jg  a  repetition  of  that  in  ^.  That  s'"'  "'^  are  secondary 
seems  perfectly  clear.  Expressions  Uke,  Here  am  I,  in  "  and  be  afraid  and  destroy  in  "  are 
characteristic  of  the  Northern  IsraeUtish  group  of  narratives.  This  version  also  saves  Saul 
from  the  charge  of  taking  his  own  Hfe.  The  probabilities  are  that  it  was  the  popular  account 
of  Saul's  death,  current  in  Northern  Israel  and  introduced  here  by  some  editor. 

"  1'  The  fulness  and  awkwardness  of  this  verse  strongly  suggests  that  the  editor  has  at 
least  added  the  opening  clause  to  join  the  story  to  that  which  immediately  precedes. 

b  1^  So  Luc.  and  Syr.     The  Heb.  adds,  are  dead. 


112 


HIS  LAMENT  OVER  SAUL  [II  Sam.  l^ 

Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 

j-ou''  And  I  replied,  'I  am  an  Amalekite.'  5.\nd  lie  said  to  me,  'Stand,  I  praj% 
before  me  and  slay  me,  for  dizziness  has  seized  me,  because  my  life  is  yet  whole  in 
me.'"^  '"So  1  stood  before  him  anil  slew  him,  because  I  was  sure  that  he  could  not  live 
after  he  had  fallen;  and  I  took  the  crown  that  was  upon  his  head,  and  the  armlet 
that  was  on  his  arm,  and  have  brought  them  here  to  my  lord. 

^^Then  David  took  hold  of  his  clothes  and  tore  them;  and  all  the  men  Lamen- 

who  were  with  him  did  likewise.     ^^A.nA  they  mourned  and  wept  and  fasted  over" 

until  evening  for  Saul  and  for  Jonathan  his  son  and  for  the  people  of  Jehovah  *^'® 

and  for  the  house  of  Israel,  because  they  had  fallen  by  the  sword. 

i^Aud  David  said  to  the  young  man  who  told  him.  Whence  do  you  come?     And  Execu- 
he  answered,  I  am  the  son  of  an  Amalekite  sojourner.     '^And  David  said  to  him.  How  tionof 
is  it  that  you  were  not  afraid  to  put  forth  your  hand  to  destroy  Jehovah's  anointed?  ^''^ 
i^And  David  said  to  him.  Your  blood  be  upon  your  head,  for  your  own  mouth  testi-  ™ggj. 
fied  against  you,  when  you  said,  '  I  have  slain  Jehovah's  anointed. ''i     '^xhen  David 
called  one  of  the  young  men,  and  said.  Go  near  and  strike  him  down.     Accordingly 
he  smote  him,  so  that  he  died. 

^'Then  David  sang  this  dirge  over  Saul  and  Jonathan  his  son  i8(behold,  it  is  David's 

written  in  the  Book  of  Jashar),  and  said,^  "^^^ 

Weep,  O  Judah!  The 

"Grieve,  O  Israel!  _  ereat-^ 

On  thy  heights  are  the  slain'  theca- 

How  have  the  mighty  fallen!  lamity 

20TeIl  it  not  in  Gath, 
Declare  it  not  in  the  streets  of  Askelon; 
Lest  the  daughters  of  the  Philistines  rejoice, 
Lest  the  daughters  of  the  uncircinncised  exult. 

^'Ye  mountains  of  Gilboa,  may  no  dew  descend, 

Nor  rain  upon  you,  O  ye  fields  of  death!' 
For  there  was  the  shield  of  the  mighty  cast  away. 
The  shield  of  Saul,  not  anointed  with  oil. 

^^From  the  blood  of  the  slain,  Brav- 

From  the  fat  of  the  mighty,  a«rac-' 

The  bow  of  Jonathan  turned  not  back,  i\\e- 

The  sword  of  Saul  retm-ned  not  empty.  nessof 

the 

^Saul  and  Jonathan,  the  beloved  and  the  lovely!  fallen 
In  life  and  in  dejith  they  were  not  parted; 
I'hey  were  swifter  than  eagles, 
They  were  stronger  than  lions. 

"=1"  Heb.,  for  yet  my  life  is  whole  in  me.  fJk.,  for  all  my  life  is  in  me.  Luc,  as  above. 
Saul's  dizziness  may  have  been  due  to  the  approach  of  one  of  the  epileptic  attacks  to  which  he 
appears  to  have  been  subject.  Cf.  the  symptoms  in  I  Sam.  lO'^--^,  18'".  ",  lU'*"',  2'2f'-"K  If  so, 
life  would  refer  to  his  physical  vigor. 

•1  !"■'  This  verse  has  evidently  been  introduced,  probably  through  the  mistake  of  a  copyist, 
after  '*  instead  of  before  it,  as  the  sense  demands. 

'  l'**  The  (hfficulties  presented  by  this  verse  are  many  and  the  reconstructions  suRRested 
equally  numerous.  'I'he  readiriK  adoijted  above  is  prjicticuUy  that  of  .Smith  (Sniti..  '2'>p,  2()0). 
The  statement,  behold  it  is  irrilltn  in  the  Hook  of  Jashar,  appears  to  be  an  early  eiHtorial  note, 
probably  first  introduced  into  the  rnarnin  and  sulisequeiitly  into  the  latter  i>art  of  the  \orsc, 
rather  than  the  first  part,  where  it  fits  more  naturally.  Cf.  for  the  character  of  Book  of  .hishar, 
Vol.  1,  Intro'l.,  p.  1(>.  .'Ml  analogies  lead  us  to  e.\|)cct  tli.at  the  initial  words,  and  said,  oriKinally 
introiluced  the  dirge  itself.  Vs.  '"  with  its  two  lines  seem  also  to  be  abrupt  jind  incomplete,  for 
I)ractically  without  exception  the  followiriK  stanz.as  contain  four  lines.  The  Heb.  text  as  it 
stands  is  not  only  nngrammatical  but  also  unintelliKible.  The  word,  how,  is  not  found  in  the 
<ik.  and  I.uc.     Slight  corrections  in  the  remaining  text  give  the  above  consistent  reading. 

'  P'  So  Gk.  ;u)d  Luc.  The  Heb.,  fields  of  offcrinus,  is  evidently  a  corruplioii  an<l  makes 
no  sense. 

113 


II  Sam.  124]  DAVID'S  REIGN   OVER  JUDAH 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Saul's  "Daughters  of  Israel,  weep  over  Saul, 

ser-  Who  clothed  you  daintily  in  fine  linen, 

vices  to  Who  put  golden  ornaments  on  your  garments,  [and  say]: 

25' How  have  the  mighty  fallen  in  the  midst  of  battle  !'s 

David's  Jonathan,  in  thy  death  hast  thou  wounded  me!*" 

love  for  2CJ  j^j^^  distressed  for  thee,  my  brother  Jonathan! 

tJ^"^'  .  Thou  wert  surpassingly  dear  to  me, 

Thy  love  to  me  was  far  more  than  the  love  of  woman ! 

How  have  the  mighty  fallen. 
And  the  weapons  of  war  perished ! 

§  22.  David  King  at  Hebron  and  Ishbaal  at  Mahanaim,  II  Sam.  2^-^' 
Earbj  Judean  David  Narratives 

David's      II  Sam.   2  ^Now  after  this  David  inquired  of  Jehovah,  saying.  Shall  I  go 

hsh^'''    up  to  one  of  the  cities  of  Judah  ?     And  Jehovah  answered  him,  Go  up.    And 

ment      when  David  said,  Wliither  shall  I  go  up,  he  said,  To  Hebron,     ^g^  David 

at   '°     went  up  with  his  two  wives,  Ahinoam,  the  Jezreelitess,  and  Abigail,  the 

Hebron  ^jf^  ^f  Nabal  the  Carmelite.     ^And  Da^nd  brought  up  the  men  who  w^ere 

with  him,  each  with  his  household,  and  they  dwelt  in  the  towns  of  Hebron. 

■^And  the  men  of  Judah  came  and  there  anointed  David  king  over  the  house 

of  Judah. 

His  And  when  they  told  David  about  the  men  of  Jabesh  in  Gilead  who  had 

^Ke'to   buried  Saul,  ^David  sent  messengers  to  tne  men  of  Jabesh  in  Gilead  and 

the  Gil-  said  to  them,  May  you  be  blest  of  Jehovah,  because  you  have  shown  this 

kindness  to  your  lord  Saul  and  have  buried  him.     ^Even  so  may  Jehovah 

show  kindness  and  truth  to  you;  and  I  also  will  do  well  by  you,  because  you 

have  done  this  thing.     '^Now  therefore  be  courageous  and  valiant;  for  Saul 

your  lord  is  dead,  and  the  house  of  Judah  have  anointed  me  king  over  them. 

Ish-  ^Now  Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  commander  of  Saul's  army,  had  taken  Ish- 

kfng-^     baal'  the  son  of  Saul,  and  brought  him  over  to  Mahanaim.     ^And  he  made 
dom         . — 

g  125a  Evidently  these  are  the  words  of  lament  which  the  poet  would  put  in  the  mouths  of 
the  wailing  women.     It  is  a  variation  of  the  refrain  in   '^b.  c 

h  x25b  Heb.,  Jonathan  on  thy  heights  are  the  slain.  This  gives  no  sense.  The  confusion  in 
the  text  appears  here  to  be  due  to  the  fact  that  the  scribe  had  in  mind  the  rest  of  the  refrain 
of  19.  The  parallelism  imperatively  demands  here  a  line  synonymous  with  26a  Following  a 
suggestion  of  the  Gk.  text  that  the  original  read  not,  on  thy  heights,  but  tn  thy  death,  the  above 
reading  may  be  conjecturally  restored  after  Budtle. 

§  22  This  section  has  all  the  characteristics  of  the  early  Judean  David  narratives.  The 
chronological  notices  in  '"a  ^ri,]  ii  ^^e  evidently  a  part  of  the  chronological  scheme  of  the  editor. 
Forty  is  a  round  number  frequently  employed  by  the  same  editor  in  Judg.  The  early  narratives 
imply  that  Saul  was  not  old  at  his  accession.  In  I  Sam.  l-4^''  it  is  stated  and  el.sewhere  implied 
that  Jonathan  was  the  eldest  son.  Hence  unless  Saul's  reign  was  much  longer  than  is  suggested 
by  the  sources,  Ishbaal  was  very  young  at  his  accession.  This  conclusion  also  explains  his  in- 
efficiency and  folly  and  the  dominant  position  held  by  Abner.  The  reign  of  David  at  Hebron 
was  practically  synchronous  with  that  of  Ishbaal,  so  that  either  the  tiro  years  in  i"''  or  the  seven 
and  a  half  in  "  is  a  mistake. 

There  is  no  indication  that  David  severed  his  relation  of  vassalage  to  the  Philistines.  The 
transfer  of  I.srael's  capital  to  Mahanaim,  east  of  the  Jordan,  is  evidence  that  they  held  central 
Canaan.     It  is  not  improbable  that  they  also  exacted  tribute  and  fealty  from  Ishbaal. 

'  2*  Heb.,  Ishbosheth,  the  man  of  shame.  Evidently  this,  like  Ashtaroth.  I  Sam.  3V°,  Judg. 
213,  represents  simply  the  repugnance  of  later  scribes  to  repeat  the  names  of  the  heathen  deities. 
The  most  striking  illustration  is  in  Num.  3228,  where  the  name  Meon-baal  is  followed  by  a  note 
stating  that  it  is  to  be  changed  in  name.  In  I  Chr.  8^,  9^^,  and  in  some  Gk.  manuscripts  of  this 
passage  iu  the  Old  Lat.  the  original  form  Ishbaal  is  preserved. 

114 


ISHBAAL  KING  AT  MAHANAIM  [II  Sam.  2^ 

Earlij  Judcan  David  Narratives 

him  king  over  Gilead  and  the  AshuritesJ  and  Jezreel  and  Epliraim  and 
Benjamin  and  all  Israel.  ""(Ishbaal,  Saul's  son,  was  iorty  j-ears  old  when  he  be- 
came king  over  Israel,  and  he  reigned  two  years).  But  the  house  of  Judah  fol- 
lowed David.  "And  the  time  that  David  was  king  in  Hebron  over  the  house  of 
Judah,  was  seven  j^ears  and  six  months. 

§  23.  Hostilities  between  the  Two  Kingdoms,  II  Sam.  2'--3* 
Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.  3  i^Now  Abner  the  son  of  Ner  and  the  servants  of  Ishbaal  the  Battle 
son  of  Saul  went  out  from  Mahanaim  to  Gibeon.  ^-^And  Joab  the  son  of  cubeon 
Zeruiah  and  the  servants  of  David  went  out  and  met  them  at  the  pool  of 
Gibeon.  And  they  sat  down,  the  one  on  the  one  side  of  the  pool  and  the 
other  on  the  other  side  of  the  pool.  ^^Then  Abner  said  to  Joab,  Let  the 
young  men  arise  and  play  before  us.  And  Joab  said,  Let  them  arise. 
^^Then  they  arose  and  went  over  by  ninnber:'^  twelve  for  Benjamin  and 
Ishbaal  the  son  of  Saul,  and  twelve  of  the  servants  of  David.  I'^And  they 
each  caught  his  opponent  by  the  head  and  thrust  his  sword  into  his  side,  so 
they  fell  down  together.  Therefore  that  place  was  called.  Field  of  the  Ene- 
mies (which  is  in  Gibeon).  ^'And  the  battle  was  very  fierce  that  day,  and 
Abner  and  the  men  of  Israel  were  vanquished  before  the  servants  of  David, 

^^And  the  three  sons  of  Zeruiah  were  there,  Joab,  Abishai,  and  Asahel;  Death 
and  Asahel  was  as  swift  of  foot  as  one  of  the  gazelles  which  are  in  the  field,  '(j,.^. 
^^And  Asahel  pursued  Abner;  and  as  he  went  he  turned  neither  to  the  right  l»el 
nor  to  the  left  from  the  pursuit  of  Abner.     20q;>]jpj^  Abner  looked  behind 
him  and  said.  Is  it  you,  Asahel  ?     And  he  answered,  It  is  I.     ^I'pijej.efore 
Abner  said  to  him.  Turn  aside  to  your  right  or  to  your  left  and  seize  one  of 
the  young  men  and  take  his  spoil.'     But  Asahel  would  not  turn  aside  from 
pursuing  him.     22'j"'}jei.pfore  Abner  said  again  to  Asahel,  Turn  aside  from 
following  me.     Why  should  I  smite  you  to  the  ground  ?     How  then  could 
I  look  Joab  your  brother  in  the  face  ?™     '^^^wi  he  refused  to  turn  aside. 
Therefore  Abner  smote  him  with  a  backward  stroke"  in  the  body,  so  that 
the  spear  came  out  at  his  back;  and  he  fell  there  and  died  in  his  place.     Then 
all  who  came  to  the  place  where  Asahel  had  fallen  and  died,  stood  still.  ° 

2^But  Joab  and  A})ishai  pursued  after  Abner.  And  as  the  sun  was  set-  Abner' 
ting,  they  came  to  the  hill  of  i\znmah,  which  is  before  Giah''  on  the  highway  ^^^'^^''^ 
in   the  Wilderness  of  Gibeon.     ^s^j^j  t}jg   Benjamites    assembled    behind 

J  29  Probably  located  immediately  north  of  the  plain  of  Esdraelon.  Cf.  .ludR.  !''■  ^  and 
Vol.  I,  map  opp.  p.  71.  Syr.  and  bat.  read,  Geshiirite  which  would  include  a  territory  near 
Gilead,  but  Oeshur  appears  to  have  been  independent  at  this  time.     Cf.  3-'. 

§  2.3  The  rSfium^'m  .3'  may  be  from  the  e<iitor,  but  otherwi.se  the  section  as  a  whole  appears 
to  be  the  original  continuation  of  the  preceding. 

''  2''  I .e.,  were  counted  off  by  pas.sing  before  the  teller. 

'  22'  I.e.,  the  armor  and  whatever  might  be  stripped  from  the  fallen  warrior. 

"  2^2  Heb.  idiom,  hold  up  mii  face  to  Joab. 

"  2^  Shght  ly  emending  the  text.  The  current  tran.«lation,  with  the  hinder  end  of  the  spear, 
is  very  doubtful. 

o  2-n>  'j'hi.s  may  be  an  editorial  glo.ss  introduced  from  20'-. 

"2^  Giah  is  unidentified  and  the  text  doubtful. 


a 


II  Sam.  225]  DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  JUDAH 

Earhj  Judean  David  Narratives 

Abner  and  formed  a  solid  phalanx,  and  stood  on  the  top  of  a  hill.  ^^Then 
Abner  called  to  Joab  and  said.  Shall  the  sword  devour  forever  ?  Do  you 
not  know  that  the  end  will  be  bitterness  ?^  How  long  then  will  it  be  before 
you  command  the  people  to  turn  from  pursuing  their  kinsmen  ?  27^\j^(j 
Joab  said.  As  Jehovah'"  liveth,  if  you  had  not  spoken,  then  assuredly  not 
until  morning  would  the  people  have  ceased  each  from  pursuing  his  brother. 
28So  Joab  blew  the  trumpet;  and  all  the  people  stood  still  and  pursued  Israel, 
no  more,  nor  did  they  fight  any  more,  ^ogy^  Abner  and  his  men  marched 
all  that  night  through  the  Arabah  and  crossed  the  Jordan  and  went  through 
the  whole  Bithron^  and  came  to  Mahanaim. 
Losses  ^^And  Joab  returned  from  the  pursuit  of  Abner.  And  when  he  had 
If  ttf  gathered  all  the  people  together,  nineteen  of  David's  servants  beside  Asahel 
were  missing;  "^^vhile  the  servants  of  David  had  smitten  of  Benjamin  and 
of  Abner's  men  three  hundred  and  sixty.*  ^-And  they  took  up  Asahel  and 
buried  him  in  his  father's  sepulchre,  which  was  in  Bethlehem.  And  Joab 
and  his  men  marched  all  night,  and  day  dawned  upon  them  at  Hebron. 
Results  '^  ^And  the  war  between  the  house  of  Saul  and  the  house  of  David  was 
of  the  prolonged;  but  David  kept  growing  stronger,  while  the  house  of  Saul  grew 
gradually  weaker. 


war 


§  24.  Abner's  Disaffection  and  Death,  II  Sam.  3* 


39 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Abner's  II  Saill.  3  ^Now,  while  there  was  war  between  the  house  of  Saul  and  the  house  of 
wiT"^'  David,"  Abner  made  himself  strong  in  the  house  of  Saul.  ^And  Saul  had 
Ish-  a  concubine,  whose  name  was  Rizpah,  the  daughter  of  Aiah.  And  Ishbaal 
the  son  of  Saul^'  said  to  Abner,  Why  do  you  go  in  unto  my  father's  concu- 
bine ?  ^Then  Abner  was  very  angry  because  of  the  words  of  Ishbaal  and 
said.  Am  I  a  dog's  head,^  who  am  at  this  time  showing  kindness  to  the  house 
of  Saul  your  father,  to  his  kinsmen,  and  to  his  friends,  and  have  not  delivered 
you  into  the  hand  of  David,  that  you  now  charge  me  with  guilt  in  connection 
with  a  woman  ?  ^God  do  to  Abner  whatever  he  pleases,  if,  as  Jehovah 
hath  sworn  to  David,  I  do  not  even  so  to  him,  i%y  transferring  the  king- 
dom from  the  house  of  Saul  and  by  establishing  the  throne  of  David  over 
Israel  and  over  Judah  from  Dan  to  Beersheba.  ^^And  he  did  not  dare  to 
make  Abner  any  answer,  for  he  feared  him. 


1  2*^  Lit.,  bitterness  will  be  the  end ;  evidently  a  popular  proverb. 

■■227  Heb.,  the  God,  but  Gk.  and  Luc,  Jehovah. 

»  229  Or,  Ravine. 

t  231  gf,  i^uc.  and  Syr.     Heb.  adds,  they  died. 

§  24  This  section  is  evidentl.v  from  the  original  Judean  David  narratives.  It  is  held 
by  some  that  '2-19  are  secondary,  but  the  grounds  are  far  from  conclusive  and  the  references  to 
Michal  in  '--''•  relate  them  to  the  older  source  in  I  Sam.  182",  19^2-17^  §  11.  Vs^.  '7-'^,  however, 
introduce  a  later  conception  and  seem  to  represent  an  expansion  of  the  original  narrative. 
Furthermore  they  awkwardly  interrupt  the  story,  for  20  is  the  immediate  continuation  of  ">. 

"  3""  This  repetition  of  '  was  introduced  by  the  editor  who  inserted  the  list  of  David's 
sons  2-5. 

"  3'  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  omits,  Ishbaal  the  son  of  Saul,  which  is  required  by  the  context. 

"  3*  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  also  contains  a  later  explanatory  note,  which  belongs  to  Judah. 

116 


ations 


ABXER'S  DISAFFECTION  [II  S.^m.  3I-' 

Early  Judcan  David  Xarrafivcs 

^~So  Abner  sent  messengers  to  David  to  Hebron.^  saying,  Make  vour  Nego- 

league  with  me,  then  I  will  co-operate  with  you  in  bringing  over  all  Israel  ^g" 

to  you.     ^3\ji(j  YiQ  said,  Good,  I  will  make  a  league  with  you,  but  one  thing  tween 

I  require  of  you,  that  is,  you  shall  not  see  my  face  unless  you  bring  Michal,  ami 

Saul's  daughter,  when  vou  come  to  see  me.     ^^Then  David  sent  messengers  ^'^^'^'^ 

to  Ishbaal,  Saul's  son,  saying.  Give  me  my  wife  Michal,  whom  I  bought  for 

a  hundred  foreskins  of  the  Philistines.     ^^And  Ishbaal  sent  and  took  her 

from  her  husband,  Paltiel  the  son  of  Laish.     ^"^But  her  husband  followed 

her,  weeping  as  he  went,  to  Bahurim.     Then  Abner  said  to  him,  Go,  return; 

and  he  returned. 

I'Now  Abner  had  entered  into  communication  with  tlie  elders  of  Israel,  saying,  Abner's 
Already  for  a  long  time   you   have  been   desirous  of   having   David  king  over  you.  advice 
>sNow  do  it,  for  Jehovah  hath  spoken  of  David,  saying,  '  By  the  hand  of  my  servant  t"  the 
David  will  I  save  my  people  Israel  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philistines  and  out  of  the  //""ael- 
hantl  of  all  their  enemies?'    ''.\bner  also  spoke  in  the  ears  of  Benjamin  and  went  to  '  ®'' 
communicate  directly  to  David  in  Hebron  all  that  seemed  good  to  Israel  and  to  the 
whole  house  of  Benjamin. 

-°And  when  Abner  came  to  David  at  Hebron,  accompanied  by  twenty  His 
men,  David  gave  Abner  and  the  men  who  were  with  him  a  feast.    .-'And  j^a^^ij* 
Abner  said  to  David,  I  w^ill  arise  and  go  and  will  gather  all  Israel  to  my 
lord  the  king,  that  they  may  make  a  covenant  with  yoti  and  that  you  may 
be  king  over  all  which  you  desire.     Then  David  sent  Abner  away,  and  he 
went  in  peace. 

2-Just  then  the  sen^ants  of  David  and  Joab  came  from  a  raid,  and  brought  His 
in  with  them  great  spoil;  but  Abner  was  not  with  David  in  Hebron,  for  he  [^^^"'^ 
had  sent  him  away  and  he  had  gone  in  peace.     -"^So  when  Joab  and  all  the  Joab 
band  that  was  with  him  came  home,  they  told  Joab,   saying,  Abner  the 
son  of  Ner  came  to  the  king,  and  he  has  sent  him  away,  and  he  has  gone  in 
peace.     -^Then  Joab  went  to  the  king  and  said.   What  have  you  done? 
Behold,  Abner  came  to  you;  why  have  you  now  sent  him  away,  so  that  he 
is  gone  ?    ^^Do  you  not  know  that  Abner  the  son  of  Ner  came  to  deceive 
you  and  to  note  your  going  out  and  your  coming  in  and  to  know  all  that 
vou  are  doing  ?^     -"And  when  Joab  came  out  from  David,  he  sent  messen- 
gers  after  Abner  and  they  bronglit   him  back   from   the  Cistern  of  Sirah 
without  David's  knowing  it.     ^''And  when  Abner  returned  to  Hebron.  Joab 
took  him  apart  to  the  side  of'^  the  gate  to  speak  with  him  (|uietly  and  smote 
him  there  in  the  body.     So  he  died  for  the  blood  of  Asahel  Joab's  brother. 

28But  afterward  when  Davitl  heard  it,  he  said,  I  and  my  kingdom  are  David's 
forever  guiltless  before  Jehovah  of  the  blood  of  Abner  the  son  of  Ner.     -^May  ,7emna- 
it  fall  upon  the  head  of  Joab  and  upon  all  his  father's  house,  and  may  there  {{[y^^^f^ 
not  fail  from  the  house  of  Joab  one  who  has  an  issue,  or  who  is  a  leper,  or 
who  is  effeminate,''  or  who  falls  by  the  sword,  or  who  lacks  bread.     ^oBut 


»  3^  So  Luc.  Heb.,  on  his  behalf,  Hayinq.  Whose  is  the  land?  The  repetition  of  smjing, 
and  the  lack  of  sense  confirm  the  conclusion  that  the  confusion  is  due  to  a  copyist  and  that  Luc. 
retains  the  oriKinal  text. 

•  :F'  So  f  ;k.  and  Svr. 

•'32'   So  Ok.    Wch..  the  midst.  ,     . 

«32»  Heb.,  holds  the  spindle,  i.e.,  is  like  a  woman.  The  current  translation,  leans  on  a 
staff,  follows  the  Gk. 

117 


n  Sam.  330]  DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  JUDAH 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Joab  and  Abishai  his  brother  slew  Abner,  because  he  had  killed  tlieir  brother  Asahel 

at  Gibeon  in  the  battle.  <* 
His  3i^i^(^[  David  said  to  Joab,  and  to  all  the  people  who  were  with  him,  Tear 

tation"    your  clotlie.s,  and  gird  yourselves  with  sackcloth,  and  mourn  before  Abner  ! 
o^^""       And  King  David  followed  the  bier,     ^^^n^j  when  they  buried  Abner  in 

Abner  ~ 

Hebron,  the  king  wept  with  a  loud  voice  at  the  grave  of  Abner,  and  all  the 
people  wept,     ^s^j^^j  ^j^g  ]^jjg  gang  a  dirge  for  Abner  and  said, 

Must  Abner  die  as  dies  the  impious  fool .'' 
^^Thy  hands  were  not  l)ound. 
Thy  feet  were  not  put  into  fetters; 
As  one  falls  before  ruthless  men,  thou  didst  fall. 

Then  all  the  people  T\^ept  still  more  over  him.  ^5  \f ^^j^^ards  all  the  people 
came  to  urge  David  to  eat  bread  while  it  was  yet  day;  but  David  took  oath, 
saying,  God  do  to  me  whatever  he  will,  if  I  taste  bread  or  anything  else 
before  the  sun  goes  down.  2*^And  when  all  the  people  observed  it,  they  were 
pleased;  for®  everything  that  the  king  did  pleased  all  the  people,  ^^^q  all  the 
people  and  all  Israel  imderstood  that  day  that  the  king  had  nothing  to  do 
with  the  slaying  of  Abner  the  son  of  Ner.  ^^And  the  king  said  to  his  ser- 
vants. Do  you  not  know  that  a  prince  and  a  great  man  has  fallen  to-day  in 
Israel  ?  ^Q^j^^j  j  ^^^  ^j^jg  ^g^y  ^^eak,  though  anointed  king,  for  these  men, 
the  sons  of  Zeruiah,  are  too  strong  for  me.^  May  Jehovah  requite  the  evil- 
doer according  to  his  wickedness  ! 

§  25.  Assassination  of  Ishbaal,  II  Sam.  4'-^'  ^"^^ 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

The  II  Sam.  4  ^Now  when  Ishbaal,  Saul's  son,  heard  that  Abner  was  dead 

in  Hebron,  his  hands  became  limpS  and  all  the  Israelites  were  thrown  into 
confusion,  ^^nd  Ishbaal,  Saul's  son,  had  two  men  who  were  captains  of 
guerilla  bands:  the  name  of  the  one  was  Baanah,  and  the  name  of  the  other 

Rechab,  sons  of  Rimmon  the  Beerothite,  of  the  Benjamites  (for  Beeroth  is 
also  reckoned  to  Benjamin,  ^and  the  Beerothites  fled  to  Gittaim  and  have  been  so- 
journers there  until  this  day).  ^And  the  sons  of  Rimmon  the  Beerothite,  Rechab 
and  Baanah,  went  and  came  about  mid-day  to  the  house  of  Ishbaal,  as  he 
was  taking  his  rest  at  noon.  ^And  just  then  the  doorkeeper  of  the  palace  was 
cleaning  wheat,  and  she  became  drowsy  and  slept.  So  Rechab  and  Baanah 
his  brother  slipt  in  and  thus  entered  the  house,  while  [the  king]  was  lying 

d  330  The  repetitious  element  and  the  strange  introduction  of  Abishai  indicate  that  this 
verse  is  a  scribal  addition ;    intended  to  excuse  .Toab's  action. 

•^  iif  Slightly  correcting  the  Heb.  with  the  aid  of  the  Gk. 

f  339  The  meaning  of  the  Heb.  is  somewhat  doubtful.  Luc.  makes  Abner  the  subject  and 
reads,  though  he  had  been  a  relative  and  officer  of  the  king,  yet  these  sons  of  Zeruiah  were  too 
strong  for  them. 

§  25  Chap.  4  continues  the  preceding  narrative.  The  awkward  explanatory  note  in  2b.  3 
is  probably  from  a  later  hand.  Some  editor  has  also  inserted  in  ^  a  brief  account  of  the  accident 
that  befell  Jonathan's  son  whereby  he  became  a  cripple  and  therefore  ineligible  for  the  throne. 
It  belongs  more  properly  with  9,  §  32,  which  tells  of  David's  treatment  of  him.  Vs.  ^  is  the 
immediate  sequel  of  '^. 

E  41  I.e.,  he  lost  courage. 

118 


crime 


40 


ASSASSINATION   OF  ISHB.VAL  [II  Sam.  4^ 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

on  his  bed  in  his  sleeping  room,  and  they  smote  and  killed  him  and  cut  off 
his  head.'^ 

"Then  they  took  his  head  and  went  all  night  by  the  way  of  the  Arabah.  David's 
^And  they  brought  the  head  of  Ishbaal  to  David  to  Hebron  and  said  to  f^^\l 
the  king,  Here  is  the  head  of  Ishbaal,  the  son  of  Saul  your  enemy,  who  sought  toward 
your  life.     But  Jehovah  hath  avenged  my  lord  the  king  this  day  on  Saul 
and   his   descendants.     ^Then   David   answered   Rechab   and   Baanah   his 
brother,  the  sons  of  Rimmon  the  Beerothite,  and  said  to  them.  As  Jehov'ah 
liveth,  who  hath  delivered  my  life  out  of  all  adversity,  ^"^when  one  told  me, 
saying,  '  Behold,  Saul  is  dead,'  thinking  to  have  brought  good  news,  I  took 
hold  of  him.  and  slew  him  in  Ziklag,  to  give  him  the  reward  for  his  news.' 
l^How  much  more,  when  wicked  men  have  slain  a  righteous  person  in  his 
own  house  upon  his  own  bed,  shall  I  not  now  require  his  blood  from  you 
and  destroy  you  from  the  earth  ?     ^-^Then  David  commanded  his  young 
men,  and  they  slew  them  and  cut  off  tlieir  hands  and  their  feet,  and  hanged 
them  up  beside  the  pool  in  Hebron.     But  the  head  of  Ishbaal  they  took 
and  buried  in  the  grave  of  Abner  at  Hebron. 

§  2G.  David's  Election  as  King  of  All  Israel,  II  Sam.  5'  s,  I  Chr.  11' ^  12^3 

Earhj  Judean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.   5  'Then  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  came  to  David  to  Hebron  and  said,  See,  The 
we  are  j^our  bone  and  your  flesh.     ^In  times  past  when  Saul  was  king  over  us,  it  public 
wa^  you   who  led  out  and  brought  in  Israel,  and  Jehovah  has  said  to  J'ou,  '  Thou  ^.~ 

shalt  be  shepherd  of  my  people  Israel,  and  thou  shalt  be  prince  over  Israel.'   "^And 

all   the  elders  of  Israel  came  to  the  king  to  Hebron,  and  King  David  made 

a  covenant  with  them  in  Hebron  before  Jehovah,  and  they  anointed  David 

king  over  Israel. 

■"David  was  thirty  years  old  when  he  became  king,  and  he  reigned  forty  years.     *In  Length 

Hebron  he  reigned  over  Judah  seven  years  and  six  months,  and  in  Jerusalem  he  reigned  "f 

thirty-three  years  over  all  Israel  and  Judah.  David  b 

•'  •'  reign 

C/iroriidcr's  Ecclesiastical  Ilistory 

I  Chr.    13  23And  these  are  the  numbers  of  the  leaders  of  the  warriors  Later 
who  came  to  David  to  Hebron,  to  ttirn  over  to  him  the  kingdom  of  Saul,  in  tion  re- 
accordance  with  the  word  of  Jehovah.     24'j'jjg  Judahites  who  bore  shield  fj^^''*"*^ 

rally 

h  4n,  7a  The  Heb.  text  is  untranslatable  and  the  Gk.  has  here  apparently  preserved  the  orig-  jfji^gg 
inal. 

'  410  Following  a  slightly  revised  text.  The  present  Heb.  reads,  which  was  the  reward  I 
gave  him  for  Ike  oood  news. 

§  20  In  the  original  David  narratives  this  important  event  appears  to  have  been  recorded 
in  one  verse,  3.  flompclled  by  necessity  and  believing  in  David's  sincerity  and  sujierior  aljility, 
the  elders  of  the  .North  ratified  with  liirn  at  Hebron  the  coiripact  which  made  liim  llieir  king. 
The  same  is  stated  in  '■  -in  hingu.age  which  reveals  its  later  origin  an<l  iioiiit  of  view.  The 
chronological  note  in  '  is  proh.ahlv  from  tlio  late  prophetic  editor. 

The  Chronicler  in  I  Clir.  1  1 '-'.'rpiotos  II  ,Sam.  f)'' piactically  verbatim.  In  12-3-"0,  however,  he 
gives  a  detailed  and  much  embellished  account  of  the  event.  'I'lie  numbers  of  those  represented 
as  having  been  present  have  reached  incredil)le  proportions:  r.r/.,  120,000  came  from  across  the 
.lordan.  The  distinction  between  the  |)riests  and  Levitos,  which  was  first  maile  in  the  days  of 
Josiali,  is  here  assumed.  The  account  has  all  the  characteristics  of  a  late  .lewisli  rnidrash  or 
didactic  story,  which  reflects  the  magnified  cf)nceptions  current  in  the  days  of  the  Chronicler 
regarding  this  event,  the  importance  of  which  became  more  apparent  in  the  light  of  subseciuent 
ages. 

Hi) 


I  Chr.  1224]       DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

and  spear  were  six  thousand,  eight  hundred  armed  warriors.  ^SQf  ^jjg 
Simeonites  seven  thousand,  one  hundred  brave,  able  warriors.  26Qf  ^}jg 
Levites  four  thousand,  six  hundred.  "'^And  Jehoiada  was  the  prince  of  the 
house  of  Aaron,  and  with  him  were  three  thousand,  seven  hundred,  ^S^nd 
Zadok  a  brave,  able  young  man,  together  with  his  father's  house:  twenty- 
two  commanders,  ^s^jid  of  the  Benjamites,  the  kinsmen  of  Saul,  three 
thousand;  for  hitherto  the  majority  of  them  had  maintained  their  allegiance 
to  the  house  of  Saul.  2*^And  of  the  Ephraimites  twenty  thousand,  eight 
hundred  brave,  able  warriors,  famous  men  in  their  families.  ^^And  of  the 
half  tribe  of  Manasseh  eighteen  thousand  who  were  mentioned  by  name 
to  come  and  make  David  king.  ^-And  of  the  Issacharites,  men  who  thor- 
oughly understood  the  times,  so  that  they  knew  what  Israel  ought  to  do — 
their  two  hundred  leaders  and  all  their  clansmen  were  under  their  com- 
mand. ^^Of  Zebulun,  there  took  the  field,  ready  for  battle  and  fully  armed 
with  all  the  weapons  of  war,  fifty  thousand — a  band  united  by  a  common  pur- 
pose.J  ^''And  of  Naphtali  a  thousand  commanders,  and  with  them  thirty- 
seven  thousand  with  shield  and  spear.  3o\jj(j  ^f  ^jjg  Danites  twenty-eight 
thousand,  six  hundred  ready  for  battle.  ^'^And  of  Asher,  there  took  the 
field,  forty  thousand  ready  for  battle.  ^^And  from  the  other  side  of  the  Jordan, 
of  the  Reubenites  and  the  Gadites  and  of  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  a 
hundred  and  twenty  thousand  fully  equipped  with  all  the  weapons  of  war. 
^^All  these  warriors,  united  by  a  single  purpose,''  came  to  Hebron  to  make 
David  king  over  all  Israel.  And  all  the  rest  of  Israel  also  had  the  one  pur- 
pose of  making  David  king. 
The  2^And  they  were  with  David  three  days,  eating  and  drinking,  for  their 

fea^t  kinsmen  had  made  preparation  for  them,  ^ojyjoreover  those  who  were 
near  them,  as  far  as  Issachar  and  Zebulun  and  Naphtali,  brought  food  on 
asses,  camels,  mules,  and  oxen — provisions  consisting  of  meal,  cakes  of 
figs,  bunches  of  raisins,  wine,  oil,  oxen,  and  sheep  in  abundance;  for  joy 
reigned  in  Israel. 

§  27.  The  War  with  the  Philistines,   II  Sam.  5»'-\  8',  2V^-'\  23'^-" 

1  Chr.  ll'5->«,  148",  18',  20^-« 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

The  II  Sam    5  ^''Now  when  the   Philistines  heard  that  they  had  anointed 

tine'^'    David  king  over  Israel,  all  the  Philistines  went  up  to  seek  David;  and  when 
^■J"        David  heard  of  this  he  went  down  to  the  stronghold.^ 

J  I  Chr.  12*5  Heb.,  not  trith  a  heart  and  a  heart. 

^  I  Chr.  12-'*  Heb.,  6.!/  a  perfect  heart  or  mind.      Cf.  ^. 

§  27  The  opening  verse  states  that  the  events  recorded  in  this  section  immediately  fol- 
lowed David's  election  as  king  by  all  I.srael.  Jebus  does  not  figure  in  this  contest  and  its  capt- 
ure in  all  probability  followed  later.  The  statements  in  '"  i-  cover  a  considerable  period  and 
imply  that  David  is  at  least  master  of  central  Canaan.  His  anointing  as  king  over  all  Israel  is 
interpreted  by  the  Philistines  as  a  declaration  of  war,  5'^.  The  incidents  recorded  indicate  that 
the  Philistine  attack  found  him  unprepared  for  war.     He  makes  not  Jebus  but  Adullam,  which 


1  5"  I.e.,  Adullam.     Cf.  I  Sam.  225,  jj  gam.  23".  »  and  the  expression,  went  down.     If  it 
had  been  Jerusalem,  went  up  would  have  been  used. 

120 


WAR   WITH  THE  PHILISTINES  [II  Sam.  23i3 

Early  Popular  David  S^tories 

33  i^And  three  of  the  Thirty™  went  down,  and  came  to  the  rock"  to  Brave 
David  to  the  stronghold  °  of  Adullam,  while  a  force  of  the  Philistines  was  the'^*'*^ 
encamped  in  the  valley  of  Rephaim.P     ^^And  David  was  then  in  the  strong-  t'>'"ee 
hold,  and  the  garrison  of  the  Philistines  was  in  Bethlehem.     ^^And  David  riorsat 
longed  and  said,  O  that  one  would  give  me  water  to  drink  from  the  well  hem '^' 
of  Bethlehem,  which  is  by  the  gate  !     I'^And  the  three  famous  warriors  broke 
through  the  camp  of  the  Philistines  and  drew  water  out  of  the  well  of  Beth- 
lehem, that  was  by  the  gate,  and  took  and  brought  it  to  David;  he  would 
not  drink  of  it,  however,  but  poured  it  out  to  Jehovah.     ^"And  he  said, 
Jehovah  forbid  that  I  should  do  this.     It  is  the  blood  of  the  men  who  went 

at  the  risk  of  their  lives. ^  Therefore  he  would  not  drink  it.'"  These  things  did 
the  three  mighty  men.' 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

5  ^^Now  the  Philistines  had  come  and  spread  themselves  out  in  the  valley  The 
of  Rephaim.     ^^And  David  inquired  of  Jehovah,  saying.  Shall  I  go  up  against  victory 
the   Philistines  ?     Wilt   thou   deliver  them   into   my   hand  ?     And   Jehovah  ""  J^e 
said  to  David,  Go  up;  for  I  will  certainly  deliver  the  Philistines  into  thy  hand,  of  Re- 
^^And  David  came  to  Baal-perazim,  and  David  smote  them  there;  and  he  P"^^'"^ 
said,  Jehovah  hath  broken  down  mine  enemies  before  me,  like  the  breaking 
of  waters. *•     Therefore  he  called  the  name  of  that  place  Baal-perazim  [Lord 
of  the  breakings  through].     214^(1  ^ij^y  jgft  their  gods"  there,  and  David 
and  his  men  carried  them  away. 

2- And  the  Philistines  came  up  yet  again  and  spread  themselves  out  in  The 
the  valley  of  Rephaim.     ^S^j^^j  when  David  inquired  of  Jehovah,  he  said,  victory 

was  his  refuge  in  the  outlaw  period,  his  rallying  point.  The  narratives  in  5  are  each  distinct. 
It  is  impossible  to  determine  absolutely  the  original  order  of  events,  but  it  ajipears  to  have  been, 
(1)  a  long  war  for  independence  from  the  Philistines;  (2)  establishment  of  Jebus  as  the  capital 
of  the  free  and  united  Hebrew  tribes;    (3)    establishment  of  the  ark  at  Jerusalem. 

The  account  of  the  first  of  these  events  in  5''--^  is  surprisingly  brief  and  vague,  considering 
its  great  importance  in  Israel's  history.  It  appears  to  have  been  taken  from  the  early  .ludean 
David  narratives,  but  may  for  some  reason  have  been  abridged  by  the  etlitor.  It  is  supple- 
mented, however,  by  certain  anecdotes  preserved  in  the  appendix  to  the  book  of  Sam.  These 
are  very  loosely  connected  with  their  immediate  context.  Apiiarently  the  editor  has  taken 
them  from  some  other  source  and  introduced  them  as  apt  illustrations.  Thus,  e.g.,  23'''  refers 
to  the  Thirty  as  though  they  had  already  been  described,  although  in  the  present  context  that 
description  is  first  found  in  '**.  Their  background  and  general  atmosphere  are  the  same  as  in 
5"-",  but  unlike  the  latter  they  recount  not  national  movements  but  the  personal  deeds  of 
individual  lieroes.  The  stories  are  undovihfedly  very  ancient.  l)ut  their  character,  contents, 
and  iKJsition  in  Sam.  strongly  suggest  that  they  are  popular  traditions  associated  with  David  and 
his  heroes.  This  conclusion  is  also  supi)or(ed  by  the  fact  that  in  21 '■'■-'  l!lhanan  the  Bcthle- 
hemite  is  represented  as  slaying  Goliath,  wliich  is  in  absolute  contradiction  to  the  testimony  of 
the  parallel  trailitions  of  ISam.  17.  Here  a  very  ancient  popular  story  may  have  preserved 
the  more  historical  data.  The  variant  of  the  Clironicler  (cf.  note",  p.  122)  appears  to  be  simply 
an  attempt  to  harmonize  the  two  very  different  popular  tradition.s  about  Goliath  the  Gittite. 

>"  23'''  Cf.  note  §  34. 

■>  23'3  The  Heb.  currently  translated,  in  the  harvest  time,  i.s  ungrammatical.  The  parallel, 
I  Chr.  11'^,  reads,  to  the  rock.  A  slight  emendation  to  the  Heb.  bring.s  the  text  into  accord 
with  Luc,  which  is  foUowefl  above. 

"  23'-^  Heb.,  cave,  but  the  next  verse  makes  a  slight  correction  necessary. 

f  23'''  Southwest  of  .Jerusalem. 

•I  23"  So  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Chr. 

r  23'3-"  A  similar  story  is  told  of  Alexander  the  Great  (.\rrian  VI,  202). 

•  23"  Probably  this  is  an  editorial  note,  intended  to  ascribe  the  deeds  recorded  in  8i2  and 
•'■"  to  the  .same  three  men.     It  is  more  appropriate  after  '^. 

'  .5^"  I.e..  through  a  dam. 

"  yi  So  Gk.  and  the  parallel  I  Chr.  14". 

121 


II  Sam.  523]       DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Thou  shalt  not  go  up;  go  about  to  their  rear  and  come  upon  them  opposite 
the  balsam  trees.  24\jj(j  when  thou  hearest  the  sound  of  marching  in  the 
tops  of  the  balsam  trees,^'  make  haste,  for  then  Jehovah  has  gone  out  before 
thee  to  smite  the  camp  of  the  Philistines,  ^s^j^^j  David  did  as  Jehovah 
commanded  him,  and  smote  the  Philistines  from  Gibeon  as  far  as  Gezer.^ 

Early  Popular  David  Stories 

The  21  ^^Now  when  the  Philistines  were  again  at  war  with  Israel,  David 

dee(it>f  went  down  together  with  his  servants  and  encamped  in  Gob''  and  fought 
Abishai  against  the  Philistines.  ^*'Then  there  arose  Dodo,  who  was  one  of  the  de- 
scendants of  the  giants,^  the  weight  of  whose  bronze  spear  was  about  twelve 
pounds  of  brass,''  being  girded  with  the  sword,  and  thought  to  slay  David.*' 
^"But  Abishai  the  son  of  Zeruiah  succored  him  and  smote  and  killed  the 
Philistine.  Then  the  men  of  David  swore,  saying.  You  shall  go  out  no 
more  with  us  to  battle,  that  you  may  not  quench  the  lamp  of  Israel. 
Of  Sib-  ^^Now  when  after  this  there  was  again  war  with  the  Philistines  at  Gob,*^ 
Sibbecai  the  Hushathite  slew  Saph,  who  was  one  of  the  descendants  of  the 
giants. 
Of  El-  ^^And  when  there  was  again  war  with  the  Philistines  at  Gob,  Elhanan 
the  son  of  Jair  the  Bethlehemite,®  slew  Goliath  the  Gittite,  the  shaft  of 
whose  spear  was  like  a  weaver's  beam. 
Of  Jon-  20^jjd  there  was  again  war  at  Gath,  where  was  a  man  of  gigantic  stature, 
who  had  on  each  hand  six  fingers  and  on  each  foot  six  toes;  and  he  also  was 
descended  from  the  giants,  ^i^^d  when  he  defied  Israel,  Jonathan  the 
son  of  Shimei,^  David's  brother,  slew  him.  22'p}^ggg  four  were  descended 
from  the  giants  in  Gath;  and  they  fell  by  the  hand  of  David  and  by  the  hand 
of  his  servants. 

David's       8   'And  after  this  David  smote  the  PhiUstines,  and  subdued  them;  and  David  took 

com- 
plete 
victory 


becai 


hanan 


athan 


com-        ti^g  bridle  of  the  motlier  city^  out  of  the  liand  of  the  Pliilistines.'' 
plete  ■' 


V  521  The  belief  that  the  Deity  resides  in  trees  and  speaks  through  the  rustling  of  the  winds 
in  the  branches  is  very  ancient.     Cf.  Gen.  12*^,  Dt.  ll^o,  Judg.  9'^. 

"  525  So  Gk.  and  I  Chr.  141".  Cf.  Is.  28-'.  In  a.d.  66  the  Romans  retreated  before  the  Jews 
by  the  same  route.     Cf.  Jos.,  Wars.  XIX. 

X  2-11^  The  text  is  obscure  and  has  evidently  suffered  in  transmission.  Vs.  '^  begins  with, 
and  they  dwelt  {encamped)  in  Nob.  But  '*  suggests  that  the  original  read  Gob.  The  transposi- 
tion gives  a  more  natural  text. 

=>  21'6  Heb.,  Raphah,  a  collective  term  for  the  prehistoric  inhabitants  of  the  land.  Cf.  Dt. 
2U.  20_  3U,  13      It  appears  to  have  been  the  popular  designation  of  giants. 

b  21'^  Heb.,  three  hundred  shekels.  According  to  I  Sam.  17^  the  head  of  Goliath's  spear 
was  twice  as  heavy. 

c  21'*  Reading  only  conjectural,  being  based  upon  a  suggestion  of  Luc.  The  entire  verse 
is  obscure. 

<^  21'8  Gk.  and  Syr.,  Gath.  The  Chr.  parallel,  Gezer.  At  least  it  seems  probable  that  the 
events  recorded  in  this  passage  are  to  be  localized  in  Philistine  rather  than  Israelitish  territory, 
and  that  they  therefore  follow  the  victories  recorded  in  5. 

'  21 '1  So  I  Chr.  20^,  the  Chr.  parallel,  reads  Elhanan  the  son  of  .Tair  slew  Lahtni  the  brother 
of  Goliath.  Other  late  Jewish  writings  eliminate  the  conflict  with  I  Sam.  17  by  substituting 
David  for  Elhanan. 

'212'   In  133,  Shimea;  I  Sam.  16",  Shammah;   I  Chr.  2^\  20^  Shimea. 

E  8'  The  parallel  in  I  Chr.  18'  reads,  took  Gath  and  its  towns.  The  Heb.  of  Sam.  is  obscure. 
It  may  mean  the  citadel  which  commanded  the  city,  or  more  probably  the  authority  over 
Gath. 

b  8'  An  editorial  epitome. 

122 


n  s.oi.  56] 


CAPTURE  OF  JERUSALEM 


[I  Chr.  114 


§  '28.  Capture  and  Establishment  of  Jerusalem  as  the  Capital,  II  Sam.  a^-^-, 

I  Chr.  11^ -^  14' •  = 


The 
ad- 
vance 
against 
Jebus 


Its 

capture 
and  for- 
tifica- 
tion 


David's 
grow- 
ing 
pres- 
tige 


Earhj  Judean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.  5  ^Then  the  king  and 
his  men  went  to  Jerusalem  against 
the  Jebusites,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
land,  who  spoke  to  David,  saying, 
You  shall  not  come  in  here,  but  the 
blind  and  the  lame  shall  turn  you 
away,'  thinking,  David  cannot  come  in 
here.' 

'Nevertheless  David  took  the 
stronghold  of  Zion^^  (that  is  the  city 
of  Da\icl).'  ^And  David  said  on 
that  day.  Whoever  smites  the  Jeb- 
usites, let  him  get  up  through  the 
watercourse  and  smite  the  lame  and 
the  blind,  whom  David's  soul  hates.™ 
Therefore  it  is  said,  The  blind  and  the 
lame    cannot    come    into    the   temple.  ° 

^Then  David  dwelt  in  the  strong- 
hold, and  called  it  the  City  of  David. 
And  David  constructed  an  encircling 
wall  from  Millo'^  and  inwards. p 

i^And  David  kept  on  growing 
greater,  for  Jehovah^i  of  hosts  was 
with  him.  ^^Aiid  Hiram  king  of 
T>Te  sent  messengers  to  David,  and 
cedar  trees  and  carpenters  and  ma- 
sons and  they  built  David  a  palace. 
^^Thus  David  perceived  that  Jehovah 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

1  Chr.  11  ^Then  David  and  all 
Israel  went  to  Jerusalem  (that  is 
Jebus) ;  and  the  Jebusites,  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  land,  were  there.  ^And 
the  inhabitants  of  Jebus  said  to  David, 
You  shall  not  come  in  here. 

Nevertheless  David  took  the  strong- 
hold of  Zion  (that  is  the  city  of  David). 
^And  David  said.  Whoever  smites  the 
Jebu.sites  first  shall  be  commander- 
in-chief.  And  Joab  the  son  of  Zer- 
uiali  went  up  first,  and  was  made 
chief.  "Then  David  dwelt  in  the 
stronghold;  therefore  they  called  it 
the  city  of  David.  ^And  he  con- 
structed an  encircling  wall  from  INIillo 
even  round  about;  and  Joab  built  up"" 
the  rest  of  the  city. 

9  And  David  kept  on  growing 
greater,  for  Jehovah  of  hosts  was  with 
him.  14  ^And  Hiram  king  of  Tyre 
sent  messengers  to  David,  and  cedar 
trees  and  masons  and  carpenters  to 
build  him  a  palace.  '^Thus  David 
perceived  that  Jehovah  had  estab- 
lished him  king  over  Israel,  for  his 


§  28  For  the  probable  order  of  events  cf.  note  §  27.  The  capture  of  Jerusalem  marks  the 
final  downfall  of  Canaanitish  indepentlence  in  central  Palestine.  Cf.  Josh.  15'''^,  Judg.  I'-'.  It 
also  gave  David  an  almost  impregnable  capital,  more  centrally  located  than  Hebron  and  the 
common  possession  of  all  the  tribes.  Above  all  it  opened  what  later  proved  to  be  one  of  the 
most  important  chapters  in  the  religious  history  of  mankind. 

The  original  narrative  was  taken  from  the  early  Judean  David  source.  Unfortunately  it 
early  became  obscure  at  several  points.  The  Chronicler  accordingly  gives  a  rather  free  para- 
phrase of  the  version  in  II  Sam. 

'  II  Sam.  5"  Or,  ercept  you  remove  the  blind  and  the  lame. 

i  II  Sam.  .5*  A  later  gloss  to  explain  the  meaning  of  the  Heb.  text  of  the  preceding. 

k  II  Sam.  .57  The  southeast  hill  of  the  city. 

'  II  Sam.  5^  A  later  addition. 

™  II  Sam.  .5"  Or,  whosoever  smites  the  Jebusites  brinqs  his  oim  neck  into  danger;  the 
lame  awl  the  blind  David's  sold  hates  not.  Kithcr  translation  is  exceerlingly  doubtful,  for  the 
text  is  almost  hopelcs.sly  corrupt.  The  Chronicler  substituted  an  intelligible  reading  for  the 
baffling  original.  ,   ,  i-     ■ 

"  II  Sam.  .5*  Apparently  a  later  note,  connecting  the  law  regarding  the  lame  and  blind 
(Lev.  21'")  with  this  incident. 

"  II  Sam.  .5"  The  encircling  wall  mentioned  in  I  Kgs.  9''  and  II  Chr.  32''. 

pII  .Sam.  .5"  Or,  towards  the  house,  i.e.,  palace  or  sanctuary.  The  corresponding  words 
in  I  Chr.  are  lacking  in  the  Gk. 

1  K  Sam.  .5'"  So  Gk.  and  the  parallel  in  Chr.     Heb.  adds,  God  of. 

'  I  Chr.  11"  Heb.,  gave  life  to. 


123 


DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL       [I  Chr.  142 

Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

kingdom  had  been  exalted  on  high 
for  the  sake  of  his  people  Israel. 


II  Sam.  1112] 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

had  established  him  king  over  Israel, 
for  his  kingdom  had  been  exalted^ 
for  the  sake  of  his  people  Israel. 


§  29.  Establishment  of  the  Ark  and  the  Davidic  Dynasty  at  Jerusalem, 
II  Sam.  6,  7,  I  Chr.  13,  15'-16'.  37_i727 


fl»s*  i»t- 

teinp* 

to 

bring 

up  th? 

ark,  and 

the 

death 

of 

Uzzah 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.  6  ^Then  David  again  as- 
sembled all  the  chosen  men  of  Israel, 
thirty  thousand.  ^And  David  arose 
and  went  with  all  the  people  who 
were  with  him,  to  Baal-Judah,*  to 
bring  up  from  there  the  ark  of  God 
which  is  called  by  the  name  of  Jehovah 
of    hosts   who   sits    enthroned   upon   the 

cherubim."  ^And  they  set  the  ark  of 
God  upon  a  new  cart,  and  brought  it 
out  of  the  house  of  Abinadab,  that 
was  on  the  hill,^  with  LTzzah  and  Ahio 
the  sons  of  Abinadab  guiding  the  cart : 
Uzzah  went  with  the  ark  of  God, 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

I  Chr.  13  ^Then  David  consulted 
with  the  commanders  of  thousands 
and  of  hundreds,  even  with  all  the 
leaders.  ^And  David  said  to  all  the 
assembly  of  Israel.  If  it  is  satisfac- 
tory to  you  and  pleasing  to  Jehovah, 
our  God,  we  will  send  to  all  our  re- 
maining countrymen  in  the  land  of 
Israel,  since  the  priests  and  Levites 
are  with  them  in  their  cities  which 
have  common  pasture  lands,  that 
they  may  be  gathered  to  us,  ^in  order 
that  we  may  bring  back  the  ark  of 


=  II  Sam.  ]5'2  So  Chr.,  Gk..  and  Syr.      Heb.,  that  he  had  exalted. 

§  29  It  was  natural  that  after  making  Jeru.salem  hi.s  cajiital,  David  should  desire  to  trans- 
fer thither  the  ark.  The  act  was  prompted  by  both  religious  and  diijlomatic  motives.  It 
was  the  palladium  with  which  was  associated  Israel's  early  experiences  and  victories.  Un- 
doubtedly it  was  very  popular  with  the  people.  Like  Gideon  before  him  and  Jeroboam  later. 
§  60,  David  also  wisely  .sought  to  make  his  new  capital  a  religious  as  well  as  a  political  centre.- 
The  transfer  of  the  ark  facilitated  the  realization  of  this  aim.  The  story  reflects  the  same  primi- 
tive ideas  as  appear  in  the  other  early  Jutiean  narratives.  It  is  closely  connected  with  the 
account  of  the  ark  among  the  Philistines  in  I  Sam.  5  and  6,  §  4. 

The  parallel  in  I  Chr.  13,  15,  1(5  represents  a  very  different  conception  of  the  events.  In  13 
the  Sam.  narrative  is  the  basis,  but  it  has  been  abbreviated  at  points  and  expanded  at  others,  in 
the  spirit  and  according  to  the  well-known  methods  of  the  Chronicler.  Cf.  Introd.,  pp.  22-24. 
Conformably  to  the  strict  ceremonial  ideas  of  his  age,  the  priests  and  Levites  are  introduced 
as  the  guardians  of  the  ark.  In  IS'-'^'  25-163,  however,  he  may  have  drawn  from  a  late  priestly 
temple  history.  Cf.  Introd..  p.  27.  The  basis  is  still  the  narrative  of  II  Sam.  but  the  Levites 
are  divided  into  six  classes,  IS^'",  not  into  three  as  by  the  Chronicler,  23"'.  Many  late  prophetic 
ideas  and  expre.ssions  also  aboun  1.  The  original  narrative  is  recast  so  that  everything  is  done 
in  accordance  with  the  late  priestly  law  of  Lev.  It  is  still  further  transformed  by  the  Chroni- 
cler, who  introduces  in  15'''--^  and  16^'',  37-4.3_  tJie  guilds  of  temple  singers,  which  sprang  up  about 
the  second  temple  and  in  which  he  was  especially  interested.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  24.  Finally  this 
highly  composite  version  has  been  further  supplemented  by  the  insertion  in  16*"-^  of  a  psalm 
compiled  from  Pss.  105' ■l^  96,  106. 

There  is  no  suggestion  in  the  early  David  narratives  that  he  contemplated  building  a  tem- 
ple beyond  the  fact  that  he  transferred  the  ark  to  Jerusalem.  The  implication  of  this  act 
doubtless  gave  rise  to  the  later  traditions  which  trace  back  to  him  the  plan  to  rear  the  sanct- 
uary that  sub.sequently  became  the  centre  of  Israel's  religious  life.  II  Sam.  7  is  clearly  from  a 
later  hand  than  6.  Ideas  and  experiences  are  reflected  which  first  came  to  the  Heb.  race  in  the 
seventh  century  b.c.  The  messianic  hope  based  on  the  long-continued  rule  of  the  house  of 
David,  is  prominent.  Except  po.ssibly  in  i",  there  are  no  traces  of  the  influence  of  the  Babylonian 
exile.  The  conception  of  the  kingship  is  distinct  from  that  of  the  Ephraimite  school,  and  the 
ideas  and  expressions  of  the  late  prophetic  writers  are  not  much  in  evidence.  It  appears 
rather  to  come  from  some  later  Judean  prophet,  imbued  with  a  strong  love  for  the  Judean 
royal  house. 

'  y.Sam.  e?  In  J9sh.  152"  and  I  Chr.  136  this  is  identified  with  Kirjath-jearim. 

"  II  Sam.  &  As  in  I  Sam.  4^  this  de.scription  of  Jehovah  is  from  a  later  scribe. 

^  }  ^^™-  ^^  Owing  to  a  scribal  error  part  of  '^  in  the  Heb.  has  been  repeated  in  ■".  Th( 
Gk.  and  the  Chr.  parallel  facilitate  the  restoration  of  the  original.  The  phrase,  that  was  on  the 
hill,  is  not  found  in  Chr.  and  was  probably  added  by  a  scribe  familiar  with  I  Sam.  7'. 


124 


n  Sam.  64] 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  ARK 


[I  Chr.  133 


Early  Judcan  David  \arratives 

^while  Ahio  went  before  the  ark.^ 
^And  David  and  all  the  house  of  Israel 
were  dancing  before  Jeliovah  with  all 
their  might  and  with  songs  and  harps 
and  lyres  and  cymbals.  *^And  when 
thev  came  to  the  threshinor-floor 
of  Xacon,  Uzzah  stretched  out  his 
hand  to  the  ark  of  God  to  hold  it,  for 
the  oxen  slipped.  "Then  the  anger 
of  Jehovah  was  aroused  against  Uz- 
zah and  God  smote  him  there  because 
he  had  stretched  out  his  hand  to  the 
ark,^  so  that  he  died  there  in  the  pres- 
ence of  God.  ^And  David  was  angry 
because  he  had  broken  forth  upon 
Uzzah.  Therefore  that  j)lace  is  called 
Perez-uzzah  [Breach  of  Uzzah]  to  this 
day.  ^And  David  was  afraid  of  Jeho- 
vah that  day  so  that  he  said,  How  can 
the  ark  of  Jehovah  come  to  me .'' 
^^And  David  was  unwilling  to  re- 
move the  ark  of  Jehovah  to  the  citv 
of  David,  but  carried  it  aside  into 
the  house  of  Obed-edom  the  Git- 
tite.  ^^So  the  ark  remained  in  the 
house  of  Obed-edom  the  Gittite 
three  months.  And  Jehovah  blessed 
Obed-edom  and  all  his  hou.se. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

our  God  to  us,  for  we  sought  it  not  in 
the  days  of  Saul.  ^'Phen  all  the  as- 
sembly voted  to  do  so,  for  the  thing 
seemed  right  in  the  eyes  of  all  the 
people.  ^So  David  assembled  all 
Israel  from  the  River  of  Egy{)t^  to 
the  entrance  of  Ilamatli.^'^  to  brinw 
the  ark  from  Kiriath-jearim.  *^Then 
David  with  all  Israel  went  up  to 
Baalah,  to  Kiriath-jearim  which  be- 
longs to  Judah,  to  bring  from  there 
the  ark  of  God  which  is  called  by  the 
name  of  Jehovah,  who  sits  enthroned 
on  the  cherubim.  "And  they  carried 
the  ark  of  God  upon  a  new  cart  from 
the  house  of  Abinadab  with  Uzzah 
and  Ahio  guiding  the  cart.  ^And 
David  and  all  Israel  played  before 
God  with  all  their  might  and  with 
songs  and  harps  ami  lyres  and  tam- 
bourines and  with  cymbals  and  with 
trumpets.  ^But  when  they  came 
to  the  threshing-floor  of  Chidon, 
Uzzah  stretched  out  his  hand  to 
hold  the  ark,  for  the  oxen  stumbled. 
^•^iVnd  the  anger  of  Jehovah  was 
aroused  against  Uzzah  and  he  smote 
him  because  he  had  stretched  out  his 
hand  to  hold  the  ark,  so  he  died 
there  in  the  presence  of  God.  ^^And 
David  was  angry  because  Jehovah  had  broken  forth  upon  Uzzah;  therefore 
that  place  is  called  Perez-uzzah  to  this  day.  ^^^^^^d  David  was  afraid 
of  God  that  day  saying.  How  can  I  bring  the  ark  of  God  home  to  me  ? 
^■^So  David  was  not  willing  to  remove  the  ark  to  the  city  of  David,  but  car- 
ried it  aside  into  the  house  of  Obed-edom  the  Gittite.  ^"^Therefore  the  ark 
of  God  remained  with  the  family  of  Obed-edom  near  his  house  three  months. 
And  Jehovah  blessed  the  house  of  Obed-edom  and  all  that  he  had. 


"  II  Sam.  6*  Restoring  by  the  Chr.  parallel.  The  Heb.  makes  no  sense  and  is  evidently 
corrupt . 

'  I  Chr.  13^  Heb.,  Nile,  but  this  is  probably  a  scribal  error  for,  the  River  of  Egypt,  which 
was  the  southwest  boundary  of  Isr.aei. 

•  I  Chr.  1.3*  I.e.,  Coelesyria,  where  the  roads  leading  to  Hamath  converge. 

*"  II  Sam.  6'  Again  restoring  the  corrupt  Heb.  by  the  aid  of  I  Chr.  13'°. 


125 


II  Sam.  612]       DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL       [I  Chr.  15^ 


Its 
final 
trans- 
fer to 
Jeru- 
salem 


Early  Judean 
David  Narratives 


6  i^And  when 
the  report  came 


to  King  David 
Jehovah  hath 
blessed  Obed- 
edom  and  all  his 
house  because  of 
the  ark  of  God, 
David  went  and 
brought  up  with 
joy  the  ark  of 
God  from  the 
house  of  Obed- 
edom  to  the  city 
of  D  a  V  i  d> 
i^And  when  the 
bearers  of  the 
ark  of  Jehovah 
had  gone  six 
paces,  he  sacri- 
ficed an  ox  and 
afatling.  ^"'And 
David  was  danc- 
ing'^ before  Je- 
hovah with  all 
his  might,  and 
David  was  gird- 
ed with  a  linen 
ephod.®  i^So 
David  and  all  the 
house  of  Israel 
brought  up  the 
ark  of  Jehovah 
with  shouting, 
and  the  sound  of 
the  trumpet. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


15  ^Then  David  made  him  houses  in  the  city  of  David 
and  prepared  a  place  for  the  ark  of  God  and  pitched  for 
it  a  tent.  ^Xhen  David  said,  None  ought  to  carry  the  ark 
of  God  but  the  Levites:  for  them  hath  Jehovah  chosen  to 
carry  the  ark  of  God  and  to  minister  to  him  forever.  ^And 
David  assembled  all  Israel  at  Jerusalem,  to  bring  up  the 
ark  of  Jehovah  to  its  place,  which  he  had  prepared  for  it. 
■^And  David  gathered  together  the  sons  of  Aaron,  as  well 
as  the  Levites.  ^Of  the  sons  of  Kohath,  Uriel  the  chief, 
with  his  kinsmen,  a  hundred  and  twenty;  "^of  the  sons  of 
Merari,  Asaiah  the  chief  with  his  kinsmen,  two  hundred 
and  twenty;  "of  the  sons  Gershom,  Joel  the  chief  with 
his  kinsmen,  one  hundred  and  thirty;  ^of  the  sons  of  Eliza- 
phan,  Shemaiah  the  chief  with  his  kinsmen,  two  hun- 
dred; ^of  the  sons  of  Hebron,  Eliel  the  chief,  eighty;  ^'^of 
the  sons  of  Uzziel,  Amminadab  the  chief,  with  his  kins- 
men^  one  hundred  and  twelve.  ^^And  David  called  for 
Zadok  and  Abiathar  the  priests  and  for  the  Levites,  Uriel, 
Asaiah,  Joel,  Shemaiah,  and  Eliel,  and  Amminadab, 
i^and  said  to  them,  You  are  the  heads  of  the  families  of 
the  Levites;  sanctify  yourselves,  both  you  and  your  kins- 
men, that  you  may  bring  vip  the  ark  of  Jehovah,  the  God 
of  Israel,  to  the  place  that  I  have  prepared  for  it.  ^^Be- 
cause  you  were  not  ready  at  the  first,  Jehovah  our  God 
broke  out  upon  us,  for  we  sought  him  not  as  we  should. 
i^So  the  priests  and  the  Levites  sanctified  themselves  to 
bring  up  the  ark  of  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel.  ^^And 
the  members^  of  the  Levitical  guilds  bore  the  ark  of  God 
with  the  staves  on  their  shoulders,  as  Moses  directed 
according  to  the  command  of  Jehovah.  ^  ^''David  also 
commanded  the  chief  of  the  Levites  to  appoint  their  kins- 
men the  singers,  with  instruments  of  music,  lyres,  harps, 
and  cymbals,  who  should  raise  loud  sounds  of  rejoic- 
ing. I'So  the  Levites  appointed  Heman  the  son  of  Joel; 
and  of  his  kinsmen,  Asaph  the  son  of  Berechiah  and 
of  the  sons  of  Merari  their  kinsmen,  Ethan  the  son  of 
Kushaiah,  ^^and  with  them  their  kinsmen  of  the  second 
rank,  Zechariah,  Uzziel, ^^  Shemiramoth,  Jehiel,  Unni,  Eliab,  Benaiah,  and 
Maaseiah,  Mattithiah,  Eliphelehu,  Mikneiah,  Obed-edom,  Jeiel,  the  door- 


'  II  Sam.  6'-  Luc.  adds,  and  David  said,  I  will  turn  the  blessing  to  my  house. 

^  II  Sam.  6"  The  word  probably  means,  whirling,  as  the  dervishes  do  to-day. 

"  II  Sam.    C"  The  garment  of  a  priest,  I  Sam.  2'**. 

'  I  Chr.  15'^  Heb.,  sons  of  the  Levites.  Of.  the  corresponding  expressions,  sons  of  the 
prophets,  or  the  modern  Arabic  designation  of  a  traveller,  a  son  of  the  way. 

K  I  Chr.  15'5  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  is  so  corrupt  that  it  is  untranslatable. 

•>  I  Chr.  15'5  So  Gk.  and  in  ^o.  in  the  Heb.  the  name  is  variously  written,  in  '*  Joaziel, 
in  20  Aziel,  in  16°  Jeiel,  although  this  name  occurs  again  in  the  same  verse. 


126 


II  Sam.  610] 


TRANSFER  OF  THE  ARK 


[I  Che.  15I8 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

keepers.  ^^So  the  singers,  Heman,  Asaph,  and  Ethan  were  to  sound  aloud 
on  cymbals  of  brass,  ^Owhile  Zechariah,  Uzziel,  Shemiramoth,  Jehiel,  Unni, 
Eliab,  ^laaseiah,  and  Benaiah  played  with  lyres  set  to  Alamolh'  -'and  with 
Mattithiah,  Eliphelehu,  Mikneiah,  Obed-edom,  Jeiel,  and  Azaziah,  with 
harps  set  to  the  octave,  to  lead.  22\j^j  Chenaniah,  chief  of  the  Levites,J 
was  in  charge  of  the  ark;  he  directed  the  carrying  of  it,  for  he  was  skilful. 
23And  Berechiah  and  Elkanah  were  doorkeepers  for  the  ark.  ^^And  She- 
baniah,  and  Jehoshaphat,  and  Nathanel,  and  Amasai,  and  Zechariah,  and 
Benaiah,  and  Eliezer,  the  priests,  blew  the  trumpet  before  the  ark  of  God; 
Obed-edom  and  Jehiah  were  also  doorkeepers  for  the  ark.  -^Sg^  David 
with  the  eklers  of  Israel  and  the  commanders  of  thousands  went  to  bring  up 
with  rejoicing  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah  out  of  the  house  of  Obed- 
edom.  26^\^j^jj  because  God  was  gracious  to  the  Levites  who  bore  the  ark 
of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah,  they  sacrificed  seven  bullocks  and  seven  rams. 
2"And  David  was  clothed  with  a  robe  of  fine  linen,  and  all  the  Levites,  who 
bore  the  ark,  and  the  singers  and  Chenaniah,  who  was  in  charge!^  of  the 
transportation  of  the  ark,  and  David  had  on  an  ephod  of  linen.  2S'pJ^^g 
all  Israel  brought  up  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah  with  loud  shouting 
and  with  the  sound  of  the  cornet  and  trumpet  and  cymbals,  sounding  aloud 
with  lyres  and  harps. 


Earhj  Judean 
David  Nar- 
ratives 

6  i*^Now  when 
the  ark  of  Jeho- 
vah was  coming 
into  the  city  of 
David,  Michal 
the  daughter  of 
Saul  looked  out 
of  the  window, 
and  when  she 
saw  King  David 
leaping  and 
dancing  before 
Jehovah,  she  de- 
spised him  in 
her  heart.  '"And 
when     they 


^^But  while  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah  was 
coming  to  the  city  of  David,  Michal  the  daughter  of  Saul 
looked  out  at  the  window  and  saw  King  David'  dancing 
and  sporting.  And  she  despised  him  in  her  heart.  16  ^And 
when  they  had  brought  in  the  ark  of  God,  they,  set  it  in 
the  midst  of  the  tent  that  David  had  pitched  for  it,  and 
they  offered  burnt-offerings  and  })eace-ollerings  before 
God.  ^And  when  David  had  finished  sacrificing  the 
burnt-offering  and  peace-offerings,  he  blessed  the  people 
in  the  name  of  Jehovah.  ^And  he  distributed  to  every 
one  in  Israel,  botli  man  and  woman,  a  loaf  of  bread,  and 
a  portion  of  meat,  and  a  bunch  of  raisins.  '^And  he  ap- 
pointed certain  of  the  Levites  to  minister  before  the  ark 
of  Jehovah  and  to  celebrate,  thank,  and  praise  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  Israel:  ''Asapli  the  chief,  and  second  to  liini 
Zechariah,    then    Uzziel,    Shemiramoth,    Jehiel,    Matti- 


'  I  Chr.  1520  Probably  a  musical  direction.  It  occurs  in  the  superscription  to  Pss.  6  and 
12.  The  meaning,  maiden' h  voices,  i.e..  soprano  has  been  conjectured.  Fur  a  full  discussion  of 
Hebrew  music  and  tlie  (JifTerent  musical  orders,  cf.  Introd.,  Vol.  V. 

'  I  Chr.  I'i'^   Gk.,  chief  of  the  ainr/inf/. 

''  I  Chr.  1.52^  A  scribe  has  taken  the  lleb.  word  to  mean,  sono.  and  addetl,  sinfjcrs.  Singera 
in  the  first  part  of  the  verse  is  also  probably  a  later  insertion. 

'  II  Chr.  1.5-*  According  to  early  Hebrew  ideas  the  king  was  the  chief-priest  of  tlic  nation. 
Cf.  I  Kgs.  9^'- 


127 


II  Sam.  61"]      DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL        [I  Chr.  IG^ 


David 

and 

Michal 


Chronicle/s  Ecclesiastical  History 


thiah,  Eliab,  Benaiah,  Obed-edora,  and  Jeiel,  with  lyres 
and  harps;  while  Asaph  played  loudly  with  cymbals, 
^and  Benaiah  and  Jahaziel  the  priests  with  trumpets 
continually  before  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  God.  ''Also 
on  that  day  David  for  the  first  time  entrusted  to  Asaph 
and  his  clansmen  the  giving  of  thanks  to  Jehovah.  ^^So 
he  left  there  before  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah, 
Asaph  and  his  brethren  to  minister  before  the  ark  contin- 
ually, as  every  day's  work  required  ;  ^^and  Obed-edom  the 
son  of  Jeduthun  and  Hosah,  with  their  clansmen,  sixty- 
eight,™  to  be  doorkeepers,  ^^and  Zadok  the  priest,  and  his 
clansmen  the  priests,  before  the  dwelling  of  Jehovah  in 
the  high  place  that  was  at  Gibeon,  ^^^to  offer  burnt-offer- 
ings to  Jehovah  upon  the  altar  of  burnt-offering  con- 
tinually morning  and  evening,  according  to  all  that  is 
written  in  the  law  of  Jehovah,  which  he  commanded 
Israel;  ^^and  with  them  Heman  and  Jeduthun,  and  the 
rest  of  those  who  were  mentioned  by  name  to  give  thanks 
to  Jehovah,  because  his  kindness  endures  forever;  ^"and 
with  them  (Heman  and  Jeduthun)  trumpets  and  cym- 
bals for  the  musicians  and  instruments  for  the  songs  of 
God;  and  the  sons  of  Jeduthun  to  stand  in  the  gate. 
•^^Then  all  the  people  went  each  to  his  house,  and  David 
returned  to  greet  his  family. 


Early  Jiidean 
David  Nar- 
ratives 

brought  in  the 
ark  of  Jehovah 
and  set  it  in  its 
place  in  the 
midst  of  the  tent 
that  David  had 
pitched  for  it, 
David  offered 
burnt  -  offerings 
and  peace-offer- 
ings before  Je- 
hovah. i^A  n  d 
when  David  had 
finished  sacrific- 
ing the  burnt- 
offering  and  the 
peace-offerings, 
he  blessed  the 
people  in  the 
name  of  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts. 
i^And  he  dis- 
tributed to  all 
the  people  even 
among    the 

whole  multitude  of  Israel,  both  men  and  women,  to  each  a  cake  of  bread,  a 
portion  of  meat,°  and  a  bunch  of  raisins.  Then  all  the  people  departed 
each  to  his  home. 

20But  when  David  returned  to  greet  his  family,  Michal  the  daughter  of 
Saul  came  out  to  meet  David  and  said.  How  glorious  was  the  king  of  Israel  as 
he  exposed  himself  to  the  eyes  of  his  servants'  maids,  as  one  of  the  vain 
fellows  shamelessly  exposes  himself  !  ^lAnd  David  said  to  Michal,  It  was 
before  Jehovah  that  I  was  dancing.  Blessed  be  Jehovah, °  who  chose  me 
rather  than  your  father  and  rather  than  any  of  his  family  to  appoint  me  as 
prince  over  the  people  of  Jehovah,  over  Israel.  Therefore  I  will  sport  be- 
fore Jehovah  22and  I  will  be  yet  more  lightly  esteemed  than  this  and  I  will 
be  despised  by  you.P  But  of  the  maids  of  whom  you  have  spoken  I  shall 
indeed  be  held  in  honor.  -^And  Michal  the  daughter  of  Saul  had  no 
child  to  the  day  of  her  death. 

™  II  Chr.  16^'   As  the  result  of  a  scribal  error,  Obed-edom  is  repeated. 

"  II  Sam.  6^5  The  Heb.  word  occurs  only  here  and  its  exact  meaning  is  not  known.  The 
reading  given  above  is  only  a  conjecture  based  on  the  probability  that  meat  formed  a  part  of  the 
feast  provided. 

°  II  Sam.  6^'  These  initial  words  in  David's  speech  are  preserved  in  the  Gk.,  but  have 
been  omitted  in  the  Heb.  through  a  scribal  error. 

p  II  Sam.  6-  SoGk.     The  Heb.,  in  wj/ej/es,  does  not  fit  the  context. 

128 


ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  DAVIDIC  DYNASTY  [II  Sam.  7^ 

Later  Jitdean  Prophetic  Xarratives 

7  ^Now  when  David  had  taken  possession  of  his  palace,i  Jeliovah  having  David's 
given  him  rest  around  about  from  all  his  enemies, ""  -the  king  said  to  Nathan  ^®*""® 
the  prophet,  See  now,  I  dwell  in  a  house  of  cedar,  but  the  ark  of  God  dwells  ti"''''  ^ 
within  tent-curtains.     ^And  Nathan  said  to  the  king,  Go,  do  all  that  you   ^"^^  ^ 
purpose  for  Jehovah  is  with  you. 

•^But  during  the  same  night  the  w^ord  of  Jehovah  came  to  Nathan,  saying,  Jeho- 
^Go  and  tell  my  servant  David,  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  "  Shouldst  thou  build  prom- 
a  temple  for  me  to  dwell  in  ?''     ^I  have  not  dwelt  in  a  temple  since  the  dav  '.)*'*". 
that  I  brought  up  the  Israelites  from  Egypt,  even  to  tliis  day,  but  have  gone  and  his  - 
about  in  a  tent-dwelling.     ''As  long  as  I  went  about  with  all  the  Israelites,  ants^'* 
did  I  say  anything  to  one  of  Israel's  judges,*^  whom  I  commanded  to  be  a 
shepherd  to  my  people  Israel,  saying:  Why  have  ye  not  built  me  a  house  of 
cedar?"  '     ^Now  therefore  thus  shalt  thou  say  to  my  servant  David,  "  Thus 
saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  I  took  thee  from  the  pasture,  from  after  the  sheep, 
that  thou  shouldest  be  prince  over  my  people,  over  Israel;^  ^and  I  have 
been  with  thee  wherever  thou  didst  go,  to  destroy  all  thine  enemies  from 
before  thee,  and  I  will  make  thee  a  name,"^'  like  the  name  of  the  great  in  the 
earth.     ^o^\nd  I  will  appoint  a  place  for  my  people  Israel,  and  will  plant 
them,  that  they  may  dwell  in  their  own  place,  and  be  moved  no  more,  and 
the  wicked  shall  no  more  afflict  them  as  formerly,  l^from  the  day  that  I 
appointed  judges  over  my  people  Israel. 

And  I  will  give  thee  rest  from  all  thine  enemies, 

And  make  thee  great  and  build  thee  a  house.'' 

'^And  when  thy  days  are  complete, 

And  thou  shalt  lie  down  with  thy  fathers, 

I  will  raise  up  thy  descendants  after  thee. 

Who  shall  come  forth  from  thy  body; 

And  I  will  establish  their  kingdom. 

i3He  shall  build  a  home  for  my  name, 

And  I  will  establish  his  royal  throne  forever.* 

1*1  will  be  to  him  a  father, 

And  he  shall  he  to  me  a  son; 

When  he  commits  iniquity, 

I  will  correct  him  with  the  rod  of  men,y 

And  with  tlie  stripes  of  the  sons  of  Adam. 

'^And  my  kindness  will  I  not  withdraw  from  him, 

1 1I  Sam.  7'  I  Chr.  17  reproduces  this  chapter  practically  verbatim. 

■■  II  Sam.  7*  This  circumstantial  clause  is  not  found  in  the  Chr.  i)arallel  and  may  be  a 
secondary  ad'lition.     It  does  not,  however,  anticipate  the  subsetiucnt  wars  of  conquest. 

"II  Sam.  7''  The  parallel  in  I  Chr.  17'' reproduces  this  as  a  negative  sentence.  The  nega- 
tive force  is  implied  in  the  Ileb. 

'  II  Sam.  7'  So  I  Chr.  17'^.     Heb.,  tribes,  owing  to  a  scribal  error. 

"II  Sam.  7'  There  are  traces  of  a  metrical  structure  in  this  and  the  following  verses  but 
it  cannot  be  restored  without  fundamentally  reconstructing  the  text. 

^  II  Sam.  7"   I.e.,  reputation.     So  I  Chr.  17**.     Ileb.  adds,  oreat. 

"  II  Sam.  7"  The  scribe  evidently  mistook  a  letter  so  that  the  Heb.  read,  Icltcth  thee 
and  then  added  Jeliovah,  as  the  subject.  The  (Jk.  of  I  Chr.  17'"  has  preserved  the  original  which 
reveals  the  metre  and  parallelism  .so  that  from  this  point  on  the  original  poetical  structure  is 
apparent.     The  poem  is  really  a  messianic  psalm. 

»  II  Sam.  7'''  This  verse  i.s  an  interpolation,  for  "b  repeats  '^  (cf.  ""')  and  the  antecedent  is 
Solomon,  while  in  '^  it  is  the  dynasty  of  David. 

y  I.e.,  humanely. 

129 


prayer 


II  Sam.  715]       DAVID'S  REIGN   OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Later  Jicdean  Prophetic  Narratives 

As  I  withdrew  it  from  him  who  was  before  thee.» 

"Thy  house  and  kingdom  shall  always  stand  firm  before  me  ; 

Thy  throne  shall  be  established  forever." 

i^According  to  all  these  words  and  according  to  all  this  vision,  Nathan 
spoke  to  David. 
David's  ^^Then  King  David  went  in  and  sat  before  Jehovah  and  said,  Who  am 
I,  O  Lord  Jehovah,  and  what  is  ray  house,  that  thou  hast  brought  me  thus 
far  ?  i^And  this  was  too  small  a  thing  in  thine  eyes,  O  Lord  Jehovah,  that 
thou  hast  spoken  also  concerning  thy  servant's  house  for  distant  times,  and 
hast  let  me  see  the  generations  of  men  for  all  times  to  come  l^  -'^And  what 
shall  David  say  more  to  thee,  for  thou  knowest  thy  servant,  O  Lord  Jehovah  .'' 
^iPor  thy  servant's  sake  and  according  to  thine  heart  hast  thou  done  it  to 
show  thy  servant  all  this  greatness."  ^^Therefore  thou  art  great,  O  Jehovah 
my  God,'^  for  there  is  none  like  thee,  neither  is  there  any  God  besides  thee, 
according  to  all  that  we  have  heard  with  our  ears,  ^s^j^^j  y^\i^{  other  nation 
in  the  earth  is  like  thy  people  Israel,  whom  a  God  went  to  redeem  for  him- 
self as  a  people,  to  make  him  a  name  and  to  do  for  them  great  and  terrible 
things  in  driving  a  people  and  its  god  before  his  people  ?^  24]3^,^  thou  didst 
establish  thy  people  Israel  as  thine  own  people  forever,  and  thou,  Jehovah, 
hast  become  their  God.  25^^,^  now,  O  Lord  Jehovah,  confirm  forever  the 
promise  that  thou  hast  made  concerning  thy  servant  and  concerning  his 
house,  and  do  as  thou  hast  promised,  ^'^that  thy  name  be  great  forever,  in 
that  it  will  be  said,  '  Jehovah  of  hosts  is  God  over  Israel;  and  the  house  of 
thy  servant  David  shall  be  established  before  thee.'  ^yp^j.  thou,  O  Jehovah 
of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  hast  revealed  to  thy  servant,  saying,  '  I  will  build 
thee  a  house; '  therefore  hath  thy  servant  found  courage  to  pray  this  prayer  to 
thee.  ^^And  now,  O  Lord  Jehovah,  thou  art  God,  and  thy  words  are  truth, 
and  thou  hast  promised  this  good  thing  to  thy  servant;  ^^now  therefore 
may  it  please  thee  to  bless  the  house  of  thy  servant  that  it  may  continue 
forever  before  thee !  For  thou,  O  Lord  Jehovah,  hast  spoken  it,  and  with 
thy  blessing  will  the  house  of  thy  servant  be  forever  blessed. 

«  II  Sam.  7'5  FollowinK  Gk.,  Syr.,  Lat.,  and  I  Chr.  17". 

b  11  Sam.  713  Heb.,  and  this  is  the  law  of  men.  The  Chronicler  and  the  tran.slators  evi- 
dently had  great  difficulty  with  the  text.  The  above  translation  is  based  on  a  free  reconstruc- 
tion and  is  supported  by  the  parallelism. 

"  II  Sam.  721  Reconstructing  the  text  with  the  aid  of  the  Gk.  parallel.     Cf.  I  Chr.  17i9. 

d  II  Sam.  7-2  So  Luc.     Heb.  simply,  God. 

'  II  Sam.  72'  Again  the  Heb.  is  obscure  and  corrupt,  but  can  be  restored  with  the  aid  of 
the  Chr.  parallel,  Gk.  and  Luc. 


ISO 


HIS  FAMILY  AND   COURT  [II  Sam.  32 

§  30.  David's  Family  and  Court,  II  Sam.  3--=,  5'^-'\  S'^-'s,  20-^-\  I  Chr.  3'-», 

W\  18'*-'',  27"-3* 

Late  Prophetic  Editorial  Summary 

II  Sam.   3  ^Xow  in  Hebron  sons  were  born  to  David:  his  eldest  was  David's 
Amnon  the  son  of  Ahinoam  the  Jezreehtess;  ^and  his  second,  Chileab  the  f/rg" 
son  of  Abigail,  the  wife  of  Nabal  the  Carmelite;  and  the  third,  Absalom  born  in 
the  son  of  Maacah,  the  daughter  of  Talmai  king  of  Geshur;  "^and  the  fourth,  bron 
Adonijah  the  son  of  Haggith;  and  the  fifth,  Shephatiah  the  son  of  Abital; 
°and  the  sixth,  Ithream  the  son  of  Eglah,  David's  wife.     These  were  born 
to  David  in  Hebron. 

5  ^'^And  in  Jerusalem  David  took  for  himself  more  concubines  and  wives.  In  Jer- 
after  he  came  there  from  Hebron;  and  more  sons  and  daughters  were  born  "^'^^'^ 
to  David.     ^^And  these  are  the  names  of  those  who  were  born  to  him  in 
Jerusalem:  Shammua,  Shobab,  Nathan,  Solomon,  ^^Ibhar,  Elishua,  Nepheg, 
Japhia,  ^*^Elishama,  Baaliada,^  and  Eliphelet. 

8  ^^And  David  was  king  over  all  Israel.  And  David  administered  justice  His 
and  righteousness  to  all  his  people.  ^*^And  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah  was  in  officials 
command  of  the  army,  and  Jehoshaphat  the  son  of  Ahilud  was  chancellor, 
^"and  Zadok  and  Abiathar^  the  .son  of  Ahimelech  were  priests,  and  Shousha*^ 
was  scribe,  ^*and  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  was  in  command  of  the 
Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites,  and  David's  sons  were  priests;  30  -*^Ira  the 
Jairite'  was  also  a  priest  of  David,  ^-laand  AdoniramJ  was  in  charge  of  the 
forced  labor. 

The  Chronicler's  Summary 

I  Chr.   27  -^And  over  the  king's  treasures  was  Azmaveth   the  son  of  Admin- 
Adiel,  and  over  the  treasures  in  the  fields,  in  the  cities,  and  in  the  villages.  'ttM-Tof 
and  in  the  castles  was  Jonathan  the  son  of  Uzziah,  -*^and  over  those  who  did  "'^  . 
the  work  of  the  field  to  cultivate  the  ground  was  Ezri  the  son  of  Chelub,  estates 
27and  over  the  vineyards  was  Shimei  the  Ramathite,  and  over  the  increase 
of  the  vineyards  for  the  stores  of  wine  was  Zabdi  the  Shipmite,  ^^and  over 

§  30  These  summaries,  inserted  often  awkwardly  and  without  any  close  connection  with 
their  context,  appear  to  be  from  the  late  prophetic  editor.  They  may  have  been  tran.-icribed 
bodily  from  the  earlier  source — probably  the  early  David  narratives — but  their  character  sug- 
gests that  they  are  summaries,  perhaps  compiled  in  part  by  the  editor  himself  and  embodying 
all  the  facts  at  his  command.  II  Sam.  20"'--'' is  probal)ly  the  original,  while  8'^  '*,  which  dujili- 
cates  it  for  the  most  part,  was  probably  added  as  a  conclusion  to  the  summaries  of  David's  reign 
in  8. 

This  material  is  repeated  by  the  Chronicler,  who  adds  in  I  Chr.  27-*'*'  a  list  of  twelve  offi- 
cials who  had  charge  of  the  royal  estates  and  herds.  The  number  twelve  suggests  that  the  whole 
is  the  creation  of  a  late  age,  and  the  language  and  point  of  view  of  the  section  indicate  that  it  is 
probably  from  the  pen  of  the  Chronicler  him.self.  David,  however,  possessed  lands  and  herds, 
and  the  names  may  have  been  derived  from  an  older  source. 

'  II  Sam.  5'8  The  parallel  in  I  Chr.  14"  shows  that  a  later  scribe  substituted  here,  Eli  (my 
God)  for  the  detested  name  Baal.     Cf.  the  similar  scribal  changes  into  Ethbaal  and  Meribnal. 

«  II  Sam.  8'^  Heb.,  Zadok  the  son  of  Ahitub  and  Ahimelech  the  son  of  Ahiathar.  But  ac- 
cording to  I  Sara.  229  Ahimelech  was  a  son  of  Ahitub  and  in  22-'"  .\biathar  was  priest.  Cf .  I  Kgs. 
1",  2*',  where  Zadok  and  Abiathar  are  priests.  Evidently  the  original  text  must  be  restored 
as  above. 

MlSam.  8'^  Heh. .Seriah  but  in  20^\  Sheiva;  Luc,  Sousa;  I  Chr.  W^,  Shousha.  The 
latter  appears  to  have  been  the    riginal  form. 

'  II  .Sam.  20*  Luc.  and  Syr.,  Jattivile. 

i  II  Sam.  202i»  Heb.,  Adoram;  but  Gk.,  Luc,  and  II  Chr.  lO'S  as  above. 


IChr.  2728]       DAVID'S  REIGN   OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

The  Chronicler's  Summary 

the  olive  and  the  sycamore  trees  in  the  Shephelah  was  Baalhanan  the  Geder- 
ite,  and  over  tlie  stores  of  oil  was  Joash,  -^and  over  the  herds  that  fed  in 
Sharon  was  Shitrai  the  Sharonite,  and  over  the  herds  that  were  in  the  valleys 
was  Shaphat  the  son  of  Adlai,  ^Oand  over  the  camels  was  Obil  the  Ishmaelite, 
and  over  the  asses  was  Jehdeiah  the  Meronothite,  and  over  the  flocks  was 
Jaziz  the  Hagrite.  ^^All  these  were  in  charge  of  the  property  which  King 
David  possessed. 
Royal  ^^Also  Jonathan,  David's  kinsman,  was  a  counsellor,  a  man  of  insight 
seUors  ^^<^  learning,'^  and  Jehiel  the  son  of  Hachmoni  was  with  the  king's  sons, 
^^and  Ahithophel  was  the  king's  counsellor,  and  Hushai  the  Archite  was 
the  king's  friend;  ^'^and  after  Ahithophel  was  Jehoiada,  the  son  of  Benaiah, 
and  Abiathar;  and  the  commander  of  the  king's  army  was  Joab. 

§  31.  Public  Execution  of  the  Sons  of  Saul,  II  Sam.  21'-" 
Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

De-  II  Sam.  21  ^Now  in  the  days  of  David  there  was  a  famine  three  years, 

"nhe     y^ar  after  year.     And  when  David  sought  the  face  of  Jehovah,  Jehovah 
Gibeon-  said,  Upon  Saul  and  upon  his  house  there  is  blood-guilt,'  because  he  put  to 

death  the  Gibeonites,  ^(now  the  Gibeonites  were  not  of  the  Israehtes,  but  of  the 
remnant  of  the  Amorites;  nevertheless  the  Israelites  had  sworn  to  them;  and  Saul 
sought  to  slay  them  in  his  zeal  for  the  Isrealites  and  the  Judahites),™  ^and  David 
said  to  the  Gibeonites,  What  shall  I  do  for  you  ?  And  wherewith  shall  I 
make  the  expiation,  that  you  may  bless  the  heritage  of  Jehovah  ?  ^And 
the  Gibeonites  said  to  him.  It  is  not  a  matter  of  silver  and  gold  between  us 
and  Saul  or  his  house;  neither  is  it  for  us  to  put  any  man  to  death  in  Israel. 
And  he  said.  What  do  you  say  that  I  shall  do  for  you  ?  ^And  they  said  to 
the  king.  The  man  who  consumed  us,  and  who  planned  to  destroy  us  that  we 
should  not  remain  in  any  of  the  borders  of  Israel" — "^let  seven  men  of  his  sons 
be  given  to  us,  and  we  will  hang^  them  up  to  Jehovah  in  Gibeon  in  the 
mount  of  Jehovah.     And  the  king  said  I  will  give  them. 

^  I  Chr.  2732  Heb.,  and  a  scribe. 

§  31  Again  the  literary  style  and  primitive  conceptions  reflected  in  this  story  reveal  its 
early  date  and  probable  relationshii>  with  the  early  David  narratives.  It  represents  David  as 
subject  to  the  firmly  established  ancient  belief  that  the  Deity  could  best  be  appeased  by  human 
sacrifice.  To  more  enlightened  later  editors  the  idea  was  justly  repulsive.  They  therefore  ditl 
not  quote  it  in  the  original  edition  of  the  book  of  Sam.  Among  the  later  gleanings  from  the 
David  narratives  it  fortunately  found  a  place  in  the  final  work,  for  it  makes  evident  how  crude 
were  the  religious  ideas  of  the  age.  It  is  closely  connected  with  9.  David's  words,  9',  and  the 
representation  in  this  section  indicate  that  it  originally  preceded  that  chapter.  They  both 
record  events  which  belong  to  the  beginning  of  David's  reign  as  king  over  all  Israel.  Cf.  16, 
§42. 

'  211  The  Gk.  and  Luc.  seem  to  have  preserved  the  original  idea  and  aid  in  the  reconstruc- 
tion of  the  Heb. 

m  2l-'b  This  long  and  awkward  explanatory  note  is  clearly  a  late  gloss  that  has  been  intro- 
duced into  the  text.  The  original  author  would  have  naturally  placed  it  after  '.  The  one  who 
introduced  it  also  repeated  in  '  the  words  in  -K     Cf .  Josh.  9. 

°  21-5  Slightly  correcting  the  text. 

"  21"  The  exact  meaning  of  the  Heb.  verb  is  not  known.  The  general  significance  of  the 
Gk.  and  Targ.  favors  the  above.  Cf.  Num.  2.5^  and  I  Sam.  31'".  From  ^  and  the  reading  of 
certain  Gk.  texts,  it  .seems  probable  that  the  original  read  as  above.  Heb.,  in  Gibeah  of  Saul, 
the  chosen  of  Jehovah. 

132 


EXECUTION  OF  THE   SONS  OF  SAUL      [II  Sam.  21' 

Early  Judean  David  Xarratives 

"But  the  king  spared  Meribaal,p  the  son  of  Jonathan,  the  son  of  Saul,  because  of  Execu- 
Jehovah's  oath  which  was  between  David  and  Jonathan  the  son  of  Saul.i     ^So  the  .1°''  °^ 
king  took  tlie  two  sons  of  Rizpali  the  daughter  of  Aiah,  whom  slie  bore  to  sons  of 
Saul,  Armoni  and  Meribaal,  and  the  five  sons  of  Merab""  the  daughter  of  and 
Saul,  whom  she  bore  to  Adriel  the  son  of  Barzillai  the  Meholathite.     ^And  ^'^pah 
he  delivered  them  over  to  the  Gibeonites,  and  they  hung  them  in  the  moun- 
tain before  Jehovah,  so  that  the  seven  of  them  fell  together;  and  they  were 
put  to  death  in  the  first  days  of  hanest. 

^*^Then  Rizpah  the  daughter  of  Aiah  took  sackcloth,  and  spread  it  for  Riz- 
her  upon  the  rock,  from  the  beginning  of  the  barley  harvest^  until  water  fil^'^. 
■was  poured  upon  them  from  heaven ;  and  she  did  not  permit  the  birds  of  the  *'""  to 
heavens  to  settle  down  upon  them  by  day  nor  the  wild  beasts  by  night.   ^^And  dead 
when  it  w^as  reported  to  David  what  Rizpah  the  daughter  of  Aiah,  the  con- 
cubine of  Saul,  had  done,  ^-David  went  and  took  the  bones  of  Saul  and  the 
bones  of  Jonathan  his  son  from  the  men  of  Jabesh  in  Gilead.  who  had  stolen 
them  from  the  citizens  of  Bethshan,  where  the  Philistines  had  hanged  them, 
on  the  day  that  the  Philistines  slew  Saul  in  Gilboa.     ^^And  he  brought  up 
from  there  the  bones  of  Saul   and  the  bones  of  Jonathan  his  son  and  they 
gathered  the  bones  of  those  who  were  hanged.     ^^And  they  buried  the  bones 
of  Saul  and  the  bones  of  Jonathan  his  son  in  the  territory  of  Benjamin  in 
Zela  in  the  sepulchre*  of  Kish  his  father,  and  they  did  all   that    the    king 
commanded.     And  after  this  God  was  propitiated  toward  the  land. 

§  32.  David's  Treatment  of  the  Son  of  Jonathan,  II  Sam.  4*.  9 
Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.  4  ^Now  Jonathan,  Saul's  son,  had  a  son  who  was  lame  in  his  Meri- 
feet.     lie  was  five  years  old  when  the  news  came  from  Jezreel  regarding  i^^^'ef 
Saul  and  Jonathan.     And  his  nurse  took  him  up  and  fled,  and  while  she  ^^ss 
was  hastily  fleeing,  he  fell  and  became  lame.     And  his  name  was  Meribaal. 

9  ^And  David  said,  Is  there  left  of  the  house  of  Saul  any  to  whom  I  may  David's 
show  kindness  for  Jonathan's  sake  ?     ^jsfow  there  was  of  the  house  of  Saul  for'if,e 
a  servant  whose  name  was  Ziba,  and  they  called  him  to  David.     And  the  remain- 
king  said  to  him.  Are  you  Ziba  ?     And  he  said,  Your  servant  am  I.     ^The  scend- 
king  said,  is  there  no  one  else  belonging  to  the  house  of  Saul  to  whom  I  may  ofgaul 

p  2V  Later  scribes  have  changed  the  name,  as  in  the  case  of  Ethbaal,  cf.  §  22  note',  to 
Mephiboshelh  so  that  instead  of  Baal  the  warrior,  it  means,  who  puffs  at  the  shameful  thing. 
Luc.  retains  the  oriKinal  form. 

1  2V  The  verse  is  probably  a  later  note  intended  to  harmonize  this  narrative  with  that  in  9. 
Cf .  note  §  32. 

/  21"  So  Luc,  Targ.,  and  the  Heb.  codices.  Cf.  I  Sam.  18".  In  the  accepted  text  the  name 
of  Michal  has  been  substituted  by  a  scribe. 

■  2r-'.  '"  At  the  close  of  "  is  found  the  repetitious  phrase,  at  the  beginning  of  the  barley 
harvest,  suggesting  that  the  transposition  was  due  to  sonic  coijyist. 

'21"  Or  following  certain  Gk.  codices,  in  a  chaml>cr  of  the  sepulchre. 

§  32  Chap.  9  contains  the  sequel  of  the  preceding  story,  wiiich  is  furtiier  continued  in  16. 
The  note  in  4'  also  finds  here  its  natural  coiiiieotion.  In  its  setting  it  api>ears  to  be  but  an  ex- 
planatory addition  from  the  hand  of  the  oilitor.  but  the  facts  wore  doubtless  derived  from  the 
older  source,  and  it  may  be  a  verbatim  rjuotation  from  the  narrative  from  which  9  was  taken. 
The  story  vividly  presents  that  rare  combination  of  tact  and  magnanimity  which  was  one  of  the 
chief  elements  of  David's  greatness. 

133 


II  Sam.  93]        DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 


His 
provi- 
sion 
Meri 
baal 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

show  the  kindness  of  God  ?  And  Ziba  said  to  the  king,  Jonathan  has  still 
a  son,  who  is  lame  in  his  feet.  ^And  the  king  said  to  him.  Where  is  he  ? 
And  Ziba  said  to  the  king,  Behold  he  is  in  the  house  of  Machir  the  son  of 
Ammiel,  in  Lodebar."  ^Then  King  David  sent  and  brought  him  from  the 
house  of  Machir  the  son  of  Ammiel,  from  Lodebar.  *^And  when  Meribaal 
the  son  of  Jonathan,  the  son  of  Saul,  came  to  David,  he  fell  on  his  face  and 
did  obeisance.  David  said,  Meribaal !  And  he  answered,  Behold  your 
servant !  ''Then  David  said  to  him,  Fear  not  for  I  will  surely  show  you 
kindness  for  the  sake  of  Jonathan  your  father  and  will  restore  to  you  all 
the  land  of  Saul  your  ancestor;  and  you  shall  eat  at  my  table  continually. 
^And  he  did  obeisance  and  said.  What  is  your  servant  that  you  should  look 
favorably  upon  such  a  dead  dog  as  I  am  ? 

^Then  the  king  called  to  Ziba,  Saul's  servant,  and  said  to  him.  All  that 
for  belongs  to  Saul  and  all  his  house  have  I  given  to  your  master's  son.  ^^And 
you  shall  cultivate  the  land  for  him,  together  with  your  sons  and  servants, 
and  bring  in  the  fruits  that  your  master's  son  may  have  food  to  eat;  but 
Meribaal  your  master's  son  shall  always  eat  bread  at  my  table.  Now  Ziba 
had  fifteen  sons  and  twenty  servants.  ^^Then  said  Ziba  to  the  king,  Just 
as  my  lord  the  king  commands  his  servant,  so  will  your  servant  do.  So 
Meribaal  ate^'  at  David's  table  like  one  of  the  sons  of  the  king.  ^-And  Meri- 
baal had  a  young  son,  whose  name  was  Mica.  And  all  who  dwelt  in  the 
house  of  Ziba  were  Meribaal's  servants.  ^^So  Meribaal  dwelt  in  Jerusalem, 
for  he  ate  continually  at  the  king's  table,  being  lame  in  both  feet. 


33.  The  Census  and  Preparations  for  the  Temple,  II  Sam.  24, 1  Chr.  21,  22 


The 

taking 
of  the 
census 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.  34:  ^Then  Jehovah's  anger  was 
again  aroused  against  Israel,  and  he  insti- 
gated David  against  them,  saying,  Go  num- 
ber Israel  and  Judah  !  ^So  the  king  said  to 
Joab  and  the  commanders^  of  the  army  who 
were  with  him.  Go  now  about  among  all  the 
tribes  of  Israel,  from  Dan  even  to  Beersheba, 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical 
History 

I  Chr.  31  iThen  Satan 
stood  up  against  Israel  and 
moved  David  to  number 
Israel.  ^So  David  said  to 
Joab  and  to  the  command- 
ers of  the  people,  Go,  num- 
ber  Israel  from  Beersheba 


"  9*  Cf .  1727. 

■^  9"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  Heb.  puts  these  two  words  in  the  mouth  of  Ziba,  but  without 
revision  they  are  unintelligible. 

§  33  H  Sam.  24,  like  21i-»,  appears  to  be  a  citation  from  the  early  David  narratives  which 
was  added  last  to  the  book  of  Sam.  It  reflects  the  primitive  belief  that  a  census  was  displeasing 
to  the  Deity,  as  well  as  the  other  popular  dogma  that  calamity  was  a  sure  index  of  Jehovah's 
condemnation.  It  probably  originally  followed  211".  fhe  latter  tells  of  a  famine  and  24  of  a 
pestilence  which  Jehovah  was  believed  to  have  sent  as  a  punishment.  The  census  also  belongs 
naturally  in  the  opening  years  of  David's  rule  over  all  Israel,  for  it  was  made  b.v  Joab  and  the 
military  commanders  and  was  intended  to  ascertain  the  rmmber  of  men  who  could  be  counted 
upon  for  enrolment  in  the  militia.  Cf.  «.  The  fact  that  a  Jebusite  is  still  in  posse.ssion  of  the 
threshing-floor  in  Jerusalem  also  suggests  that  the  event  followed  not  long  after  David's  capture 
of  Jebus. 

The  importance  of  the  story  is  of  course  due  to  the  fact  that  it  records  the  purchase  of  what 


"  II  Sam.  242  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  in  *.     Heb.,  commander. 

134 


II  Sam.  242] 


TAKING  THE   CENSUS 


[I  Chr.  212 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

and  muster  the  people  that  I  may  know  the 
number  of  the  people.  "^Then  Joab  answered 
the  king.  May  Jehovah  your  God  add  to  the 
people,  a  hundred  times  as  many  as  they  are, 
while  the  eyes  of  my  lord  the  king  are  looking 
on  !  But  why  has  my  lord  the  king  a  desire 
for  such  a  thing  ?  "^But  the  king's  command 
prevailed  against  Joab  and  the  commanders  of 
the  army.  And  Joab  and  the  commanders  of 
the  army  went  out  from  the  presence  of  the 
king  to  muster  the  people  of  Israel.  ''xVnd 
they  crossed  the  Jordan,  and  began  from 
Aroer  and  from  the  city  that  is  in  the  midst  of 
the  torrent  valley,  towards  Gad  and  on  to 
Jazer.^  ^Then  they  came  to  Gilead  and  to 
the  land  of  the  Hittites,  towards  Kadesh;^  and 
they  came  to  Dan,  and  from  Dan  they  went 
around  to  Sidon,  "and  came  to  the  fortress  of 
Tyre  and  all  the  cities  of  the  Hivites,  and  of 
the  Canaanites;  and  they  went  out  to  the  South 
Country  of  Judah  at  Beersheba.  ^So  when 
they  had  gone  about  through  all  the  land,  they 
came  to  Jerusalem  at  the  end  of  nine  months 
and  twenty  days.  ^And  Joab  gave  to  the  king 
the  number  of  the  people  wlio  had  been  mus- 
tered, and  there  were  in  Israel  eight  hundred 
thousand  able-bodied,  fighting  men;^  and  the 
men  of  Judah  were  five  hundred  thousand. 


David's 
re- 
morse 


^^Then  David's  conscience  smote 
him  after  he  had  numbered  the  peo- 
ple. And  David  said  to  Jehovah.  I 
liave  sinned  greatly  in  what  I  have 
done.     But  now,  O  Jehovah,  pardon, 


Chronicler 's  Ecclesiastical 
Historrj 

to  Dan ;  and  bring  me  word, 
that  I  may  know  their 
number.  ^Then  Joab  said, 
Jehovah  make  his  people 
a  hundred  times  as  many 
as  they  are;  but,  my  lord  the 
king,  are  tlK>y  not  all  my 
lord's  servants  ?  Why  does 
my  lord  desire  this  thing? 
Why  shoidd  he  be  a  cause 
of  guilt  to  Israel  ?  "^But 
the  king's  word  prevailed 
against  Joab.  Therefore 
Joab  departed  and  went 
throughout  all  Israel  and 
came  to  Jerusalem.  ^And 
Joab  gave  to  David  the  num- 
ber of  the  people  who  had 
been  nuistered.  And  all 
they  of  Israel  were  one  mill- 
ion, one  hundred  thousand 
fighting  men;  and  Judah 
was  four  hundred  and  sev- 
enty thousand  fighting  men. 
^But  he  did  not  include  Levi 
and  Benjamin  in  the  mus- 
ter, for  the  king's  command 
was  abominable  to  Joab. 


'And  God  was  displeased  with  this 
thing  so  that  he  smote  Israel.  ^And 
David  said  to  God,  I  have  sinned 
greatly,  in  that  I  have  done  this  thing. 
But  now,  pardon,  I  beseech  thee,  the 


probably  later  became  the  site  of  Solomon's  temple.  It  is  thus  distinctly  interpreted  in  the  Chr. 
parallel,  I  Chr.  21.  The  variations  in  ("lir,  are  so  marked  and  the  unity  of  the  luirallel  is  so  per- 
fect that  it  is  possible  tliat  the  Chronicler  here  and  in  22-2(i  (iuote<l  (cf.  note  §  2S))  from  a  late 
priestly  temple  history  which  was  based  on  traditions  in  1 1  Sam.,  but  freely  revisinK  an<l  at  some 
points  contradicting  and  at  others  expanding  the  older  version,  l.ate  prophetic  expressions  and 
ideas  abound.  However,  the  C'hroniclcr's  work  is  readily  recoRnized  in  21-'*-"'  and  22"  ■'',  and  the 
whole  may  be  from  his  pen.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  27.  The  tendency  to  project  overytliing  as  far 
backward  as  possible  is  here  r)rominent.  To  Davifl  is  attributed  the  collection  of  the  material 
for  the  temf)le.  In  2.3-20,  which  relate  to  the  priests,  I.evites,  singers,  and  i)orters,  and  there- 
fore belong  with  the  legal  material  in  Vol.  IV,  the  institution  of  the  later  religious  orders  is 
al.so  assigneil  to  him. 

»  II  Sam.  24''  So  Gk.,  Luc.,  and  the  restored  Ileb.  text.  _     _ 

»  II  Sam.  21'''  The  present  Ileb.  text,  which  has  suffered  at  .several  points  in  transmission, 
may  be  restored  ;is  above  with  the  aid  of  tlie  (ik.  and  l.uc.  Possibly  instead  of  Kadcsh  on  the 
Orontes,  the  original  read,  Hermon. 

^  II  Sam.  24'-'  ileb.,  who  drew  tlie  aword. 


135 


II  Sam.  2410]     DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL       [I  Chr.  2l8 


The 
divine 
con- 
demna- 
tion 
and 
David's 
choice 
of  the 
punish- 
ment 


The 
pesti- 
lence 


Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 

I  beseech  thee,  the  iniquity  of  thy  ser- 
vant, for  I  have  done  very  foolishly. 
1 1  b'pj^gj^  ^}jg  word  of  Jehovah  came 
to  the  prophet  Gad,  David's  seer,  say- 
ing, i-Go  and  speak  to  David, '  Thus 
saith  Jehovah,  "  Three  things  I  offer 
thee;  choose  one  of  them,  that  I 
may  do  it  to  thee."  '  ^^'^So  when 
David  rose  up  in  the  morning,''  ^-^Gad 
came  to  David  and  told  him,  and  said 
to  him,  Shall  three*^  years  of  famine 
come  over  your  land  ?  Or  will  you 
flee  three  months  before  your  foes, 
while  they  pursue  you  ?  Or  shall 
there  be  three  days'  pestilence  in  your 
land  ?  Now  take  counsel  and  con- 
sider what  answer  I  shall  return  to 
him  who  sent  me.  i*And  David  said 
to  Gad,  I  am  in  a  great  strait.  We 
would  rather  fall  into  the  hand  of  Je- 
hovah, for  his  mercy  is  great,  but  let 
me  not  fall  into  the  hand  of  man. 


i^So  David  chose  the  pesti- 
lence. And  when  it  was  the 
time  of  wheat  harvest,  the 
plague  began  among  the  peo- 
ple and  slew  of  the  people  from 
Dan  to  Beersheba  seventy 
thousand  men.^  i*^And  when 
the  Messenger  stretched  out 
his  hand  toward  Jerusalem  to 
destroy  it,  Jehovah  repented 
of  the  evil,  and  said  to  the 
Messenger  who  was  destroy- 
ing the  people,  Enough,  now 
stay  thy  hand  !  and  the  Mes- 
senger of  Jehovah  was  by  the 
threshing-floor     of    Araunah 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

iniquity  of  thy  servant,  for  I  have 
done  very  foolishly. 

^And  Jehovah  spoke  to  Gad,  Da- 
vid's seer,  saying,  i^Qo  and  speak  to 
David,  saying,  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah, 
"Three  things  I  offer  thee;  choose  one 
of  them  that  I  may  do  it  to  thee."  ' 
i^So  Gad  came  to  David,  and  said  to 
him.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  '  Choose 
i^either  three  years  of  famine  or  that 
for  three  months  you  must  flee  before 
your  foes  and  the  sword  of  your  ene- 
mies;® or  else  that  for  three  days  the 
sword  of  Jehovah  and  pestilence  be 
in  the  land,  and  the  Messenger  of  Je- 
hovah destroying  throughout  all  the 
territory  of  Israel.'  Now  therefore 
consider  what  answer  I  shall  return 
to  him  who  sent  me.  ^-^And  David 
said  to  Gad,  I  am  in  a  great  strait.  I 
would  rather  fall  into  the  hand  of  Je- 
hovah, for  his  mercy  is  very  great;  let 
me  not  fall  into  the  hand  of  man. 
i^So  Jehovah  sent  a  pestilence  upon  Is- 
rael; and  there  fell  of  Israel  seventy  thou- 
sand men.  ^^And  God  sent  a  Messenger  to 
Jerusalem  to  destroy  it;  but  as  he  was  about 
to  destroy,  Jehovah  saw  it  and  repented  of 
the  evil,  so  that  he  said  to  the  destroying 
Messenger,  Enough,  now  stay  thy  hand  ! 
And  the  Messenger  of  Jehovah  was  stand- 
ing by  the  threshing-floor  of  Oman  the 
Jebusite.  ^^And  when  David  lifted  up  his 
eyes  and  saw  the  Messenger  of  Jehovah 
standing  between  earth  and  heaven,  having 
a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand  stretched  out 
over  Jerusalem,  then  David  and  the  elders, 
clothed  in  sackcloth,  fell  upon  their  faces. 
I'^And  David  said  to  God,  Is  it  not  I  who 


•=  II  Sam.  24"^'  This  has  apparently  been  transposed  by  a  copyist.     It  is  not  found  in  Chr, 

<i  II  Sam.  24'3  So  the  parallel  in  Chr..  favored  by  the  symmetrical  use  of  the  number  three 
in  the  passage.    Heb.,  seven,  probably  because  seven  years  of  famine  was  a  proverbial  expression. 

«  I  Chr.  21'-  Correcting  the  Heb.  text  with  the  aid  of  tiie  parallel  in  Sam. 

'  II  Sam.  24'^  The  Gk.  has  a  duplicate  version  of  this  text,  the  one  reproducing  the  Heb., 
So  Jehovah  sent  a  pestilence  upon  Israel  from  the  morning  until  the  appointed  time.  This,  how- 
ever, is  indefinite.  The  other  Gk.  duplicate  followed  above  is  more  graphic  and  accords  best 
with  the  context. 


136 


II  Sam.  2i^^] 


TAKING  THE  CENSUS 


[I  Chr.  2117 


Ea  rhj  Judea  n  Da  v  id  Xa  rratives 

the  Jebusite.  '"And  David 
spoke  to  Jehovah  when  he  saw 
the  Messenger  who  smote  the 
people,  and  said,  See  I  have 
sinned  and  have  acted  wickedly; 
but  these  sheep,  what  ha\'e  they 
done?  Let  thy  hand,  I  pray, 
be  against  me,  and  my  father's 
house.s 


The 

ahar 

built 

on  the 

thresh- 

inK- 

floor  of 

Arau- 

nah 


i^And  Gad  came  that  day  to  Da- 
vid, and  said  to  him.  Go  up,  rear  an 
altar  to  Jehovah  on  the  threshing-floor 
of  Araunah  the  Jebusite.  ^^So  Da- 
vid went  up  at  the  command  of  Gad, 
as  Jehovah  commanded.  -^And 
when  Araunah  looked  down  and  saw 
the  king  and  his  servants  crossing 
over  to  him,  Araunah  went  out  and 
bowed  before  the  king  with  liis  face 
to  the  ground.  21  \nd  Araunah  said, 
Why  has  my  lord  the  king  come  to  his 
servant  ?  And  David  said,  To  buy 
the  threshing-floor  of  you,  to  build  an 
altar  to  Jehovah,  that  the  plague  may 
be  averted  from  the  people.  ^2^^,^^ 
Araunah  said  to  David,  Let  my  lord 
the  king  take  and  offer  what  he 
pleases,  the  oxen  for  the  burnt-offer- 
ing, and  the  threshing-sledges  and 
the  implements  of  the  oxen  for  the 
wood.  -'^All  this  has  your  servant,^ 
my  lord  the  king,  given  to  the  king. 
And  Araunah  said  to  the  king,  Je- 
hovah your  God  accept  you  !  -^And 
the  king  answered  Araunah,  No,  but 
I  will  surely  buy  it  of  you  at  a  price. 
I  mu.st  not  offer  burnt-offerings  to 
Jehovah  my  God  which  cost  ine  noth- 
ing. So  David  bought  the  ihreshing- 
floor  and  the  oxen  for  fifty  shekels  of 
silver.  ^^'^Then  David  built  there  an 
altar  to  Jehovah,  and  offered  burnt- 
offerings    and    peace-offerings.     So 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

thought  to  ntunber  the  people  ?  I  am  the 
one  who  has  sinned  and  acted  very  wickedly; 
but  these  sheep  what  have  they  done  ?  Let 
thy  hand  I  pray,  O  Jehovah  my  God,  be 
against  me  and  my  father's  house  ;  but  not 
against  thy  people  that  they  should  be  af- 
fected with  the  plague. 

i^Then  the  Messenger  of  Jehovah 
commanded  Gad  to  say  to  David, 
that  David  should  go  up  in  order  to 
rear  an  altar  to  Jehovah  in  the  thresh- 
ing-floor of  Oman  the  Jebusite.  ^^So 
David  went  up  at  the  command  of 
Gad,  which  he  gave  in  the  name  of 
Jehovah.  -^  \nj  when  Oman  turned 
about  he  saw^  the  Messenger,  and  his 
four  sons  who  were  with  him  hid 
themselves.  Now  Oman  was  thresh- 
ing wheat.  ^^And  as  David  came  to 
Oman,  Oman  looked  up  and  saw  Da- 
vid, and  went  out  of  the  threshing- 
floor,  and  bowed  before  David  with 
his  face  to  the  ground.  ^-Then 
David  said  to  Oman,  Give  me  the 
place  of  this  threshing-floor,  that  I 
may  build  on  it  an  altar  to  Jehovah, 
For  the  full  price  shall  you  give  it  me, 
that  the  plague  may  be  averted  from 
the  people.  -"^And  Oman  said  to  Da- 
vid, Take  it  as  yours  and  let  my  lord 
the  king  do  what  he  pleases.  See,  I 
give  you  the  oxen  for  burnt-oflVrings 
and  the  threshiug-slcdges  for  wood 
and  the  wheat  for  the  cereal-offering 
— I  give  it  all.  '^'^Tiut  King  David  said 
to  Oman,  No,  but  I  will  surely  buy  it 
for  the  full  j)rice,  for  I  will  not  take 
that  which  is  yours  for  Jehovah,  nor 
will  I  offer  a  burnt-offering  which  cost 


me    nothing.     -•^So    David 


to 


Oman  for  the  place  six  hundred  shek- 


I II  Sam.  24"  V.s.  '*  is  the  direct  sequel  of  '".  Ve.  "  introduces  a  note  of  indiviiiual  i)eni- 
tence  and  confeisflion  that,  like  David's  confession  of  his  sin  to  Nathan,  §  37,  breathed  the  spirit 
of  a  later  anil  more  enlightened  a^e. 

••  11  Sam.  24>*  Heh.,  Araunah,  which  was  evidently  read  by  some  scribe  for  the  more  cus- 
tomary and,  in  the  Ileb.,  very  similar  word,  servant. 


137 


II  Sam.  2425]    DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL       [I  Chr.  21^5 


Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Jehovah  was  entreated  for  the  land 
and  the  plague  was  averted  from 
Israel. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

els  of  gold  by  weight.     ^O'pjj^jj  David 
built  there  an  altar  to  Jehovah  and 
offered    burnt-offerings    and    peace- 
offerings.     And  when  he  called  upon 
Jehovah,  he  answered  him  from  heaven  by  fire  upon  the  altar  of  burnt- 
offering.     27^n(j  Jehovah  commanded  the  Messenger  to  put  his  sword  again 
into  its  sheath. 
Place  28  \^  thsii  time,  after  David  saw  that  Jehovah  had  answered  him  in  the 

dwelf-  threshing-floor  of  Oman  the  Jebusite,  he  sacrificed  there.  2913^^  {\^q  dwell- 
ing of  ii^CT  of  Jehovah,  which  Moses  made  in  the  wilderness,  and  the  altar  of  burnt- 
vah  offering  were  at  that  time  in  the  high  place  at  Gibeon,  ^^but  David  could 
not  go  before  it  to  inquire  of  God,  for  he  was  afraid  because  of  the  sword 
of  the  Messenger  of  Jehovah. 
David's  33  ^Then  David  said,  This  must  be  the  temple  of  Jehovah  God  and  this 
atfoifs^"  ^^^6  altar  of  burnt -offering  for  Israel.     2An(j  David  commanded  to  gather 

for  the    together  the  foreigners  who  were  resident  in  the  land  of  Israel,  and  he  set 
temple         o  o  ^ 

masons  to  hewing  cut  stones  to  build  the  house  of  God.  ^iVnd  David  pre- 
pared iron  in  abundance  for  the  nails  of  the  doors  of  the  gates  and  for  the 
couplings,  and  brass  in  abundance  without  weight ;  "^and  innumerable  cedar 
trees,  for  the  Sidonians  and  the  Tyrians  brought  cedar  trees  in  abundance 
to  David.  ^Xhen  David  said,  Solomon  my  son  is  young  and  inexperienced 
and  the  temple  that  is  to  be  built  for  Jehovah  must  be  exceeding  magnifi- 
cent, far-famed  and  glorious  throughout  all  lands.  I  will  therefore  prepare 
for  it.  So  David  prepared  abundantly  before  his  death. 
His  ^Then  he  called  for  Solomon  his  son  and  commanded  him  to  build  a 

tions'to  temple  for  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel.  ^And  David  said  to  Solomon,  My 
Solo-  son,  I  myself  had  in  mind  to  build  a  temple  to  the  name  of  Jehovah  my  God. 
^But  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me  saying,  '  Thou  hast  shed  blood  abun- 
dantly and  hast  carried  on  great  wars;  thou  shalt  not  build  a  temple  to  my 
name,  because  thou  hast  shed  much  blood  before  me  upon  the  earth.  ^Be- 
hold, a  son  shall  be  born  to  thee,  who  shall  be  a  man  who  shall  have  rest 
from  all  his  enemies  round  about,  for  his  name  shall  be  Solomon  [Peace], 
and  I  will  give  peace  and  quietness  to  Israel  in  his  days.  ^^He  shall  build 
a  temple  for  my  name  and  he  shall  be  my  son  a.nd  I  will  be  his  father;  and 
I  will  establish  his  royal  throne  over  Israel  forever.'  ^^Now,  my  son,  Jehovah 
be  with  you,  that  you  may  prosper  and  build  the  temple  of  Jehovah  your 
God,  as  he  has  spoken  concerning  you.  ^2Qnly  may  Jehovah  give  you  dis- 
cretion and  insight,  if  he  gives  you  charge  of  Israel,  that  thus  you  may  keep 
the  law  of  Jehovah  your  God.  ^-^Then  will  you  prosper,  if  you  faithfully 
observe  the  statutes  and  the  ordinances  with  which  Jehovah  charged  Moses 
concerning  Israel.  Be  firm  and  strong,  fear  not,  neither  be  tempted.  ^^Now, 
see,  with  much  trouble  I  have  prepared  for  the  house  of  Jehovah  a  hundred 
thousand  talents  of  gold,  and  a  million  talents  of  silver,  and  brass  and  iron 
so  abundant  that  they  cannot  be  weighed ;  timber  also  and  stone  have  I  pre- 
pared, and  you  may  add  thereto,  ^^jyjoreover  there  are  workmen  with  you 
in  abundance,  hewers  and  workers  of  stone  and  timber  and  all  who  are 

138 


mon 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  THE  TEMPLE      [I  Chr.  22^5 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

skilful  in  every  kind  of  work.  ^^Of  the  gold,  the  silver,  and  the  brass  and 
the  iron,  there  is  no  limit.  Arise,  and  go  to  work !  and  may  Jehovah  be 
with  you.i 

^' David  also  commanded  all  the  princes  to  help  Solomon  his  son.  saving,  To  the 
^^Is  not  Jehovah  your  God  with  you  ?  And  hath  he  not  given  you  rest  on  P'"'"*^''^ 
every  side?  for  he  hath  delivered  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  into  my  hand; 
and  the  land  is  subdued  before  Jehovah  and  before  his  people.  ^^Now  set 
your  heart  and  your  soul  to  seek  Jehovah  your  God;  arise  therefore,  and 
build  the  sanctuary  of  Jehovah  God,  that  you  may  bring  the  ark  of  the 
covenant  of  Jehovah  and  the  holy  vessels  of  God  into  the  temple  that  is  to 
be  built  to  the  name  of  Jehovah. 

§34.  David's  Illustrious  Warriors,  II  Sam.  23^-12.  is-39^  I  Chr.  Ipo-"- ="-*',  27'-2i 

Early  Judean  David  Xarratives 

II  Sam.  23  ^These  are  the  names  of  David's  mighty  heroes:  Ishbaal  Thethree 
the  Hachmonite,  leader  of  the  Three ;J  he  swung  his  spear  over  eight  hundred  famous: 
slain  at  one  time.^  ishbaal 

^And  next  to  him  among  the  three  mighty  heroes  was  Eleazar  the  son  of  Elea- 
Dodo,  the  Ahohite.     He  was  with  David  at  Pasdammim  when  the  Philis-  ^'^'" 
tines  gathered  there  for  battle.     But  when  the  Israelites  retreated,'    ^*^he 
stood  up  and  smote  the  Philistines  until  his  hand  Avas  weary  and  clave  fast 
to  the  sword.     Thus  Jehovah  brought  about  a  great  deliverance  that  day; 
and  the  people  returned  after  him  only  to  take  spoil. 

^^And  next  to  him  was  Sharamah  the  son  of  Agee,  a  Hararite.     And  the  Sham- 
Philistines  gathered  together  at  Lehi.     And  there  was  a  plot  of  ground  full  ™^ 
of  lentils.     But  when  the  people  fled  from  the  Philistines,  ^%e  stood  in  the 

»  I  Chr.  22'*-'^  If  the  rest  of  the  section  is  a  quotation,  the  Chronicler  has  himself  added 
these  verses,  for  his  interest  in  details  and  tendency  to  exaggerate  are  very  prominent. 

§  .34  The  nucleus  of  the  military  organization  whereby  David  built  up  his  emiiire  was  an 
experienced  body  of  warriors  who  by  their  bravery  and  personal  achievements  had  eacli  at- 
tained individual  distinction.  Some  of  thena  were  foreigners.  Most  of  them  had  probably 
followed  him  in  his  outlaw  days.  They  were  divided  into  two  groups:  the  three  most  dis- 
tinguished, and  another  band  of  thirty  knights  of  the  second  rank.  The  list  of  the  names  given 
indicates  that  the  number  of  the  Thirty  was  extended  so  as  to  include  thirty-three.  They  were 
cla.ssified  not  according  to  their  ability  as  leaders,  but  on  the  basis  of  their  individual  acts  of 
bravery.  The  brave  deeds  of  some  of  them  are  recounted,  and  reveal  a  spirit  of  chivalry  which 
was  very  like  that  which  inspired  the  knights  of  Arthur's  round  table.  The  record  was  probably 
kept  in  connection  with  the  other  early  David  stories.  Its  rude  literary  form  suggests  great 
antiquity.  The  story  in  II  Sam.  2'.V-^-",  as  has  already  been  noted,  §  27,  breaks  the  continuity 
of  the  pre.sent  narrative  and  is  probably  a  later  in.sertion. 

The  names  have  suffered  much  corruption  in  transmission.  The  Chronicler  has  often  pre- 
ser\'ed  a  better  reading,  but  in  certain  cases  it  is  impo.'^sible  to  be  sure  of  the  original.  The 
Chronicler  adds  sixteen  more  names  in  iliii)-i7  jj  j^,  difficult  to  determine  whence  these  were 
derived.  Budde  suggests  that  they  belong  after  I  Clir.  12'.  The  majority  have  the  same  form 
a,s  tho.se  in  the  preceding  list  and  it  is  at  least  po.ssible  that  the  Chronicler  has  reproduced  a 
fuller  version  of  the  original  source.  In  27'--',  however,  he  makes  the  Thirty  commanders  of 
army  corps  with  a  total  force  of  288,000  men  under  them.  ICven  Asahel,  .loab's  brother,  who 
was  early  killed  bv  Abner,  ",  is  resurrected,  to  command  one  corps! 

i  2.3'<  I  Chr.  11",  chief  of  the  Thirty. 

^  23«  So  Luc.     The  Heb.  and  the  parallel  in  I  Chr.  11"  have  widely  variant  readings. 

'  23"  Following  the  ('hr.  parallel,  11",  which  ai)pears  to  have  preserved  the  more  original 
meaning.  So  twf)  Heb.  manuscripts.  In  most  of  the  texts  tlie  Three  and  the  Thirti/  ha\e  ap- 
parently been  confused,  .so  that  they  read  here.  Three;  but  cf.  •*,  where  Ishbaal  is  lender  of  the 
Three.     So  also  in  M--^. 

139 


II  Sam.  2312]     DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

middle  of  the  plot  and  defended  it  and  slew  the  Philistines.     Thus  Jehovah 

brought  about  a  great  deliverance. 

The  i^And  Abishai,  the  brother  of  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah,  was  leader  of  the 

SieYr^'  Thirty.     And  he  swung  his  spear  over  three  hundred  slain,  so  that  he  was 

ieader     renowned  among  the  Thirty.     ^^He  was  honored  more  than  the  Thirty,  so 

that  he  became  their  commander,  but  he  did  not  attain  to  the  Three. 

Deeds         20\j^(j  Benaiali  the  son  of  Jehoiada  was  a  valiant  man  of  Kabzeel,  who 

nai^h"     ^i^d  done    great   deeds;  he  slew  the  two  sons  of  Ariel  of  Moab.     He  also 

went  down  and  slew  a  lion  in  the  midst  of  a  pit  in  time  of  snow,     ^i^nd  he 

slew  a  tall™  Egyptian,  who  had  a  spear  in  his  hand,  but  he  went  down  to  him 

with  a  club  and  snatched  the  spear  out  of  the  Egyptian's  hand  and  slew 

him  with  his  own  spear.     22'pjjp^g  things  did  Benaiali  the  son  of  Jehoiada, 

and  he  was  renowned  among  the  thirty  mighty  heroes.     ^^He  was  honored 

more  than  the  Thirty,  but  he  did  not  attain  to  the  Three.     And  David  set 

him  over  his  body-guard. 

The  24^gahel  the  brother  of  Joab  was  one  of  the  Thirty;  Elhanan  the  son  of 

[,^™^'"-  Dodo  of  Bethlehem,  25Shammah  the  Harodite,  Elika  the  Harodite,  26Helez 

heroes    the  Paltite,  Ira  the  son  of  Ikkesh,  the  Tekoite,  27Abiezer  the  Anathothite, 

Sibbecai"^  the  Hushathite,  2SZalmon  the  Ahohite,  Maharai  the  Netophathite, 

29Heled°  the  son  of    Baanah,  the  Netophathite,  Ittai  the  son  of  Ribai  of 

Gibeah  of  the  Benjamites,  ^^Benaiah  a  Pirathonite,  HuraiP  of  the  brooks 

of  Gaash,  "^^Abibaal'^  the  Arbathite,  Azmaveth  the  Barhumite,  32Eiiahba 

the  Shaalbonite,  Jashen  the   Gunite,''  Jonathan,  ^^the  son  of^  Shammah, 

the  Hararite,  Ahiam  the  son  of  Sharar  the  Ararite,  ^^Eliphelet  the  son  of 

Ahasbai,  the  Maacathite,  Eliam  the  son  of  Ahithophel,  the  Gilonite,  ^^Hezro 

the  Carmelite,  Paarai  the  Arbite,  ^'^Igal  the  son  of  Nathan  of  Zobah,  Bani 

the  Gadite,  ^'^Zelek  the  Ammonite,  Naharai  the  Beerothite,  the  armor  bearers 

of  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah,  ^^Ira  the  Ithrite,  Gareb  the  Ithrite,  ^^Uriah 

the  Hittite — in  all  thirty-seven.* 

Chronicler'' s  Ecclesiastical  History 

The  I  Chr.  1 1  4ibZabad  the  son  of  Ahlai,  ^SAdina  the  son  of  Shiza  the  Reu- 

icle°'s  benite,  a  chief  of  the  Reubenites,  and  thirty  with  him,  '^^Hanan  the  son  of 
addi-  Maacah,  and  Joshaphat  the  Mithnite,  ^^Uzzia  the  Ashterathite,  Shama 
and  Jeiel  the  sons  of  Hotham  the  Aroerite,  "^^Jedial  the  son  of  Shimri,  and 
Joha  his  brother  the  Tizite,  '^'^Eliel  the  Mahavite,  and  Jeribai  and  Josh- 
aviah  the  sons  of  Elnaam,  and  Ithmah  the  Moabite,  '^'^Eliel,  and  Obed 
and  Jaasiel  the  Mezobaite. 

™  23-1  Correcting  the  Heb.  bv  the  parallel  in  I  Chr.  ll^^,  which  adds,  five  cubits  high. 
■>  23"  So  Luc.  and  I  Chr.  11-X 

0  23-8  So  twenty-one  codices,  Targ.  and  I  Chr.  1V>. 
p  23-^0  So  I  Chr.  ll'e  and  certain  Gk.  codices. 

1  23"  Correcting  by  the  aid  of  the  Chr.  parallel. 
'2332  go  Luc_     Gk.,  Gounite.     I  Chr.  liw,  Gizonite. 

"  2333  So  I  Chr.  1134.     In  Heb.,  (he  son  of,  has  been  displaced. 

'233'*  In  the  Heb.  not  thirty-.seven  but  thirty-three  are  given  under  the  head  of  the  Thirty. 
To  this  may  have  been  added  the  Three  and  Joab  the  commander  of  the  army,  making  the 
thirty-seven. 

140 


HIS  ILLUSTRIOUS  WARRIORS  [I  Ciiu.  27i 

Chrotiicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

37  ^Now  the  Israelites  after  their  number,  the  heads  of  fathers'  houses  OrRan- 
and  the  commanders  of  thousands  and  of  hundreds,  and  their  officers  who  !f,f,V"° 
served  the  king  in  any  matter  of  the  corps,  which  came  in  and  went  out  montli  <luties 
by  month  throughout  all  the  months  of  the  year,  were  in  each  corps  twenty-  differ- 
four  thousand.     -Over  the  first  corps  for  the  first  month  was  Ishbaal"  the  ^",* 
son  of  Zabdiel;  and  in  liis  corps  were  twenty-four  thousand.     ^He  was  of  corps 
the  children  of  Perez,  the  chief  of  all  the  captains  of  the  army  for  the  first 
month.     "^And  over  the  corps  of  the  second  month  was  Eleazar  the  son  of*^ 
Dodai  the  Ahohite,"^'  and  in  his  course  were  twenty-four  thousand.     ^The 
third  commander  of  the  army  for  the  third  month  was  Benaiah,  the  son  of 
Jehoiada  the  chief  priest;  and  in  his  course  were  twenty-four    thousand. 
^This  is  that  Benaiah,  who  was  the  mighty  hero  of  the  Thirty,  and  over  the 
Thirty;  and  of  his  corps  was  Ammizabad  his  son.     '^The  fourth  commander 
for  the  fourth  month  was  Asahel  the  brother  of  Joab,  and  Zebadiah  his  son 
after  him;  and  in  his  corps  were  twenty-four  thousand.     ^Tlie  fifth  com- 
mander for  the  fifth  month  was  Shamhuth  the  Izrahite;  and  in  his  corps 
were  twenty-four  thousand.     ^The  sixth  for  the  sixth  montli  was  Ira  the  son 
of  Ikkesh  the  Tekoite;  and  in  his  corps  were  twenty-four  thousand.     ^^The 
seventh  for  the  seventh  month  was  Helez  the  Pelonite,  of  the  children  of  Eph- 
raim;  and  in  his  corps  were  twenty-four  thousand.    ^^The  eighth  for  the  eighth 
month  was  Sibbecai  the  Hushathite,  of  the  Zerahites;  and  in  his  corps  were 
twenty  thousand.     ^-The  ninth  for  the  ninth  month  was  Abiezer  the  xlnatho- 
thite,  of  the  Benjamites;  and  in  his  corps  were  twenty-four  thousand.     ^-^The 
tenth  for  the  tenth  month  was  Maharai  the  Netophathite,  of  the  Zerahites;  and 
in  his  corps  were  twenty-four  thousand.  ^^The  eleventh  for  the  eleventh  month 
was  Benaiah  the  Pirathonite,  of   the  Ephraimites;    and   in  his  corps  were 
twenty-four  thousand.     ^^The  twelfth  for  the  twelfth  month  was  Heled  the 
Netophathite,  of  Othniel;  and  in  his  corps  were  twenty-four  thousand. 

^•^Furthermore  over  the  tribes  of  Israel :  as  prince  of  the  Reubenites,  Eliezer  The 
the  son  of  Zichri;    of   the  Simeonites,  Shephatiah  the  son  of  IMaacali;  ^'of  ^0,^,^ 
Levi,  Hashabiah  the  son  of  Kemuel;  of  Aaron,  Zadok  ;  ^^of  Judah,  Eliab,^'  mand- 

'  777  '        ore 

one  of  the  brothers  of  David;  of  Issachar,  Omri  the  son  of  INIichacl  ;  ^^of 
Zebulun,  Ishmaiah  the  son  of  Obadiah;  of  Naphtali,  Jeremoth  the  son  of 
Ezriel;  -"of  the  Ephraimites,  Ilosliea  the  son  of  Azaziah;  of  the  half-tribe  of 
Manasseh,  Joel  the  son  of  Pedaiah;  -'of  the  half-tribe  of  Manasseli  in  (iilead, 
Iddo  the  son  of  Zechariah;  of  Benjamin,  Jaasiel  the  son  of  Abner;  --of  Dan, 
Azarel  the  son  of  Jeroham.  These  were  the  commanders  of  the  tribes  of 
Israel.  -'^Biit  David  had  not  taken  the  number  of  them  from  twenty  years 
old  and  under,  becau.se  Jehovah  had  said  he  would  make  Israel  as  numerous 
as  the  .stars  of  heaven,  ^'^.loab  the  .son  of  Zeruiah  had  begun  to  number,  but 
did  not  finish;  and  there  came  wrath  for  this  upon  Israel,  .so  that  the  number 
was  not  put  into  the  account  in  the  Chronicles  of  King  David. 

"  I  f'hr.  272  f'f.  11"  an<l  the  p.irallcl  in  IT  Sam.  23^. 

"  I  C'hr.  27'  Ueb.,  Dodai,  but  according  to  11'-  and  II  Sam.  2,39,  the  oriKinal   must  have 
read  as  above. 

"  I  f;hr.  27<  Restoring  the  text  which  here  seems  to  have  suffered  through  dittograpliy. 
»  I  Chr.  27'"  Heb.  by  mistake,  Elihu. 

Ill 


ers 


II  Sam.  82]        DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 


Con- 
quest of 
Moab 


Cause 
of  the 
war 
with 
the 
Am- 
mon- 
ites 


First 
victory 
of  the 
Israel- 
ites 
under 
Joab 


§  35.  David's  Wars  of  Conquest,  II  Sam.  8=",  10'-11>,  H^"" 

I  Chr.  182-'\  191-20^ 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.  8  ^Then  David  smote  Moab  and  measured  them  off  with  a  line,  making 
them  He  dowTi  on  the  ground;  and  he  measured  two  Hnes:  one  full  line  to  put  to  death 
and  one  full  line  to  save  alive.''  And  thus  the  Moabites  became  subject  to  Da\'id, 
and  brought  a  present.'' 

10  ^Now  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  the  king  of  the  Ammonites  died 
and  Hanun  his  son  became  king  in  his  place,  ^^^d  David  said,  I  will 
show  kindness  to  Hanun  the  son  of  Nahash  as  his  father  showed  kindness 
to  me.  So  David  sent  by  his  servants  to  condole  with  him  concerning  his 
father.  But  when  David's  servants  came  to  the  land  of  the  Ammonites, 
^the  princes  of  the  Ammonites  said  to  Hanun  their  lord,  Do  you  suppose 
that  David  is  honoring  your  father  in  sending  comforters  to  you  "^  Has 
not  David  sent  his  servants  to  you  to  search  the  city  and  to  spy  it  out  and  to 
overthrow  it  ?  '^So  Hanun  took  David's  servants,  and  shaved  off  the  one 
half  of  their  beards,  cut  their  robes  in  two,  even  to  their  hips,  and  sent  them 
away.  ^When  David  was  informed  regarding  the  men,''  he  sent  to  meet 
them,  for  the  men  were  greatly  ashamed.  And  the  king  said.  Stay  at 
Jericho  until  your  beards  are  grown  and  then  return. 

^Now  when  the  Ammonites  saw  that  they  had  become  odious  to  David, 
the  Ammonites  sent  and  hired  the  Arameans  of  Beth-rehob,  and  the  Ara- 
means  of  Zobah,  twenty  thousand  footmen,  and  the  king  of  Maacah  and  of 
Ishtob'^  with  twelve  thousand  men.  '^And  when  David  heard  of  it,  he  sent 
Joab  and  all  the  army  and  the  trained  warriors.®  ^And  the  Ammonites 
came  out,  and  drew  up  in  battle-array  at  the  entrance  of  the  city.  And  the 
Arameans  of  Zobah  and  Rehob,  and  Ishtob  and  Maacah,  were  by  themselves 


§  35  The  epitome  of  David's  wars  in  II  Sam.  8'-"  correspond  to  the  similar  review  of  Saul's 
wars  in  I  Sam.  14^'-^'.  In  the  original  book,  II  Sam.  8  appears  to  have  been  immediately  fol- 
lowed by  21  as  is  shown  by  the  repetitions  in  parts  of  S^'"'*  and  22-'^--'^.  The  family  history  of 
David  in  9'-20--  was  later  introduced  into  the  book.  This  older  and  fuller  history  of  David  was, 
however,  evidently  before  the  editor  of  the  original  book  of  Sam.  His  brief  resume  of  the  Ara- 
mean  wars  in  S^-^"  was  clearly  based  on  the  more  detailed  narrative  in  10*"'''',  which,  together  with 
lO'--',  ll^-'-'  ^fi-sz,  gives  the  .setting  of  David's  great  sin.  General  character  and  contents  connect 
these  older  and  fuller  narratives  with  the  early  Judean  Saul  story  in  I  Sam.  11. 

The  editor  probably  drew  the  rest  of  the  data  in  8  from  the  Judean  David  narratives.  In 
g7-io,  13,  Ua_  and  possibly  in  S--,  he  appears  to  have  introduced  quotations  from  the  same  source. 
The  account  in  "■  i-  of  the  dedication  of  all  his  spoil  to  Jehovah  reflects  the  ideas  of  a  later  age. 
The  earlier  usage  is  best  represented  in  the  description  of  the  distribution  of  the  spoil  of  the 
vanquished  Amalekites  in  I  Sam.  30--""'. 

The  Chronicler  follows  the  narrative  in  Sam.  very  clo.sely.  He  omits  the  reference  in  8^ 
to  the  wholesale  slaughter  of  the  Moabites  and  the  account  of  David's  sin.  The  result  is  that, 
as  in  the  present  reconstruction,  the  contents  of  II  Sam.  11  are  brought  into  immediate  con- 
junction with  those  of  12-5-*'. 

^  8-  So  Syr.  and  Lat.  Heb.,  tioo  lines  to  put  to  death  mid  one  full  line  to  keep  alive,  i.e.,  two 
out  of  every  three  lines  he  condemned  to  die.  But  the  Gk.  translators  in  attempting  to  restore 
a  better  reading  tacitly  suggest  an  error  in  the  Heb.,  for  they  read  two  lines  in  both  cases.  Ow- 
ing to  a  common  scribal  error  the  full  line  was  in  one  instance  omitted.     Cf.  I  Kgs.  IP*. 

t'  8-  The  euphemistic  manner  of  stating  that  they  paid  tribute. 

"=  10'  So  Gk.  supported  by  Chr.  and  demanded  by  the  context,  although  the  Heb.  omits, 
regarding  the  men. 

<*  106  The  corrected  parallel  in  I  Chr.  19",  reads,  so  they  hired  for  themselves  thirty-two  thou- 
sand chariots  and  horsemen,  and  the  Ammonites  assembled  from  their  cities  and  came  to  fight  the 
Hebrews.  After  Maacah  it  reads  vith  a  thousand  men  and  the  men  of  Tob,  but  this  should  make 
the  force  twenty-three  thousand.  The  error  probably  arose  from  a  confusion  of  the  proper  name, 
Ishtob,  which  is  retained  in  the  Gk. 

"  IC  The  trained  warriors  are  distinct  from  the  array  which  was  made  up  of  the  militia. 
Either  the  last  word  is  a  gloss  or,  as  some  of  the  parallels  suggest,  and  should  be  inserted. 


142 


HIS  WARS  OF  CONQUEST  [II  Sam.  lO^ 

Early  Judean  David  Xarrativcs 

in  the  open  country.  ^But  when  Joab  saw  that  he  was  being  attacked 
both  in  front  and  in  the  rear,  he  selected  the  picked  men  of  Israel,  and  put 
them  in  array  against  the  Arameans.  ^^And  the  rest  of  the  people  he  placed 
under  the  command  of  Abishai  his  brother;  and  he  put  them  in  array  against 
the  Ammonites.  ^^And  he  said,  If  the  Arameans  should  be  too  strong  for 
me,  then  you  shall  help  me,  but  if  the  Ammonites  should  be  too  strong  for 
you,  then  I  will  come  to  your  aid.  ^^Be  courageous  and  let  us  show  our- 
selves men  for  the  sake  of  our  people  and  for  the  cities  of  our  God ;  and  may 
Jehovah  do  that  which  seems  good  to  him.  ^^N^Q^y  when  Joab  and  the 
people  who  were  with  him  drew  near  for  battle  against  the  Arameans,  they 
fled  before  him.  ^'^And  when  the  Ammonites  saw  that  the  Arameans  had 
fled,  they  hkewise  fled  before  xVbishai,  and  entered  into  the  city.  Then  Joab 
returned  from  the  Ammonites,  and  came  to  Jerusalem. 

^^But  when  the  Arameans  saw  that  they  had  been  defeated  by  the  Israel-  The 
ites,  they  gathered  themselves  together,  ^^and  Iladadezer^  sent,  and  brought  c^m"'^ 
out  the  Arameans  who  were  beyond  the  River  [Euphrates],  and  thev  came  vaign 
to  Helam  with  Shobach,  the  commander  of  the  army  of  Hadadezer,  at  their  victory 
head.     ^'And  when  it  was  reported  to  David,  he  gathered  all  Israel  together  "j^'l"" 
and  crossed  over  the  Jordan  and  came  to  Helam.     And  the  Arameans  set  Ara- 


means 


themselves  in  array  against  David  and  fought  with  him.  ^^And  the  Ara- 
means fled  before  Israel;  and  David  slew^  of  the  Arameans  seven  hundred 
horsemen  and  forty  thousand  footmen  ^  and  smote  Shobach  the  commander 
of  their  army,  so  that  he  died  there.  ^^And  w^hen  all  th3  kings  who  were  sub- 
ject to  Hadadezer  saw  that  they  were  defeated  by  Israel,  they  made  peace 
with  Israel  and  w^ere  subject  to  them.  So  the  Arameans  feared  to  help  the 
.:Vmmonites  any  more. 

8  ^Thus  Da\-id  smote  Hadadezer  the  son  of  Rehob,  the  king  of  Zobah,  as  he  went  Subju- 
to  establish  his  rule  at  the  River  Euphrates.      ■'And  David  took  from  him  a  thousand  gation 
chariots  and  seven  thousand  horsemen,''  and  twenty  thousand  footmen:  and  David    |  t?^" 
hamstrung  all  the  chariot  horses  leaving  only  a  hundred  of  them.      ■''And  when  the  andThe 
Arameans  of  Damascus  came  to  help  Hadadezer  king  of  Zobah,   David  smote  of  the  Ara- 
Aramcans  twenty  thousand  men.      ^Then  David  put  garrisons  in  Aram  of  Damascus,  means 
antl  the  Arameans  became  subject  to  David  and  brought  a  present.     And  Jehovah 
helped  David  wlierevcr  he  went. 

^And  David  took  the  shields  of  gold  that  w^ere  on  the  servants  of  Hadad-  The 
ezer,   and  brought   tliem   to    Jerusalem.      ^And  from   Tibhath'   and  from  ^'^"'' 
Berothai,  cities  of  Hadadezer,  King  David  took  a  great  amount  of  brass. 

^And  when  TouJ  king  of  Ilaniath  heard  that  David  had  .smitten  all  the  Gifts  of 
army  of  Hadadezer,  ^"Tou  .sent  Hadoram*^  his  son  to  King  David,  to  greet  king* of 
him  and  to  wish  him  jjood  fortune,  because  he  had  fou<>ht  afrainst  Hadade-  ^'a- 

III  «1 1 11 

zer  and  smitten  him,  for  Hadadezer  was  Ton's  military  antagonist.     And  he 

f  10""'  As  the  result  of  a  common  error,  Iladarezer  is  used  in  the  Heb.  of  this  chapter 
instearl  of  the  correct  spellinp;,  Hadadezer,  as  in  8'-  ^'  '•'". 

«  lO'"  The  Heb.,  sleu)  seven  hundred  chariots,  is  impossible  and  the  fortj/  thousand  horse- 
men, with  no  reference  to  footmen,  is,  to  say  the  least,  extraordinary,  cf.  8^  belov/.  The  parallel 
in  I  Chr.  19'*  reads,  seven  thousand  chariots  and  forty  thousand  footmen.  The  above  probably 
represents  the  original. 

*■  8*  So  Gk.  and  I  Chr.  18^.     Heb.,  seventeen  hundred  horsemen. 

>  8«  So  Gk.  and  the  parallel  in  I  Chr.  18".     Cf.  Gen.  222'. 

i  8"  Heb.,  Toi.     Gk.,  Luc,  and  the  parallel  in  I  Chr.  IS*,  Toti. 

k  8'0  So  Gk.  and  Chr.     Heb.,  Joram. 

143 


II  Sam.  810]       DA\T[D'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

brought  with  him  vessels  of  silver,  of  gold,  and  of  brass.  "These  also  King  David 
dedicated  to  Jehovah,  with  the  sih'er  and  gold  that  he  dedicated  from  all  the  nations 
that  he  subdued — isfpom  Edom, '  Moab,  the  Ammonites,  the  Phihstines,  and  Amalek, 
and  from  the  spoil  of  Hadadezer  son  of  Rehob,  king  of  Zobah. 

Defeat  ^^^Then  David  made  a  reputation  for  himself.  On  his  return,  he  smote 
Edom-  of  the  Edomites  in  the  Valley  of  Salt,™  eighteen  thousand  men.  i^i\.nd  he 
ites        put  garrisons  in  all  Ecjpm;"  and  all  the  Edomites  became  subject  to  David. 

And  Jehovah  helped  David  wherever  he  went. 
Victo-         11  ^Now,  a  year  later, "^  at  the  time  when  kings  are  accustomed  to  go 
conclu-  forth,!'  David  sent  Joab  and  his  servants  with  him,  even  all  Israel;  and  they 
sionof    destroyed  the  Ammonites,  and  besieged  Rabbah.     But  David  remained  at 
with       Jerusalem.      13  -*^And  Joab  fought  against  Rabbah  of  the  Ammonites  and 
^'(^j.       took  the  water  city.'^     ^T'pj^gj^  Joab  sent  messengers  to  David,  saying,  I 
monites  have  fought  against  Rabbah ;  also  I  have  taken  the  water  city.     28]nJq^  there- 
fore gather  the  rest  of  the  people  together,  and  encamp  against  the  city,  and 
take  it,  lest  I  take  the  city  and  it  should  be  called  by  my  name.     -^So  David 
gathered  all  the  people  together  and  went  to  Rabbah  and  fought  against  it 
and  took  it.     ^oAnd  he  took  the  crown  of  Milcom""  from  his  head;  and  its 
weight  was  about  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds^  of  gold,  and  in  it  was  a 
precious  stone;  and  it  was  set  on  David's  head.*     And  he  brought  away  the 
great  amount  of  spoil  that  was  in  the  city.     ^^And  he  brought  away  the 
people  who  were  in  it,  and  put  them  at  the  saws^  and  picks  and  axes  of  iron 
and  made  them  work  at  the  brickmoulds.^    Even  thus  he  did  to  all  the  cities 
of  the  Ammonites.     Then  David  and  all  the  people  returned  to  Jerusalem. 

§  36.  David's  Double  Crime,  11  Sam.  ll^-" 
Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

David's  II  Sam.  11  ^Now  once  at  eventide,  while  Joab  was  besieging  Rabbath- 
Bath-  Ammon,  David  arose  from  his  bed,  and  walked  upon  the  roof  of  the  king's 
sheba     palace;  and  from  the  roof  he  saw  a  woman  bathing.     And  the  woman  was 

'  8^-  So  Gk.,  Syr.,  eleven  Heb.  manuscripts,  and  I  Chr.  18".     Heb.,  Aram. 

m  gi3a  The  Gk.  connects  this  clause  with  the  preceding  paragraph  and  reads  the  re- 
mainder of  the  verse  as  above.  The  same  text  was  probably  before  the  Chronicler  as  the 
basis  of  his  strange  reading,  I  Chr.  18'-,  And  Abishai  the  son  of  Zeruiah  smote  the  Edomites. 
Cf.  I  Kgs.  1115a. 

°  8"  In  the  Heb.,  through  an  awkward  scribal  error,  this  clause  is  repeated,  but  I  Chr.  18'^ 
does  not  have  it. 

"  11'  Heb.,  at  the  return  of  the  year. 

p  111  So  tlie  parallel  in  I  Chr.  20'  and  all  the  other  versions.  Heb.,  when  the  messenger  {of 
David  first)  ivent  forth.     This  may  represent  the  idea  of  the  original  author. 

1  12-"  Heb.,  city  of  kings,  but  this  is  clearly  due  to  a  slight  scribal  error  and  should  read  as 
in  27.  The  water  city  was  probably  an  outlying  fortress,  which  protected  the  water  supply  of 
the  capital. 

r  1230  The  idol  of  the  Ammonite  god. 

»  1230  Heb.,  a  talent  of  gold.  Its  weight  indicating  that  it  could  have  been  placed  only 
upon  an  idol. 

'  1230  J_e.,  the  precious  stone  was  probably  set  in  David's  diadem. 

u  1231  The  Chronicler,  I  Chr.  20',  interpreted  this  to  mean  cut  with  saw,  i.e.,  sawed  them; 
and  he  has  been  followed  by  many  interpreters. 

V  1231  The  misreading  of  one  letter  in  the  Heb.  gives,  pass  through  the  hridtmoulds.  But 
this  is  meaningless.  The  statement  that  he  brought  away  the  people,  as  he  did  the  spoil,  con- 
firms the  conclusion  that  it  was  not  to  put  them  to  death,  but  to  enslave  them. 

§  36  This  faithful  record  of  David's  heinous  sin  plainly  belongs  to  the  earliest  stratum  of 
the  Judean  narratives.  Although  David  was  the  popular  hero  of  his  race,  the  historian  un- 
sparingly lays  bare  the  despicable  motives  and  methods  whereby  he  gratified  his  lust.  Through- 

144 


HIS  DOUBLE   CRBIE  [II  S.^m.  ll^ 

Early  Judean  David  Xarratives 

very  beautiful.  ^And  David  sent  to  inquire  concerning  the  woman.  And 
one  said,  Is  not  this  Bathsheba,  the  wife  of  Uriah  the  Hittite  ?  ^Then  David 
sent  messengers  to  take  her;  and  she  came  to  him,  and  he  lay  with  her — 
she  having  been  purified  from  her  uncleanness.  Then  she  returned  to  her 
house.  °And  the  woman  conceived;  and  she  sent  to  tell  David,  saying,  I 
am  with  child. 

^Then  David  said  to  Joab,  Send  me  Uriah  the  Hittite.  And  Joab  sent  His  at- 
Uriah  to  David.  "And  when  Uriah  had  come  to  him,  David  asked  him  {o'con- 
concerning  the  welfare  of  Joab  and  the  people  and  the  progress  of  the  war.  cealit 
^Then  David  said  to  Uriah,  Go  down  to  your  house  and  wash  your  feet.  And 
Uriah  departed  from  the  king's  house,  and  there  followed  him  a  portion 
from  the  king.  ^But  Uriah  slept  at  the  door  of  the  king's  house  with  the 
senants  of  his  lord  and  did  not  go  down  to  his  house.  ^^Xow  when  it  was 
told  David,  Uriah  did  not  go  down  to  his  house,  David  said  to  Uriah,  have 
you  not  come  from  a  journey  ?  Why  did  you  noi  go  down  to  your  house .'' 
^^But  Uriah  said  to  David,  The  ark  and  Israel  and  Judah  are  abiding  in  huts, 
and  my  master  Joab,  and  the  servants  of  my  lord  are  camping  in  the  open 
fields ;  shall  I  then  go  to  my  house  to  eat  and  drink  and  to  lie  with  my  wife  ! 
As  Jehovah  liveth  and  you  live,^  I  cannot  do  this.  ^^Then  David  said  to 
Uriah,  Stay  here  to-day  also,  and  to-morrow  I  will  let  you  go.  So  Uriah 
remained  in  Jerusalem  that  day.  But  on  the  next  day^  ^^David  invited 
him  and  he  ate  and  drank  before  him,  so  that  he  made  him  drunk.  Then 
in  the  evening  he  went  out  to  lie  on  his  couch  with  the  servants  of  his  lord, 
but  went  not  down  to  his  house. 

^^And  in  the  morning,  David   wrote  a  letter  to  Joab,  and    sent  it  bv  His 
Uriah.     ^^And  he  wrote  in  the  letter  saying.  Set  Uriah  in  the  face  of  the  ^™  ^^ 
fiercest  fighting,  then  retreat  from  behind  him,  that  he  may  be  smitten  and  l-'riah 
die.     ^''So  in  keeping  guard  over  the  city,  Joab  assigned  Uriah  to  the  place 
where  he  knew  valiant  men  were.     ^'And  when  the  city  went  out  to  fight 
with  Joab,  there  fell  some  of  the  soldiers  of  David,  and  Uriah  the  Hittite 
fell  also.     ^^Then  Joab  sent  to  tell  David  all  the  facts  concerning  the  war. 
^^And  he  instructed  the  messenger,  saying.  When  you  have  finished  telling 
all  the  facts  concerning  the  war  to  the  king,  ^'^then  if  the  king's  wrath  is 
aroused,  and  he  say  to  you,  '  Why  did  you  go  so  near  to  the  city  to  fight  ? 
Did  you  not  know  that  they  would  shoot  from  the  wall?     2i'\Yi,o  smote 
Abimelech  the  son  of  Jerubbaal  't^     Did  not  a  woman  cast  an  upper  mill- 
stone upon  him  from  the  wall,  so  that  he  died  at  Thebez  ?     Why  did  you 
go  near  the  wall .''  '     Then  shall  you  say,  '  Your  servant  Uriah  the  Hittite 
is  dead  also.' 

out  these  stories  of  his  family  history  the  earnest  ethical  purpose  of  the  prophetic  teacher  com- 

{)letely  over.sha'iows  the  natural  tenriency  to  idealize  the  character  of  the  Rreat  conquerinE  kinR. 
n  the  flays  of  the  Chronicler,  however,  the  iflealization  has  advanced  so  far  that  he  refrains  from 
all  references  to  David's  crimes  and  their  conse(iueiices. 

"11"   Ileb.,  (iH  you  live  and  as  your  soul  lives,  is  a  tautolop:ical  and  uniirecedentcd  form  of 
oath.     It  is  probably  due  to  a  scribal  error.     The  ordinary  idiom  has  l)een  restored  above. 
^  1 1'2  So  Luc.  and  Syr.      The  Ileb.  does  not  jf)in  lliis  witli  tlio  fullowinR  verse. 
y  1  F'   So  Luc.     The  Ileb.  and  Gk.  have  a  corrupt  form  of  the  name.     Cf.  Jxidg.  9*',  Vol. 
I,  §  142. 

145 


II  Sam.  1122a]    DAVIDS  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Joab's        22agQ  ^j^g  messenger  of  Joab  went  to  the  king  at  Jerusalem  and  came  and 

report     ^^^jj  David  all  that  Joab  commanded  him  concerning  the  war.     23'j'i^gj^  \)^q 

messenger  said  to  David,  The  men  boldly  attacked  us  and  came  out  to  us 

in  the  open  field,  and  so  we  drove  them  back^  even  to  the  entrance  of  the 

gate.     2^*And  the  archers  shot  at  your  servants  from  the  wall;  and  some  of 

the  king's  servants  are  dead.     22b'p]jgj^  David  was  very  angry  with  Joab, 

and  he  said  to  the  messenger.  Why  did  you  go  near  the  city  to  fight  ?     Did 

you  not  know  they  would  shoot  you  from  the  wall  ?     Who  smote  Abim- 

elech,  the  son  of  Jerubbaal  ?  Did  not  a  woman  cast  an  upper  millstone  upon 

him  from  the  wall,  so  that  he  died  in  Thebez  ?     Why  did  you  go  near  the 

wall  .'^     24bj}^j^  ^]^g  messenger  said.  Your  servant  Uriah  the  Hittite  is  dead 

also.     25'p}jgj.pj,pQjj  David  said  to  the  messenger.  Thus  shall  you  say  to 

Joab,  '  Let  not  this  thing  displease  you,  for  the  sword  devours  one  as  well 

as  another;  persist  in  your  attack  upon^  the  city,  and  overthrow  it,'  and 

encourage  him. 

David's      26]\Jq^  when  the  wife  of  Uriah  heard  that  Uriah  her  husband  was  dead, 

riage       ^^^  made  lamentation  for  her  husband.    ^^jJut  ^hen  the  mourning  was  over, 

^'th       David  sent  and  took  her  home  to  his  house,  and  she  became  his  wife  and 

Bheba     bore  him  a  son.     But  the  thing  that  David  had  done  displeased  Jehovah. 

§  37.  David's  Condemnation  and  Punishment,  II  Sam.  Ig'-^a 
Later  Pojndar  Prophetic  Narratives 

Na-  II  Sam.  13  ^Then  Jehovah  sent  the  prophet^  Nathan  to  David.     And 

para-^    he  came  to  him,  and  said  to  him.  There  were  two  men  in  one  city,   the  one 

ble         rich,  the  other  poor.     -The  rich  man    had  very  many  flocks  and  herds. 

^But  the  poor  man  had  nothing,  except  one  little  ewe  lamb,  which  he  had 

bought.     And  he  nourished  it  and  it  grew  up  with  him  and  with  his  children. 

It  used  to  eat  of  his  own  morsel,  and  drink  out  of  his  own  cup,   and  lay  in 

*  11^  Heb.,  we  v^ere  upon  them. 

b  1122b  Following  the  Cik.  which  has  here  preserved  the  fuller  and  probably  original  text, 
but  the  instructions  in  ''•'--'  and  the  reference  to  tlie  facts  stated  in  -■*  indicate  that  this  passage 
belongs  after  -^^. 

<^  11-^  Heb.,  strengthen  your  battle  against. 

§37  The  natural  sequel  of  IP'b  jg  i2isb.  The  thing  that  Dni'id  had  done  was  displeasing  to 
Jehovah,  and  Jehovah  smote  the  child  which  Uriah's  wife  bore  to  David.  This  reflects  the 
primitive  conception  of  divine  retribution.  On  the  other  hand  the  role  of  Nathan  in  12'-'^* 
is  that  of  a  later  Isaiah  or  Jeremiah.  Elsewhere  in  the  oldest  sources  Nathan  figures  rather  as 
the  effective  supporter  of  Bathsheba's  son  Solomon,  I  Kgs.  1.  The  judgment  pronounced  by 
Nathan  in  '0-12  anticipates  the  rebellion  of  Solomon  and  moves  along  still  different  lines  and  may 
be  from  a  third  hand.  David's  guilt  was  a  subject  that  naturally  aroused  the  moral  sense  of  the 
prophets.  His  fasting  and  weeping  in  16-'-',  the  object  of  which  was  not  forgiveness  but  the 
life  of  the  child,  were  in  harmony  with  his  character  in  the  early  records  and  with  the  spirit  of 
his  age;  but  they  did  not  satisfy  the  more  exalted  standards  of  the  later  prophets.  In  the 
thought  of  their  age  David  was  conceived  of  as  the  man  after  God's  own  heart.  It  was  inevi- 
table that  they  should  also  think  of  him  as  confessing  his  sin,  as  he  doubtless  would,  had  he 
enjoyed  the  benefit  of  the  noble  teachings  of  Hosea  or  Isaiah.  In  this  later  tradition  he  is  the 
classic  example  of  the  royal  penitent.  Powerfully  and  effectively  the  dramatic  story  conveys 
the  universal  truths  regarfiing  the  duty  and  beauty  of  frank  confession.  It  only  remained  for  a 
still  later  Psalmist  to  voice  the  passionate  cry  for  forgiveness  which  rings  through  the  fifty- 
first  psalm. 

■The  parable  of  the  poor  man  with  his  one  ewe  lamb  is  characterized  throughout  by  a 
marked  poetic  parallelism,  although  the  metrical  structure  is  so  irregular  that  it  is  not  practi- 
cable to  print  it  as  a  poem. 

d  12'  So  certain  Heb.  MSS.,  Gk.,  and  Syr. 

146 


HIS  CONDEMNATION  AND   PUNISHMENT  [II  Sam.  123 
Later  Popular  Prophetic  Narratives 

his  bosom,  and  was  to  him  as  a  daughter.  "^But  there  came  a  traveller  to 
the  rich  man,  and  he  spared  his  own  flock  and  did  not  take  from  it  nor  from 
his  own  herd  to  make  ready  for  the  traveller  who  had  come  to  him,  but  took 
the  poor  man's  lamb  and  prepared  it  for  the  man  who  had  come  to  him. 
°Then  David's  anger  was  greatly  aroused  against  the  man,  and  he  said  to 
Nathan,  As  Jehovah  liveth,  the  man  who  has  done  this  is  worthy  of  death, 
^and  he  shall  restore  the  Iamb  sevenfold,®  because  he  showed  no  pity. 

"^Therefore  Nathan  said  to  David,  You  are  the  man!  Thus  saith  Je-  Con- 
hovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  '  I  anointed  thee  king  over  Israel  and  I  delivered  t^j^'J^of' 
thee  out  of  the  hand  of  Saul,  ^and  I  gave  thee  thy  master's  house  and  thy  David 
master's  wives  into  thy  bosom,  and  gave  thee  the  house  of  Israel  and  of 
Judah,  and  if  that  were  too  little,  I  would  add  to  you  as  much  asrain.'^ 
^Why  have  you  desj^ised  the  word  of  Jehovah  by  doing  that  which  is  evil ? 
You  have  smitten  Uriah  the  Hittite  with  the  sword,  and  have  taken  his 
wife  to  be  your  wife,  and  have  slain  him  with  the  sword  of  the  Ammonites. 
^^Now  therefore  the  sword  shall  never  depart  from  your  house,  because 
you  have  despised  me  and  have  taken  the  wife  of  Uriah  the  Ilittite  to  be  your 
wife.  ^^Thus  saith  Jehovah,  '  Behold,  I  will  raise  up  evil  against  thee  out 
of  thine  own  house,  and  I  will  take  thy  wives  from  before  thine  eyes  and 
give  them  to  thy  neighbor,  and  he  shall  lie  with  thy  wives  in  the  sight  of 
this  sun,  ^-for  thou  didst  it  secretly;  but  I  will  do  this  thing  before  all  Israel, 
and  before  the  sun.'  ^^Then  David  said  to  Nathan,  I  have  sinned  against 
Jehovah.  And  Nathan  said  to  David,  Jehovah  also  put  away  your  sin; 
you  shall  not  die.  ^"^Yet,  because  by  this  deed  you  liave  scorned^  Jehovah, 
the  child  also  that  is  born  to  you  shall  surely  die.  ^^And  Nathan  departed 
to  his  house. 

Earhj  Judcan  David  Narratives 

And  J(>liovah  smote  the  child  which  Uriah's  wife  bore  to  David,  so  that  Death 
it  fell  sick.     ^"^Then  David  besought  God  for  the  child,  and  fasted  and  went  ijavid's 
in  and  lay  all  night  in  sackcloth^  upon  the  earth.     ^'^And  the  elders  of  his  first  son 
house  stood  over  him  in  order  to  raise  him  up  from  the  earth;  but  he  would  Bath- 
not  arise,  neither  would  he  eat  bread  with  them.     ^^But  on  the  seventh  day  ^^^  "^ 
the  child  died.     .\nd  the  servants  of  David  feared  to  tell  luin  that  the  child 
was  dead,  for  they  said.  Behold  while  the  child  was  yet  alive,  we  spoke  to 
him,  and  he  hearkened  not  to  our  voice;  how  can  we  say  the  child  is  dead, 
for  he  will  do  .some  harm  !     ^^But  when  David  saw  that  his  .servants  were 
whispering  together,  David  perceived  that  the  child  was  dead,  and  David 
said  to  his  .servants,  Is  the  child  dead  ?     And  they  said.  He  is  dead.     -^Then 
David  arose  from  the  earth,  and  washed  and  anointed  himself,  and  changed 


•  12*  So  Gk.  Heb.,  fourfold.  The  change  was  |.i«l.;iMy  made  to  harmonize  it  with  the 
law  of  Ex.  22'. 

'  1 2*  Or,  in  this  or  thai  way. 

«  12"  A  later  scribe  has  inserted,  enemies  after  scorned  in  order  to  relieve  the  offensive 
expression. 

•' 12"''  /n  «acA:c/o</i  is  found  only  in  Luc.     ('f. -". 

147 


II  Sam.  1220]     DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

his  garments;  and  he  came  into  the  house  of  Jehovah  and  worshipped. 
Then  he  went  to  his  own  house;  and  he  asked  for  bread  and  they  set  it  before 
him  and  he  ate.  -^Then  said  his  servants  to  him,  What  is  this  you  have 
done  ?  You  fasted  and  wept  for  the  child,  while  it  was  alive,  but  when  the 
child  died,  you  arose  and  ate  bread.  ^2^,^^  \^q  g^JJ^  While  the  child  was 
yet  alive,  I  fasted  and  wept;  for  I  said,  '  Who  knows  whether  Jehovah  will 
have  mercy,  so  that  the  child  will  live  ?  '  ^Sg^j-  j^q^  ]jg  jg  dead;  why  should 
I  fast  ?  Can  I  bring  him  back  again  ?  I  am  going  to  him,  but  he  will  not 
come  back  to  me. 


§  38.  Birth  of  Solomon,  II  Sam.  12=4. 


25 


Birth 

and 

name 

the 

second 

son 


Early  Jtidean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.   12  24Then  David  comforted  Bathsheba  his  wife,  and  went  in 
of  unto  her  and  lay  with  her  and  she  conceived'  and  bore  a  son  whose  name 
he  called  Solomon.     And  Jehovah  loved  him,  ^Sand  sent  a  message  through^ 
Nathan  the  prophet;  and  he  called  his  name  Jedidiah  [The  Beloved  of  Je- 
hovah], according  to  the  command  of  Jehovah.'^ 


Am- 

non's 

base 

passion 

for 

Tamar 


§  39.  The  Crime  of  Amnon  and  Absalom's  Revenge,  II  Sam.  13'-^^ 
Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.  13  ^Now  afterwards  it  came  to  pass  that  Absalom  the  son  of 
David  had  a  beautiful  sister,  whose  name  was  Tamar;  and  Amnon  the  son 
of  David  loved  her.  -And  Amnon  was  so  distressed  that  he  became  sick 
because  of  his  sister  Tamar — for  she  was  a  virgin — and  it  seemed  to  Amnon 
impossible  to  do  anything  to  her.  ^But  Amnon  had  a  friend  whose  name 
was  Jonadab  the  son  of  Shimeah,  David's  brother,  and  Jonadab  was  a  very 
shrewd  man.  '^And  he  said  to  him.  Why  are  you,  a  king's  son,  so  ill  every 
morning  ?  Will  you  not  tell  me  ?  And  Amnon  said  to  him,  I  love  Tamar, 
my  brother  Absalom's  sister.  ^And  Jonadab  said  to  him.  Lie  down  on 
your  bed,  and  pretend  to  be  sick.  Then  when  your  father  comes  to  see 
you,  say  to  him,  '  Let  my  sister  Tamar  come  and  give  me  bread  to  eat,  and 
prepare  the  food  in  my  sight,  that  I  may  see  it  and  eat  from  her  hand.'  ^So 
Amnon  lay  down  and  pretended  to  be  sick.  And  when  the  king  came 
to  see  him,  Amnon  said  to  the  king.  Let  my  sister  Tamar  come  and  make  a 
few'  heart-shaped  cakes  in  my  sight,  that  I  may  eat  from  her  hand. 


•  12«  So  Gk.,  but  omitted  in  the  Heb. 

i  12-5  Heb.,  sent  by  the  hand  of.  A  slight  emendation  of  the  text  gives  a  reading  consistent 
with  Nathan's  prominent  position  in  I  Kgs.  1,  and  he  vns  niven  over  to  Nathan. 

^  1225  Sq  Luc.  and  one  Heb.  text.     Accepted  Heb.,  for  Jehovah's  sake. 

§  39  The  familiar  story  of  the  sins  of  David's  sons  and  the  train  of  disasters  that  resulted 
from  them  is  taken  from  the  ancient  David  narratives.  All  the  different  sections  are  clo.sely 
connected,  each  constituting  a  scene  in  the  stupendous  tragedy  which  portrays  not  merely  the 
anguish  of  the  king  but  also  the  temporary  dismemberment  of  the  nation.  With  only  slight 
additions,  later  editors  and  copyists  have  given  u.s  the  story  practically  as  it  came  from  the  pen 
of  the  original  prophet  historian. 

'  13^  Heb.  idiom,  two. 


148 


THE   CRIME  OF  AMNON  [II  Sam.  13^ 

Early  Judcan  David  Xarratives 

"So  David  sent  home  to  Tamar,  saying,  Go  now  to  your  brother  Amnon's  His 
house,  and  prepare  food  for  him.  ^So  Tamar  went  to  her  brother  .Amnon's  ii^,^?}^' 
house  while  he  lay  in  bed.  And  she  took  dough  and  kneaded  it  and  made  assault 
cakes  as  he  looked  on,  and  baked  the  cakes.  'And  she  took  the  pan  and  poured 
them  out  before  him,  but  he  refused  to  eat.  And  Anmon  said,  Let  all  go  out  from 
me.  And  they  all  went  out  from  him.™  ^*^And  Amnon  said  to  Tamar,  Bring 
the  food  into  the  inner  room,  that  I  may  take  from  your  hand.  And  Tamar 
took  the  cakes  which  she  had  made,  and  brought  them  into  the  inner  room 
to  Amnon  her  brother.  ^^And  when  she  had  brought  them  to  him  to  eat, 
he  took  hold  of  her  and  said  to  her.  Come,  lie  with  me,  my  sister.  ^-And 
she  answered  him.  No,  my  brother,  do  not  force  me,  for  it  is  not  so  done  in 
Israel;  do  not  commit  this  impious  act  of  folly.  ^^And  as  for  me,  whither 
could  I  carry  my  shame  ?  and  as  for  you,  you  would  become  one  of  the  impious 
fools  in  Israel.  Now  therefore,  I  beg  you,  speak  to  the  king,  for  he  will  not 
withhold  me  from  vou.  ^^But  he  would  not  hearken  to  her,  btit  being: 
stronger  than  she,  he  violated  her  and  lay  with  her. 

^^Then  Amnon  hated  her  with  great  hatred,  for  the  hatred  with  which  he  His 
hated  her  was  greater  than  the  love  with  which  he  had  loved  her.     And  [^'"*^' 
Amnon  said  to  her,  Arise,  be  gone  !     ^"^But  she  said  to  him,  No,  my  brother;  ■"'^ke 
far  greater  is  the  second  wrong  in  sending  me  away  than  the  first  that  you  for  his 
did  to  me.*^     And  he  would  not  listen  to  her,  ^''but  called  his  servant  who  ''"^^ 
was  standing  in  front  of  the  house °  and  said,  Put  this  woman  out  from  my 
presence,  and  bolt  the  door  after  her.      '■^And  she  wore  a  long-sleeved  tunic,  for 
thus  the  royal  maidens  were  formerly  wont  to  be  clad.p     Then  his  servant  put  her 
out  and  bolted  the  door  after  her.     ^^And  Tamar  put  ashes  on  her  head, 
and  rent  her  long-sleeved  tunic  which  she  wore;  and  she  put  her  hand  on 
her  head,  and  went  her  way,  crying  aloud  as  she  went. 

20And  Absalom  her  own  brother  said  to  her.  Has  Amnon  your  brother  David's 
been  with  you  ?     But  now,  my  sister,  be  silent,  for  he  is  your  brother;  do  not  J"^,^' 
take  this  thing  to  heart.     So  Tamar  dwelt  desolate  in  her  brother  Absalom's  and 
house.  -^But  when  King  David  heard  of  all  these  things,  he  was  very  angry,  ioni's 
but  he  did  not  discipline'^  Amnon  his  son,  for  he  loved  him,  because  he  was  hatred 
his  eldest.'"     -^-^And  Absalom  spoke  to  Amnon  neither  good  nor  bad;  for 
Absalom  hated  Amnon,  because  he  had  violated  his  sister  Tamar. 

™  139  This  verse  breaks  the  continuity  of  the  story  and  is  out  of  harmony  with  its  conte.\t. 
Possibly  '"  is  also  a  later  addition. 

n  1310  xhe  Heb.  text  is  obscure.  Luc,  which  is  here  followed,  lias  probably  retained  the 
original. 

"  1.3"  So  Gk.     Heb.,  who  ministered  to  him. 

p  I.3'8  This  is  evidently  an  explanatory  gloss,  intended  to  explain  i',  but  awkwardly  intro- 
duced into  the  pre.sent  context. 

">  1.3-'  Heb.,   vex  the  soul  of. 

'  1321  So  Gk.     The  verse  is  incomplete  in  the  Heb. 


149 


loni's 
revenge 


II  Sam.  1323]     DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

§  4U.  Absalom's  Revenge,  II  Sam.  IS-^-^^ 
Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Absa-         II  Sam.  13  23Xow  it  happened  after  two  years,  that  Absalom  had  sheep- 
shearers  in  Baal  Hazor  near  Ephraim,  and  Absalom  invited  all  the  king's 
sons.     -^And  Absalom  came  to  the  king  and  said,  See  your  servant  has  sheep- 
shearers;  let  the  king,  I  pray,  and  his  servants  go  with  your  servant.     25J3^^■ 
the  king  said  to  Absalom,  No  my  son,  let  us  not  all  go,  lest  we  be  burden- 
some to  you.     And  he  pressed  him;  however,  he  would  not  go  but  bade  him 
farewell.     ^G^pj^g^  Absalom  said,  If  not,  then  let  my  brother  Amnon  go 
with  us.     And  the  king  said,  Why  should  he  go  with  you .''     ^zg^t  when 
Absalom  pressed  him,  he  let  Amnon  and  all  the  king's  sons  go  with  him. 
^^Then  Absalom  commanded  his  servants,  saying.  See  to  it,  when  Amnon's 
heart  is  merry  with  wine,  and  when  I  say  to  you,  '  Smite  Amnon,'  then  kill 
him.     Fear  not;  have  not  I  commanded  you?     Be  brave  and  show  your- 
selves valiant  men  I-''     -^And  the  servants  of  Absalom  did  to  Amnon  as  Absa- 
lom had  commanded.     Then  all  the  king's  sons  arose  and  each  mounted 
his  mule  and  fled. 
David's      30  ^j^j  while  they  were  on  the  way,  the  news  came  to  David :  Absalom  has 
tfono'f    slain  all  the  king's  sons  so  that  there  is  not  one  of  them  left.     3ixhen  the 
the         king  arose  and  tore  his  clothes  and  lay  on  the  earth;  and  all  his  servants 
of  who  were  standing  by  him  tore  their  clothes*  and  stood  with  torn  clothes. 

non'a  ^^And  Jonadab  the  son  of  Shimeah,  David's  brother,  answered  and  said, 
death  Let  not  my  lord  suppose  that  they  have  killed  all  the  young  men,  the  king's 
sons,  for  Amnon  only  is  dead,  since  by  the  statement  of  Absalom  this  was 
decided  from  the  day  of  the  violation  of  his  sister  Tamar.  33]sfQ^  therefore 
let  not  my  lord  the  king  take  this  thing  to  heart,  to  think  that  all  the  king's 
sons  are  dead;  for  Amnon  only  is  dead.  34^nti  when  the  watchman  lifted 
up  his  eyes  and  looked,  there  were  many  people  coming  down  the  descent 
on  the  Bethhoron  road.  And  the  watchman  came  and  told  the  king,  saying, 
I  have  seen  people  coming  down  from  the  Bethhoron  road  by  the  side  of  the 
hill.'^  35,^jjd  Jonadab  said  to  the  king.  There  the  king's  sons  are  coming, 
as  your  servant  said  so  it  has  come  to  pass.  36^s  goon  as  he  had  finished 
speaking,  the  king's  sons  came  and  lifted  up  their  voices  and  wept;  and  the 
king  also  and  all  his  servants  wept  loudly. 
Absa-  37b\j^(j  David  mourned  continually  for  his  son.  37ai}u^  Absalom  fled^ 
flight  3'iid  went  to  Talmai  the  son  of  Amihud,  king  of  Geshur,  38and  remained 
there  three  years.  39\nfi  ti^e  spirit^  of  King  David  longed  to  go  out  to 
Absalom,  for  he  was  comforted  for  the  death  of  Amnon. 


"  13^8  So  Gk.,  but  omitted  by  a  mistake  in  Heb. 

»  1331   So  Gk. 

"  133^  So  Gk.   Owing  to  a  common  scribal  error  half  of  the  verse  has  been  lost  from  the  Heb. 

V  1337a  xhe  clause,  Absalom  fled,  has  been  repeated  three  times  in  the  Heb.,  **•  ^^a,  38a_ 
Its  original  position  was  probably  in  ssa  ^  scribe  has  also  apparently  introduced  ssa  before 
37b.    The  result  is  repetition  and  confusion.     The  original  reading  has  been  restored  above. 

'^  1339  So  Luc. 


150 


PARDON  AND  RETURN  OF  ABSALOM    [II  Saai.  U^ 

^  41.  Pardon  and  Return  of  Absalom,  II  Sam.  1-1 
Early  Judean  David  Xarratives 

II  Sam.  14  ^Now  when  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah  perceived  that  the  king's  Joab'a 
heart  was  favorable  towards  Absalom,  -Joab  sent  to  Tekoa  and  brought  tn'gue 
from  there  a  wise  woman  and  said  to  her,  Pretend  to  be  a  mourner  and  to  se- 
put  on  mourning  garments  and  do  not  anoint  yourself  with  oil,  but  be-  Absa- 
come  like  a  woman  who  has  been  many  days  mourning  for  one  dead,  'pj^jon 
^and  go  to  the  king  and  speak  thus  with  him.  So  Joab  put  the  words  in  her 
mouth. 

^And  the  Tekoite  woman  came  to  the  king,  and  prostrated  herself  upon  Ficti- 
the  ground  and  did  obeisance,  crying.  Help,  O  king,  help  !^     ^And  the  king  |,gt"r 
said  to  her.  What  is  wrong  with   you  ?      And   she   said.  Verily,  I   am    a  ti"'"  "f 
widow  and  my  husband  is  dead.     ^And  your  maid-servant  had  two  sons,  Tekoite 
and  these  two  quarrelled  in  the  field  when  there  was  no  one  to  part  them,  '""°"^^'' 
and  one  smote  the  other  and  killed  him.     "And  now  the  whole  clan  has  risen 
up  against  your  maid-servant  and  say,  '  Deliver  up  the  slayer  of  his  brother, 
that  we  may  put  him  to  death  for  the  life  of  his  brother  whom  he  has  killed, 
and  we  will  destroy  the  heir.'     Thus  they  will  quench  my  remaining  coal 
so  as  to  leave  to  my  husband  neither  name  nor  remnant  on  the  face  of  the 
earth. 

^Then  the  king  said  to  the  woman,  Go  to  your  house  and  I  will  give  orders  David's 
regarding  you.  ^And  the  woman  of  Tekoa  said  to  the  king,  My  lord.  O  king,  ciTion 
the  guilt  be  on  me  and  on  my  father's  house;  and  the  king  and  his  throne  be 
innocent.  ^^And  the  king  said.  Whoever  saith  anything  to  you  bring  him 
to  me  and  he  shall  not  touch  you  again.  ^^Then  she,said,  I  pray,  let  the 
king  swear  by  Jehovah  thy  God,  not  to  let  the  avenger  of  blood  destroy  and 
not  to  let  them  exterminate  my  son.  And  he  said.  As  Jehovah  liveth,  not 
one  hair  of  your  son  shall  fall  to  the  ground. 

^-Then  the  woman  said.  Let  your  maid-servant,  I  pray  you,  speak  a  word  AppH- 
to  my  lord  the  king.     And  he  said,  Speak.     ^•'^And  the  woman  said.  Why  ofVhe 
then  do  you  devise  such  a  thing  against  the  people  of  God  ?     For  in  render-  princi- 
ing  this  decision  the  king  is  as  one  that  is  guilty,  in  that  the  king  does  not  to  the 
bring  back  his  banished  one.      ^^For  we  die  and  are  as  water  sj)ilt  on  the  j^jge 
ground,  which  cannot  be  gathered  up  again;  and  (iod  will  not  take  away 
the  life  of  him  who  devises  means  not  to  keep  in  banishment  one  who  is 
baiu'shed.'^     ^^Now  the  reason  why  I  have  come  to  speak  this  word  to  my 
lord  the  king  is  because  the  people  made  me  afraid,  and  your  maid-servant 
said,  '  I  will  now  speak  to  the  king;   it  may  be  that   the  king  will   perform 
the  request  of  his  servant.'     ^''For  the  king  will  hear,  to  deliver  his  servant 
out  of  the  hand  of  the  man  who  seeks  to  destroy  me  and  my  son  from  the 
heritage  of  Jehovah.'^     I'Then   vonr  maid-servant  said,  '  Let  the  word  of 
my  lord  the  king  be  a  comfort,  for  like  the  Messenger  of  God  is  my  lord  the 
king  to  hear  good  and  evil.'     And  Jehovah  thy  God  be  with  you. 

*  14^  So  Gk.     The  seconrl  Ae^p  isomitteri  in  the  Pleb. 

a  ]4iii>  TJig  latlor  part  f)f  this  verse  is  obscure.     The  above  rearlinc  is  based  upon  a  slight 
correction  of  the  text.     The  Heb.  reafls.  Cod  will  not  lake  axtaji  life  but  desireth  means. 
b  1410  Following  the  sugge^rition  of  Luc.  and  Targ.     Heb.,  God. 

151 


II  Sam.  14I8]     DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

His  ^^Tlien  the  king  answered  and  said  to  the  woman,  Do  not  conceal  from 

ciatlon    iii6>  I  PJ'^J'  anything  that  I  may  ask  you.     And  the  woman  said,  Let  my 

of  lord  the  king  now  speak.     ^^And  the  king  said.  Was  the  hand  of  Joab  with 

pur-       you  in  all  this  ?     And  the  woman  answered  and  said,  As  sure  as  you  live, 

^'^^^       my  lord  the  king,  I  cannot  turn  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left  from  all  that 

my  lord  the  king  has  spoken,  for  your  servant  Joab  bade  me  put  all  these 

words  in  the  mouth  of  your  maid-servant;  "*^in  order  to  change  the  face  of 

affairs  has  your  servant  done  this  thing.     But  my  lord  is  wise,  according  to 

the  wisdom  of  the  Messenger  of  God,  so  that  he  knows  all  things  that  are  in 

the  earth. 

Return       ^^And  tlie  king  said  to  Joab,  See  now,  I  have  granted  this  request;  go 

salom     therefore,  bring  the  young  man  Absalom  back.     -^Then  Joab  fell  to  the 

ground  on  his  face  and  did  obeisance  and  blessed  the  king.     And  Joab  said, 

To-day  your  servant  knows  that  I  have  found  favor  in  your  sight,  my  lord, 

O  king,  in  that  the  king  has  granted  the  request  of  his  servant.     -^So  Joab 

arose  and  went  to  Geshur,  and  brought  Absalom  back  to  Jerusalem.     24\j^j 

the  king  said,  Let  him  live  apart  in  his  own  house,  but  my  face  he  shall  not 

see.     So  Absalom  lived  apart  to  his  own  house,  but  he  did  not  see  the  king's 

face. 

His  25Nq^  no  man  in  Israel  was  so  praiseworthy  for  his  beauty  as  Absalom :  from  the 

per-         sole  of  his  foot  even  to  the  crown  of  his  head  there  was  no  blemish  in  him.<^     ^e^^nd 

sonal       when  he  shaved  his  head — at  the  end  every  year  he  cut  it,  because  it  was  heavy  on 

beau  y    j^jj^^^  therefore  he  cut  it — he  would  weigh  his  hair,  about  §ix  pounds'*  according  to  the 

royal  standard  of  weiglit.     '-"And  to  Absalom  there  were  born  three  sons  and  one 

daughter,  whose  name  was  Tamar — she  was  a  beautiful  woman. 

Resto-        28^j^j  Absalom  dwelt  two  years  in  Jerusalem,  without  seeing  the  king's 

to^royal  face.     ^Q'pj^gj^  Absalom  sent  for  Joab  to  send  him  to  the  king;  but  he  would 

favor      j^Qt  come  to  him.     Then  he  sent  again  a  second  time,  but  he  would  not  come. 

2*^Tlierefore  he  said  to  his  servants.  See  Joab's  field  is  near  mine,  where  he 

has  barley;  go  and  set  it  on  fire.®     ^^Then  Joab  arose,  and  came  to  Absalom 

at  his  house  and  said  to  him,  Why  have  your  servants  set  my  field  on  fire .'' 

^^And  Absalom  answered  Joab,  Behold,  I  sent  to  you,  saying,  '  Come  here 

that  I  may  send  you  to  the  king,  to  say,  "  Why  have  I  come  from  Geshur  ? 

It  were  better  for  me  to  be  there  still."  '     Now  therefore  let  me  see  the  king's 

face,  and  if  there  be  guilt  in  me,  let  him  kill  me.     ^^And  when  Joab  went 

to  the  king  and  told  him,  he  called  Absalom.     And  he  came  to  the  king  and 

bowed  himself  with  his  face  to  the  ground  before  the  king.     Then  the  king 

kissed  Absalom. 


c  1425-27  The  statement  in  IS**  that  Absalom  had  no  children  indicates  that  -^  was  drawn 
from  a  source  distinct  from  the  early  David  narratives.  The  reference  in  -"  to  the  royal  stand- 
ard of  weight  also  implies  that,  as  in  later  times,  two  systems  were  then  in  use.  This  description 
of  Absalom  is  clearly  a  later  addition  to  the  original  narrative  which  is  found  in  ^^  and  its  imme- 
diate sequel  -s. 

d  142s  Heb.,  two  hundred  shekels,  probably  according  to  the  Babylonian  standard.  Gk., 
one  hundred. 

«  143°  Gk.  adds  with  some  probability  of  originality,  And  the  servants  of  Joab  came  to  him 
ivith  torn  dothea  and  said.  The  servants  of  Absalom  have  set  the  field  on  fire. 


152 


ABSALOM'S  REBELLION  [II  Sam.  15I 

§  42.  Absalom's  Rebellion,  II  Sam.  IS^-IS^- 
Earhj  Jiidean  David  Narratives 

II  Sam.   15  ^Now  later  Absalom  prepared  a  chariot  and   horses   and  Absa- 
fifty  men  to  run  before  him.     ^^j^^j  Absalom  used  to  rise  early  and  stand  '*^™^ 
beside  the  way  which  led  to  the  gate,  and  every  man  who  had  a  suit  to  come  t'isues 
before  the  king  for  judgment,  Absalom  would  call  to  himself  and  say,  Of  ilia?°''" 
what  city  are  you  ?     And  when  he  replied,  Your  servant  is  of  one  of  the  ^'^^°'" 
tribes  of  Israel,  ^Absalom  said  to  him,  Evidently  your  claims  are  good  and 
right;  but  there  is  no  man  deputed  by  the  king  to  hear  you.     ^Absalom  said 
moreover,  O  that  someone  would  make  me  judge  in  the  land,  that  to  me 
might  come  every  man  who  has  any  suit  or  cause,  and  I  would  give  him 
justice !     ^And  whenever  man  came  near  to  do  obeisance,  he  would  put  out 
his  hand  and  take  hold  of  him  and  kiss  him.     ^And  in  this  way  Absalom 
did  to  all  the  Israelites  who  came  to  the  king  for  judgment.     So  Absalom 
stole  the  hearts  of  the  men  of  Israel. 

^And  at  the  end  of  four^  years,  Absalom  said  to  the  king,  I  would  like  to  The 
go  and  pay  my  vow,  which  I  have  vowed  to  Jehovah,  in  Hebron.  ^For  your  ^y^tlon 
servant  vowed  the  following  vowS  while  I  abode  at  Geshur  in  Aram,  '  If 
Jehovah  shall  indeed  bring  me  back  to  Jerusalem,  I  will  serve  Jehovah  in 
Hebron.'^  ^Then  the  king  said  to  him,  Go  in  peace.  So  he  arose,  and  went 
to  Hebron.  ^'^But  Absalom  sent  emissaries  into  all  the  tribes  of  Israel, 
saying,  As  soon  as  you  hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  then  say,  '  Absalom 
has  become  king  in  Hebron.'  ^^And  with  Absalom  went  two  hundred  men 
from  Jerusalem,  who  were  invited  and  went  in  their  innocence  and  knew 
nothing  at  all.  ^2\nd  Absalom  sent  and  called'  Ahithophel  the  Gilonite, 
David's  counsellor,  from  his  city  Giloh,  while  he  was  offering  the  sacrifices. 
And  the  conspiracy  was  strong,  for  the  people  with  Absalom  kept  increasing. 

^^And  when  a  messenger  came  to  David,  saying,  The  heart  of  the  men  of  David's 
Israel  has  gone  after  Absalom,  ^^David  said  to  all  his  servants  who  were  f^'.f^ 
with  him  at  Jerusalem,  Up,  let  us  flee;  for  otherwise  there  will  he  for  us  no  Jcni- 
escape  from  Absalom.     Make  haste  to  depart,  lest  he  quickly  overtake  us 
and  bring  down  evil  upon  us  and  j)ut  the  city  to  the  edge  of  the  sword.     ^^Then 
the  king's  servants  said  to  the  king.  Just  as  our  lord  the  king  decides,  we  are 
your  serv'ants.     ^^So  the  king  went  out,  and  all  his  household  with  him. 
And  the  king  left  behind  ten  concubines  to  keep  the  ])alace.     ^"And  the  king 
and  all  the  people  who  followed  him  went  out  and  stood  at  the  last  house, 
l^while  all  his  officers  passed  beside  him,  and  all  the  Cherethites  and  all  the 
Pelethites  and  all  the  men  of  Ittai  the  Gittite,J  six  hundred  who  had  followed 
him  from  Gath  passed  on  before  the  king. 

§  42  The  unity  of  this  remarkably  well-told  narrative  and  its  kinship  with  those  which 
precede  and  follow  are  obvious.  David's  character,  like  that  of  many  other  men,  is  much 
stroiiKer  and  attractive  in  ad\ersity  than  in  i)rosperity. 

'1.5'  So  Luc,  Theod.,  and  .loseplius.      }\c]).,  forty. 

K  1.5*   For  a  similar  vow,  cf.  JuiIk.  1  !■*"■  '-'K 

''  1.5'  So  Luc.     Ileb.  omits,  in //etiron. 

'  1.5'-  So  ]aic.      Heb.,  sent. 

J  1.5'«  Vs.  ''•<  implies  that  Ittai  the  Oittite  has  Iieen  mentioned  in  i*.  The  relative  clause 
in  '«''  also  clearly  applies  to  him.  The  Gitlitc  of  tlie  Ilcb.  should  therefore  reatl,  the  men  o/  Ittai 
the  Gittite. 

153 


Loyalty 
of  Ittai 
the  Git- 
tite 


David's 
direc- 
tions to 
the 
priests 


To  his 
friend 
Hushai 


II  Sam.  1519]     DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

i^Then  said  the  king  to  Ittai  the  Gittite,  Why  will  you  also  go  with  us  ? 
Return  and  stay  with  the  king;  for  you  are  a  foreigner  and  an  exile  from 
your  own  land.  ^Oyesterday  you  came  and  to-day  shall  I  make  you  wander 
with  us,  while  I  go  whither  I  may  ?  Return,  and  take  your  fellow  country- 
men back  with  you;  and  Jehovah  will  show  you  kindness  and  faithfulness.'' 
^^But  Ittai  answered  the  king,  and  said,  As  Jehovah  liveth  and  as  my  lord 
the  king  liveth,  wherever  my  lord  the  king  shall  be — whether  for  death  or 
for  life — there  will  your  servant  be.  ^-And  David  said  to  Ittai,  Well  then, 
go,  and  pass  on.  So  Ittai  the  Gittite  passed  on  with  all  his  men  and  all  the 
little  ones  that  were  with  him. 

-^And  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  were  weeping  loudly  as  all  the  people 
passed  on.  While  the  king  stood'  in  the  Kidron  valley,  the  people  were 
passing  by  before  him  toward  the  olive  tree*"  in  the  wilderness.  ^^And 
there  was  Zadok  and  Abiathar"  with  him,  bearing  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
God,  until  all  the  people  had  all  passed  out  of  the  city,  ^s^j^^j  ^}jg  king  said 
to  Zadok  and  Abiathar,  Carry  back  the  ark  of  God  into  the  city.  If  I  shall 
find  favor  in  the  eyes  of  Jehovah,  he  will  bring  me  back,  and  show  me  both 
it  and  his  dwelling,  ^eg^^  jf  j^g  gg^y^  '  j  Jj^ve  no  delight  in  thee';  then  here 
am  I,  let  him  do  to  me  as  seemeth  good  to  him.  -"The  king  also  said  to 
Zadok  and  Abiathar °  the  priests.  Behold,  return  to  the  city  in  peace  and 
your  two  sons  with  you,  Ahimaaz  your  son  and  Jonathan  the  son  of  Abia- 
thar. 28gpg^  J  g^jj^  going  to  delay  at  the  fords  of  the  wilderness,  until  word 
comes  from  you  to  inform  me.  ^Ofjj^j.gfQj.g  Zadok  and  Abiathar  carried 
the  ark  of  God  again  to  Jerusalem,  and  they  remained  there. 

^'^But  David  went  up  the  ascent  to  the  Mount  of  Olives,  weeping  as  he 
went,  and  with  his  head  covered  and  his  feet  bare.  All  the  people  who  were 
with  him  also  covered  each  his  head,  and  also  went  up,  weeping  as  they 
went.  ^^And  when  David  was  told,  Ahithophel  is  among  the  conspirators 
with  Absalom,  David  said,  O  Jehovah,  I  pray,  turn  the  counsel  of  Ahithophel 
to  foolishness,  ^^^nd  when  David  came  to  the  summit,  where  one  worships 
God,'^  there  came  to  meet  him  Hushai  the  Archite  with  his  garment  rent 
and  earth  upon  his  head.  ^^And  David  said  to  him.  If  you  go  on  with  me 
you  will  be  a  burden  to  me.  ^'^But  if  you  return  to  the  city,  and  say  to  Ab- 
salom, '  Your  brothers  have  gone  away  and  the  king  your  father  has  gone 
away  after  them,  I  will  be  thy  servant,  O  king;  I  have  been  your  father's 
servant  in  the  past,  so  now  I  will  be  your  servant,'  thus  you  can  defeat  for  me 


■^  152"  So  Gk.     Part  of  the  last  clause  has  fallen  out  of  the  Heb. 

'  15-''  Heb.,  was  passing  over,  but  a  slight  correction  gives  the  above  rendering,  which  is 
consistent  with  the  subsequent  imijlication  that  the  king  remained  standing. 

■n  15-'3  So  Luc.     The  Heb.  is  untranslatable. 

■>  152*  The  present  Heb.  text  reads,  Zadok  and  all  the  Levites  ivith  them.  But  the  Levites 
are  unknown  to  the  original  author  of  these  narratives,  and  the  .sub.sequent  context  in  -^,  indi- 
cates that  Abiathar  was  with  Zadok.  The  scribe,  who,  influenced  by  the  ideas  of  a  later  age, 
substituted  the  Lei'iVes,  apparently  preserved  the  name  in  the  latter  part  of  the  verse,  Abiathar 
went  up.  The  subsequent  banishment  of  Abiathar  and  the  prominence  of  Zadok  ex|)lain  why 
the  name  of  the  former  was  also  left  out  of  25,  and  even  ^7,  where  its  original  presence  is  clearly 
indicated. 

MS"  SoGk.     Cf.29. 

p  1532  So  the  original  Gk. 

154 


ABSALOM'S  REBELLION  {II  Sam.  1o34 

Early  Judcan  Dovid  Xarrativcs 

the  counsel  of  Ahithophel.  ^'^And  have  you  not  there  with  you  Zadok  and 
Abiathar  the  priests  ?  Everytliing  that  you  hear  from  the  king's  palace 
tell  it  to  Zadok  and  Abiathar  the  priests.  ^'^See,  they  have  there  with  them 
their  two  sons,  Ahimaaz,  Zadok's  son,  and  Jonathan,  Abiathar's  son;  and 
by  them  you  shall  send  to  me  everything  that  you  shall  hear.  ^"gQ  Hushai, 
David's  friend,  came  into  the  city,  when  Absalom  came  to  Jerusalem. 

16  ^And  David  was  a  httle  past  the  summit,  when  Ziba  the  servant  of  Ziba's 
Meribaal  met  him  with  a  pair  of  asses  saddled,  and  on  them  two  hundred  t'lumi^ 
loaves  of  bread,  and  a  hundred  bunches  of  raisins,  and  a  hundred  cakes  of  of  loy- 
preserved  fruits,'^  and  a  skin  of  wine.     -And  the  king  said  to  Ziba,  Why  do  '^  ^ 
you  have  these .""     And  Ziba  answered.  The  asses  are  for  the  king's  house- 
hold to  ride  on,  and  the  bread  and  the  preserved  fruit  for  the  young  men  to 
eat,  and  the  wine,  that  those  who  are  faint  in  the  wilderness  may  drink. 
^And  the  king  said.  And  where  is  thy  master's  son  ?     And  Ziba  answered 
the  king.  He  remains  there  at  Jerusalem,  for  he  thinks.  '  To-day  will  the 
house  of  Israel  give  me  back  my  father's  kingdom.'     "^Then  said  the  king 
to  Ziba,  All  is  now  yours  that  belongs  to  Meribaal.     And   Ziba  said,  I  do 
obeisance.     Let  me  find  further  favor  in  your  sight,  my  lord,  the  king. 

^And  when  King  David  came  to  Bahurim,  there  came  out  from  there  a  Shim- 
man  of  the  family  of  the  house  of  Saul,  whose  name  was  Shimei  the  son  of  curggg 
Gera.  constantly  cursing  as  he  came.  ^And  he  cast  stones  at  David  and  all 
the  officers  of  King  David  and  at  all  the  people  and  all  the  mighty  warriors 
at  his  right  hand  and  at  his  left.  '^And  thus  Shimei  said  as  he  cursed.  Begone, 
begone,  bloody  and  vile  scoundrel  !  ^Jehovah  has  brought  back  upon  you 
all  the  blood  of  the  house  of  Saul,  in  whose  place  you  have  reigned;  and 
Jehovah  hath  delivered  the  kingdom  into  the  hand  of  Absalom  your  son; 
and  behold  now  you  are  in  your  misfortune,  for  you  are  a  bloody  man  ! 

^Then  Abishai  the  son  of  Zeruiah  said  to  the  king,  ^Yhy  should  this  dead  David'; 
dog  curse  my  lord  the  king.'  Let  me  go  over  now  and  take  off  his  head.  ,^"iiity 
^'^But  the  king  said.  What  have  I  in  common  with  you,  you  sons  of  Zeruiah  .'' 
If  he  curses  when  Jehovah  hath  said  to  him,  '  Curse  David  !  '  then  who  shall 
say,  '  Why  have  you  done  so  .'  '  i^And  David  said  to  Abishai  and  to  all  his 
officers.  See,  my  son  who  came  from  my  bowels  seeks  my  life;  how  much 
more  this  Benjamite  !  Let  him  curse,  for  Jehovah  hath  bitlden  him.  ^-Per- 
haps Jehovah  will  look  on  my  affliction  and  repay  me  good  instead  of  this 
cursing  that  he  hath  sent  to-day.  ^'^So  David  and  his  men  went  along  the 
way;  but  Shimei  went  along  on  the  hillside  parallel  with  him,  cursing  as  he 
went,  and  threw  stones  and  continually  cast  dust  at  him.  ^'^Then  the  king 
and  all  the  people  who  were  with  him,  arrived  weary  at  the  Jordan''  and  he 
refreshed  himself  there. 


•i  16'  Gk.,  dates,  but  Luc,  cakes  of  preserved  fruit,  usually  figs.  The  latter  was  probably 
intended. 

■•  IG^  So  Gk.  and  the  correctefl  Heb.  text. 

"  lO'-*  So  Luc.  In  the  Heb.  the  name  of  the  place  ha.i  ilroj)i)0<i  out.  Lucian's  reading  is 
supported  by  17'".  ^,  where  it  in  clear  that  David  had  arrived  at  the  fords  of  the  Jordan. 

155 


II  Sam.  1615]     DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Eaiiij  Judcan  David  Narratives 
Hu-  i^And  Absalom  with  all  the  men  of  Israel,*  came  to  Jerusalem,  and  Ahitho- 

protes-    P'l^^  ^^^  ''^'i*^^  ^^™-     ^^Now  when  Hushai  the  Archite,  David's  friend,  came 
tations   to  Absalom,  Ilushai  said  to  Absalom,  May  the  king  live,  may  the  king  live! 
alty  To    i^But  Absalom  said  to  Hushai,  Is  this  your  love  for  your  friend  ?     Why  did 
l^m^"     you  not  go  with  your  friend  ?     ^^Then  Hushai  answered  Absalom,  No  !  for 
whom  Jehovah  and  his  people  and  all  the  men  of  Israel  have  chosen,  to  him 
will  I  belong,  and  with  him  will  I  remain.     l^And  in  the  second  place,  whom 
should  I  serve  ?     Should  it  not  be  his  son  ?     As  I  have  served  your  father, 
so  will  I  serve  you. 
Absa-         ^°Then  Absalom  said  to  Ahithophel,  Give  your  counsel  as  to  what  we 
f°™nal    ^^^^^^  ^lo-     ^^And  Ahithophel  said  to  Absalom,  Go  in  unto   your  father's 
usurpa-  concubines  whom  he  has  left  to  keep  the  palace;  and  all  Israel  will  hear  that 
hi^"  "     you  have  made  yourself  abhorrent  to  your  father,  and  the  hands  of  all  who 
^^*hts  ^  are  on  your  side  will  be  strengthened.     "So  they  pitched  for  Absalom  the 
tent"  on  the  top  of  the  house;  and  Absalom  went  in  vmto  his  father's  concu- 
bines in  the  sight  of  all  Israel.     -"^x\nd  the  counsel  of  Ahithophel,  which  he 
gave  in  those  days,  was  regarded  as  if  one  inquired  of  the  word  of  God — 
so  was  all  the  counsel  of  Ahithophel  regarded  by  David  and  Absalom. 
Ahitho-       17  ^Moreover  Ahithophel  said  to  Absalom,  Let  me  now  choose  out  twelve 
phel's     thousand  men,  and  I  will  arise  and  pursue  after  David  to-night;  -^thus  I  will 
to  pur-    come  upon  him  when  he  is  tired  and  weak  and  will  storm  him  into  a  panic 
once       ^nd  all  the  people  who  are  with  him  will  flee;  and  I  will  smite  the  king  alone, 
^and  I  will  bring  back  all  the  people  to  you  as  the  bride  returns  to  her  husband. 
You  seek  only  the  life  of  one  man,^  and  all  the  people  shall  be  at  peace.  '^And 
the  advice  pleased  Absalom,  and  all  the  elders  of  Israel. 
Hu-  ^Then  Absalom  suid.  Call  now  Hushai  the  Archite  also,  and  let  us  hear 

shai's     likewise  what  he  has  to  say.     ^And  when  Hushai  came  to  Absalom,  Absalom 
advice  .  .  "^  .  . 

first  to    spoke  to  him,  saying.  Thus  Ahithophel  has  spoken;  shall  we  act  upon  his 

Israef  advice  ?  If  not,  you  give  advice.  '^Then  Hushai  said  to  Absalom,  The 
counsel  that  Ahithophel  has  given  this  time  is  not  good.  ^Hushai  said  more- 
over. You  know  your  father  and  his  men,  that  they  are  mighty  warriors  and 
of  angry  temper,  like  a  bear  robbed  of  her  cubs  in  the  field.  Furthermore 
your  father  is  a  man  of  war  and  will  not  remain  at  night  with  the  people. 
^Even  now  he  has  hidden  himself  in  one  of  the  caves  or  in  some  other  place. 
And  in  case  some  of  the  people^  fall  at  the  first,  whoever  hears  it  will  say, 
'  There  is  a  slaughter  among  the  people  who  follow  Absalom.'  ^^Then 
even  he  that  is  valiant,  whose  heart  is  like  the  heart  of  a  lion,  will  completely 
lose  courage ;''  for  all  Israel  knows  that  your  father  is  a  mighty  warrior,  and 
they  who  are  with  him  are  valiant  men.  ^^But  I  counsel.  Let  all  Israel  be 
gathered  to  you,  from  Dan  to  Beersheba,  as  many  as  the  sand  that  is  by  the 
sea,  with  you  yourself  marching  in  the  midst  of  them.  ^-So  shall  we  come 
upon  him  in  some  place  where  he  has  been  discovered,  and  we  will  light 

t  1615  So  Gk. 

"  1622  ig^  the  bridal  tent. 

"  1/3  The  Gk.,  which  has  been  followed,  undoubtedly  here  presents  the  original  text. 

"  17'  So  Luc.     Heb.  simply,  some  of  them. 

»  171"  Heb.,  completely  melt  away . 

156 


ABSALOM'S  REBELLION  [II  Sam.  1712 

Early  Jndean  David  Narratives 

upon  liim  as  the  dew  falls  on  the  ground;  and  of  him  and  of  all  the  men  who 
are  with  him  there  shall  not  be  left  even  one.  ^-^But  if  he  has  withdrawn 
into  a  city,  then  all  Israel  will  bring  ropes  to  that  city,  and  we  will  draw  it 
to  the  valley,  until  not  even  a  small  stone  is  found  there.  ^^And  Absalom 
and  all  the  men  of  Israel  said,  The  counsel  of  Ilushai  the  Archite  is  l)ettcr 
than  the  counsel  of  Aliitho[)hel.  For  Jehovah  had  ordained  to  defeat  the 
good  counsel  of  Ahithophel,  in  order  that  Jehovah  might  bring  evil  upon 
Absalom. 

^^Then  Hushai  said  to  Zadok  and  to  Abiathar  the  priests,  Thus  and  thus  His 
did  Ahithophel  counsel  Absalom  and  the  elders  of  Israel;  and  thus  and  ^,^e^!* 
thus   have  I   counselled.     ^''Now   therefore   send   quickly   and   tell    David.  ?aKeto 
saying.  Do  not  spend  this  night  at  the  fords  of  the  wilderness,  but  by  all  by  the 
means  cross  over,  lest  the  king  and  all  the  people  with  him  be  swallowed  up.  p""'^^*^ 
^"Now  Jonathan  and  Ahimaaz  were  staying  at  Enrogel;  and  a  maid-servant 
was  to  go*  and  bring  them  news,  and  tliey  were  to  go*  and  tell  King  David, 
for  they  must  not  be  seen  to  come  into  the  city.     ^^But  a  lad  saw  them,  and 
told  Absalom.     Then  they  both  went  away  quickly  and  entered  into  the 
house  of  a  man  in  Bahurim,  who  had  a  well  in  his  court  into  which  they 
descended.     ^^And  the  woman  took  and  spread  the  covering  over  the  mouth 
of  the  well,  and  strewed  dried  fruit*^  upon  it,  so  that  nothing  was  known. 
^^And  when  Absalom's  servants  came  to  the  woman  to  the  house  and  said, 
Where  are  Ahimaaz  and  Jonathan  .''  the  woman  answered  them.  They  are 
gone  over  the  water  brook.  "^     And  when  they  had  sought  and  could  find 
nothing,  they  returned  to  Jerusalem.     -^But  as  soon  as  they  had  gone  away 
they  came  up  out  of  the  well,  and  went  and  told  King  David  and  said  to 
David,  Arise,  cross  quickly  over  the  water  for  thus  has  Ahithophel  coun- 
selled in  regard  to  you.     ^-Then  David  and  all  the  people  who  were  with 
him  arose  and  they  crossed  over  the  Jordan.     By  daybreak  there  was  not 
one  left  behind  who  had  not  gone  over  the  Jordan. 

^■^But  when  Ahithophel  saw  that  his  coimsel  had  not  been  carric^d  out.  Suicide 
he  saddled  his  ass  and  arose,  and  went  to  his  house,  to  his  city.     And  when  Ahitho- 
he  had  given  command  concerning  his  house,  he  strangled  himself,  and  he  P''cl 
died  and  was  buried  in  his  father's  sepulchre. 

^^Then  David  came  to  Mahanaim.     And  Absalom  passed  over  the  Jordan.  D.-ivid's 
together  with  all  the  men  of  Israel.     -'^And  Absalom  .set  Amasa  over  the  [f,^,7.Tt 
army  in  the  place  of  Joab.     Now  Amasa  was  the  son  of  an  Ishmaelite  by  the  M-iHa- 

*  tl 'II  111 

name  of  Jether,*^  who  had  come  in  marriage  to  Jesse's^  daughter  Abigail, 


s  1717  The  verbs  are  frequentative,  but  the  narrative  relates  >iin|il.\-  to  the  events  of  a  day 
80  that  their  peculiar  siKnifirance  may  be  hrounlit  out  .is  above. 

h  171'J  The  exact  ineaninR  of  tlie  original  i.s  iinkiiown.  In  the  current  translations,  the 
Lat.,  crimhed  (jrain,  is  followed;  but  1-uc.  and  TarK-,  as  well  as  the  probabilities  in  the  case, 
support  the  above. 

c  1720  This  word  occurs  only  here  and  its  meaninK  is  doubtful. 

■^  17-''  Ileb.,  Hon  of  a  mnn  vliose  name  vox  Illirn  (he  Israelite,  but  T  Krs.  2'''  ■''-  confirms 
I  Chr.  2"  in  the  reading  Jelher  not  Ithrn.  For  the  unnecessary  Israelite  the  Chronicler  has  also 
undoubtedly  retained  the  original,  I shmaelite.  The  rest  of  the  verse  seems  to  state  that,  like 
■Samson,  .lether  consummated  a  faili<i<i  marriage  in  accordance  with  which  the  wife  and  the  cliil- 
drcn  remained  with  her  clan  instead  of  going  to  that  of  1  he  husband. 

'■  17"  Again  the  (hroniclor  is  clearly  right  in  mailing,  Jesse,  instead  ot  Nahash.  Absalom, 
like  Saul  and  David,  appointeil  a  kinsman  as  his  military  leader. 

157 


II  Sam.  1725]     DAMD'S  REIGN  O^^R  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

the  sister  of  Zeruiah,  Joab's  mother.  -^And  Israel  and  Absalom  encamped 
in  the  land  of  Gilead.  ^vg^^  when  David  came  to  Mahanaim,  Shobi  the 
son  of  Nahash  of  the  Ammonite  Rabbah,  and  Machir  the  son  of  Ammiel  of 
Lodebar,  and  Barzillai  the  Gileadite  of  Rogelim,  -%rought  couches,  rugs, 
bowls,  and  earthen  vessels,  and  wheat,  barley,  meal,  parched  grain,  beans, 
lentils,  -^honey,  curds,  sheep,  and  calves^  for  David,  and  for  the  people  who 
were  with  him,  to  eat;  for  they  thought.  The  people  are  hungry  and  weary 
and  thirsty  in  the  wilderness. 
The  18  ^Then  David  mustered  the  people  who  were  with  him,  and  appointed 

over  them  commanders  of  thousands  and  of  hundreds,  ^^nd  David  divided^ 
the  people  into  three  divisions,  one  third  was  under  the  command  of  Joab, 
another  third  under  Abishai  the  son  oi  Zeruiah,  Joab's  brother,  and  another 
third  under  the  command  of  Ittai  the  Gittite.  And  the  king  said  to  the 
people,  I  also  will  surely  go  out  with  you.  ^But  the  people  said,  You  shall 
not  go  out ;  for  if  we  flee  away,  no  one  will  care  for  us,  or  if  half  of  us  die, 
no  one  will  care  for  us,  for  you  are  equal  to^  ten  thousand  of  us.  Also  it 
is  now  better  for  you  to  be  ready  to  help  us  from  the  city.  '^And  the  king 
said  to  them,  I  will  do  what  you  think  best !  So  the  king  stood  by  the  side 
of  the  gate,  while  all  the  people  went  out  by  hundreds  and  by  thousands. 
^And  the  king  commanded  Joab,  and  Abishai,  and  Ittai,  saying.  Deal  gently 
for  my  sake  with  the  young  man,  with  Absalom  !  And  all  the  people  heard 
wdien  the  king  gave  all  the  commanders  the  order  regarding  Absalom. 
^So  the  people  went  out  into  the  field  against  Israel.  And  the  battle  was  in 
the  forest  of  Ephraim.  'And  the  people  of  Israel  were  smitten  there  before 
the  servants  of  David,  so  that  the  slaughter  on  that  day  w^as  great — twenty 
thousand  men.  ^And  the  battle  w'as  spread  out  over  the  whole  country; 
and  the  forest  devoured  more  that  day  than  the  sword. 
Absa-  ^And  Absalom  happened  to  meet  the  servants  of  David.  And  Absalom  was 
death  riding  upon  his  mule,  and  the  mule  went  under  the  thick  boughs  of  a  great 
oak  and  his  head  caught  fast  in  the  oak,  and  he  w^as  hung^  between  heaven 
and  earth,  while  the  mule  that  was  under  him  went  on.  ^"^And  when  a 
certain  man  saw  it,  he  told  Joab  and  said,  Behold,  I  saw  Absalom  hanging  in 
an  oak.  ^^Then  Joab  said  to  the  man  who  told  him,  So  you  saw  him  !  Why 
did  you  not  smite  him  there  to  the  ground  .-*  And  my  part  would  have  been 
to  give  you  ten  shekels  of  silver  and  a  girdle,  ^^g^t  \\yQ  man  said  to  Joab, 
If  I  were  to  feel  the  weight  of  a  thousand  shekels  of  silver  in  my  hand,  I 
would  not  put  forth  my  hand  against  the  king's  son,  for  in  our  hearing  the 
king  charged  you  and  Abishai  and  Ittai,  saying,  '  Take  care  of  the  young 
man  Absalom.'  ^^Qr  if  I  had  treacherously  taken  his  life,  nothing  would 
have  been  hidden  from  the  king,  and  you  yourself  would  have  stood  aloof. 
^^Then  Joab  answered,  I  wall  not  tarry  thus  with  you.J     And  he  took  three 

f  1729  So  Luc.  and  Lat.     The  Heb.  is  obscure.     Syr.,  cheese. 

K  18^  So  Luc.  which  has  apparently  preserved  the  oriffinal  reading.     Heb.,  sent  out. 
I"  183  So  Q[(;  _  Symmachu';,  and  Lat.     The  Heb.  makes  no  .sense. 
'  18^  So  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Targ.     This  is  more  natural  than  the  Heb.,  xras  ijiven. 
i  18'^  Luc.  and  one  form  of  the  Gk.,  therefore  I  will  begin  before  you.     The  variant  doubt- 
less arose  because  the  Heb.  verb  has  two  distinct  meanings, 

158 


ABSALOM'S  REBELLION  [II  Sam.  IS^^ 

Earhj  Jiidcan  Dai'id  Narratives 

spears^  in  his  hand,  and  thrust  them  into  Absalom's  heart,  while  he  was  still 
alive  in  the  midst  of  the  oak.  ^^And  ten  young  men  who  bore  Joab's  armor 
gathered  about  and  smote  Absalom  and  put  him  to  death. 

^^Then  Joab  blew  the  trumpet,  and  the  people  returned  from  pursuinj;  Burial 
Israel;  for  Joab  held  back  the  people.  ^"And  thev  took  Absalom  and  oast  "',-^'^- 
nim  into  the  great  pit  in  the  forest,  and  raised  over  ium  a  heap  of  stones. 
And  all  Israel  fled  each  to  his  home.  ^^But  Absalom  had  already  in  his 
lifetime  taken  and  reared  up  for  himself  the  pillar  which  is  in  the  King's 
Dale;  for  he  said,  I  have  no  son  to  keep  my  name  in  remembrance;  and  he 
named  the  pillar  after  his  own  name.  Therefore  it  is  called  '  Absalom's 
Monument,'  to  this  day. 

^^But  when  Ahimaaz  the  son  of  Zadok  said,  Let  me  now  run  and  bring  Ahi- 
the  news  to  the  king  that  Jehovah  has  pronounced  judgment  for  him  against  "'=*=^^'s 
his  enemies.     ^^Joab  said  to  him.  You  are  not  the  man  to  bring  news  to-day.  ness  to 
On  another  day  you  may  bring  news,  but  not  to-day,  for  the  king's  son  is  the'^ 
dead.     -^Then  said  Joab  to  the  Cushite,  Go,  tell  the  king  what  you  have  "^^^'^ 
seen.     And  the  Cushite  bowed  before  Joab  and  ran  off.     ^23^^  Ahimaaz 
the  son  of  Zadok  said  yet  again  to  Joab,  However  it  may  be,  I  would  like 
also  to  run  after  the  Cushite.     And  Joab  said.  Why  is  it  that  you  would  run, 
my  son,  seeing  that  no  reward  will  be  paid  out  ?     -"^And  he  said,  However 
it  may  be,  I  would  like  to  run.     So  he  said  to  him.  Run.     Then  Ahimaaz 
ran  by  the  way  of  the  Plain  of  the  Jordan  and  outran  the  Cushite. 

^'*Now  David  was  sitting  between  the  two  gates;  and  the  watchir.an  had  David's 
gone  up  to  the  roof  of  the  gate  by  the  wall.  And  when  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  [f^®'^} 
and  looked,  he  saw  there  a  man  running  alone.  ^^Then  the  watchman  cried  the 
and  told  the  king.  And  the  king  said.  If  he  be  alone,  good  news  are  in  his 
mouth.  And  he  kept  coming  and  was  drawing  near,  -^vvhen  the  watchman 
saw  another  man  running;  and  the  watchman  called  toward  the  gate,'  and 
said,  See,  another  man  running  alone  !  And  the  king  said.  He  also  is  bringing 
good  news.  -"And  the  watchman  said,  I  see  that  the  nniiiiiig  of  the  first  is 
like  the  running  of  Ahimaaz  the  son  of  Zadok.  And  the  king  said.  He  is  a 
good  man  and  comes  with  good  news.  -^Then  Ahimaaz  drew  near  and  said 
to  the  king.  All  is  well.  And  he  bowed  before  the  king  with  his  face  to  the 
earth,  and  said.  Blessed  be  Jehovah  your  God,  who  hath  delivered  up  tliemen 
who  lifted  up  their  hand  against  my  lord  the  king.  -'-^And  the  king  said,  Is  it 
well  with  the  young  man  Absalom  ?  And  Ahimaaz  answered.  When  Joab  sent 
your  servant,*"  I  saw  a  great  tumult,  but  I  did  not  learn  what  it  was.  '^"And 
the  king  said.  Turn  aside  and  stand  here,  and  lie  turned  aside  and  stood  still. 
•^'And,  just  then,  the  Cushlle  said.  Lei  my  lord  the  king  receive  tlu-  good  news 
that  Jehovah  hath  pronounced  judgment  for  you  this  day  upon  all  those  who 
rose  up  against  you.  -"^-And  the  king  said  to  the  Cushite.  Is  it  well  with  the 
young  man  Absalom  ?  And  the  Cushite  answered,  may  the  enemies  of  my 
lord  the  king  and  all  who  rise  uj)  against  you  for  evil  be  as  that  young  man  ! 


"<  18"  So  Ok.      Ileb.,  rbtbs. 
'  182«  So  I,uo.,  Syr.,  an<l  I.at. 
"D  Ib^"  The  lieb.  also  contains  the  awkward  repetition,  the  king's  servant. 


159 


II  Sam.  1833]      DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

§  43.  David's  Return,  U  Sam.  18^^-19*3 
Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 

David's      II  Sam.  1 8  33Then  the  king  was  greatly  moved  and  went  up  to  the  cham- 
fer Ab-  ^^^  ^""'^^  ^^^^  S^^^  ^'^^  wept.     And  thus  he  said,  as  he  kept  on  weeping,  My 
saiom     son  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  Absalom  !     O  that  I  had  died  instead  of  you, 
Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  !      1 9  ^And  it  was  told  Joab,  The  king  is  weeping 
and  lamenting  for  Absalom,     ^go  for  all  the  people  the  victory  that  day  was 
turned  to  mourning,  since  the  people  heard  that  day.  The  king  is  grieving 
for  his  son.  3'Pherefore  the  people  stole  away  into  the  city,  as  people  who 
are  ashamed  when  they  have  fled  in  battle  steal  away.     ^But  the  king  covered 
his  face,  and  cried  aloud.  My  son  Absalom,  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  ! 
Joab's        ^Then  Joab  came  to  the  king  in  the  palace  and  said.  You  have  to-day 
rebuke    g}^amed  the  face  of  all  your  servants,  who  have  saved  your  life  and  the  lives 
of  your  sons,  your  daughters,  your  wives,  and  your  concubines,  ^by  loving 
them  who  hate  you  and  hating  them  who  love  you.     For  you  declared  to-day 
that  princes  and  brave  ofiicers  are  nothing  to  you,  for  now  I  know  if  Absalom 
had  lived  and  all  of  us  had  died  to-day,  then  you  would  be  pleased.     'Now 
therefore  come,  go  forth,  and  reassure  your  followers;  for  I  swear  by  Jehovah, 
if  you  do  not  go  forth,  not  a  man  will  remain  to  you,  and  that  will  be  worse 
for  you  than  all  the  evil  that  has  befallen  you  from  your  youth  until  now. 
^Then  the  king  arose,  and  sat  in  the  gate.     And  the  rumor  spread  among 
all  the  people.  See  the  king  is  sitting  in  the  gate;  and  all  the  people  came 
before  the  king. 
Uncer-       Now  Israel  had  fled  every  man  to  his  tent.     ^And  all  the  people  were  at 
oTthT     strife  throughout  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  saying,  The  king  delivered  us  out 
people    of  the  hand  of  our  enemies,  he  saved  us  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philistines,  but 
now  he  has  fled  out  of  the  land  from  Absalom.     ^^And  Absalom,  whom  we 
anointed  over  us,  has  fallen  in  battle.     Now  therefore  why  do  you  say  nothing 
about  bringing  the  king  back?     ^^^lAnd  the  word  of  all  Israel  came  to  the 
king." 
David's      ^^  ^Then  King  David  commanded  Zadok  and  Abiathar  the  priests,  Speak  to 
over-      the  elders  of  Judah,  saying,  '  Why  are  you  the  last  to  bring  the  king  back 
tures  to  lo  his  palacc  ?     ^-You  are  my  bone  and  my  flesh,  why  then  are  you  the  last 
dersof    to  bring  back  the  king?  '     ^3Say  ^q  Amasa,  '  Are  you  not  my  bone  and  my 
^  ^      flesh  ?     God  do  to  me  whatever  he  will,  if  you  shall  not  henceforth  be  com- 
mander of  the  army  before  me  in  the  place  of  Joab.'     ^^And  he°  turned  the 
heart  of  all  the  men  of  Judah  as  one  man,  so  that  they  sent  to  the  king,  saying. 
Return  with  all  your  servants.     ^^So  the  king  returned,  and  arrived  at  the 
Jordan.     And  Judah  came  to  Gilgal  to  meet  the  king  and  bring  him  across 
the  Jordan. 
His  ^*^And  Shimel  the  son  of  Gera  the  Benjamite,  who  was  of  Bahurim,  hast- 

^f^  °^  ened  down  with  the  men  of  Judah  to  meet  King  David,  ^''with  a  thousand  men 
Shimei    of  Benjamin;  and  with  him  was  Ziba  the  servant  of  the  house  of  Saul,  with 

§  43  This  is  the  direct  continuation  of  the  preceding  early  Judean  David  narrative, 
n  igiib  This  clause  has  evidently  been  transposed  and,  to  his  place,  has  been  repeated  by 
mistake  from  the  preceding  line. 

°  19'*  Luc.  probably  rightly  inserts  Amasa,  as  the  subject. 

160 


HIS   RETURN   TO   JERUSALEM         [II  S.^m.  W^ 
Early  Judean  David  Xarrativcs 

his  fifteen  sons  and  his  twenty  servants;  and  they  dashed  into  the  Jordan 
before  the  king.  ^^And  they  kept  crossing  the  ford  to  bring  over  the  king's 
household"'  and  to  do  what  would  please  him.  Meanwhile  Shimei  the  son 
of  Gera  prostrated  himself  before  the  king,  when  he  was  about  to  cross  the 
Jordan.  ^^And  he  said  to  the  king,  Let  not  my  lord  consider  me  guiltv  nor 
remember  what  your  servant  did  perversely  the  day  that  my  lord  the 
king  went  out  of  Jerusalem,  that  the  king  should  take  it  to  heart.  -'^For 
your  servant  knows  that  I  have  sinned;  therefore,  see,  I  have  come  down 
first  of  all  the  house  of  Joseph  to  meet  my  lord  the  king.  -'But  Abishai 
the  son  of  Zeruiah  spoke  and  said,  Should  not  Shimei  be  put  to  death 
for  this,  because  he  cursed  Jehovah's  anointed  ?  ^-But  David  said.  What 
have  I  to  do  with  you,  you  sons  of  Zeruiah,  that  you  should  this  day  oppose 
me  ?  Should  anyone  be  put  to  death  to-day  in  Israel  ?  -'*.Vnd  the  king 
said  to  Shimei,  You  shall  not  die.     And  the  king  swore  it  to  him. 

2^ And  Meribaal  the  son  of  Saul  came  down  to  meet  the  king;  and  he  had  Conces- 
neither  dressed  his  feet  nor  trimmed  his  beard  nor  washed  his  clothes  from  ^erf.  ^° 
the  day  the  king  departed  until  the  day  he  came  home  safe  and  sound.''  baal 
^^And  so  when  he  came  to  Jerusalem  to  meet  the  king,  the  king  said  to  him, 
Why  did  you  not  go  out  with  me,  Meribaal  ?     -^And  he  answered.  My  lord, 
O  king,  my  servant  deceived  me:  for  your  servant  said,  '  Saddle  me  an  ass, 
on  which  I  may  ride  and  accompany  the  king,  because  your  servant  is  lame.' 
2"But  he  has  slandered  your  servant  to  my  lord  the  king.     My  lord  the  king 
is  as  a  Messenger  of  God;  do  therefore  what  seems  good  to  you.    -^For  though 
all  my  father's  house  were  only  deserving  of  death  before  my  lord,  the  king 
set  your  servant  among  those  who  eat  at  your  table.     What  right  have  I  now, 
that  I  should  continue  to  cry  to  the  king?'"     -^And  the  king  said  to  him.  Why 
do  you  continue  to  speak  ?     I  say,  you  and  Ziba  divide  the  land.     ^"And 
Meribaal  said  to  the  king,  rather  let  him  take  all,  inasmuch  as  my  lord  the 
king  has  come  home  safe  and  sound. 

^'Then  Barzillai  the  Gileadite  came  down  from  Rogelim,  and  he  went  Parting 
over  the  Jordan  with  the  king  to  bid  him  good-by  at  the  Jordan. ^     ^-Now  "|,'e 
Barzillai  was  a  very  aged  man,  eighty  years  old,  and  he  had  provided  the  'Jf^^'^^jj. 
king  with  food  while  he  Remained  at  Mahanaim;  for  he  was  a  very  great  man.  lai 
^^And  the  king  had  said  to  Barzillai,  Come  over  with  me,  and  I  will  support 
you  during  your  old  age*^  with  me  in  Jerusalem.     ^^IJut  Barzillai  said  to  the 
king.  How  many  years  have  I  still  to  live,  that  I  should  go  up  with  the  king 
to  Jerusalem  ?     ^-^I  am  now  eighty  years  old.     Can  I  distinguish  good  from 
evil  ?     Can  your  servant  taste  what  I  eat  or  what  I  drink  ?     Can  I  hear  any 
more  the  voice  of  singing  men  and  singing  women  ?     Why  then  should  your 
servant  be  a  burden  to  my  lord  the  king  ?     ^*'Your  servant  would  merely  go 


i>  19"  So  Gk.  and  .slightly  revised  Heb.  text.  The  current  translation,  there  went  over  a 
ferry-boat,  is  extremely  doubtful. 

'1  19-'  Heb.,  in  peace. 

'  W^*  hue.  And  from  whose  hand  shall  I  receive  justicet  And  he  continued  to  cry  to 
the  kinii. 

■  Itf"  FollowinK  a  suggestion  of  Luc.     The  Heb.  is  untranslatable. 

'  19^  So  Gk.     Heb.  omits,  during  your  old  age. 

161 


II  Sam.  1936]      DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

over  the  Jordan  with  the  king,  and  why  should  the  king  give  me  this  recom- 
pense ?  370nly  let  your  servant  return,  I  pray  you,  that  I  may  die  in  my 
own  city,  by  the  grave  of  my  father  and  my  mother.  But  there  is  your  ser- 
vant Chimham;  let  him  go  over  with  my  lord  the  king;  and  treat  him  as  shall 
seem  good  to  you.  38\j^(j  y^g  king  answered,  Chimham  shall  go  over  with 
me,  and  I  will  do  to  him  as  you  would  desire;  and  whatever  you  shall  request 
of  me,  that  will  I  do  for  you.  ^O'pj^gj^  q\\  ^\^^  people  went  over  the  Jordan. 
The  king  also  went  over^  after  he  had  kissed  Barzillai,  and  blessed  him;  so 
he  returned  to  his  home. 
Strife  ^^And  the  king  passed  by'^  Gilgal,  Chimham  being  with  him;  and  all  the 
tween  people  of  Judah  were  escorting  the  king,  and  also  half  the  people  of  Israel. 
Israel  ^I'pjjgj.gfQj.g  ^^  ^}jg  men  of  Israel  came  to  the  king,  and  said  to  the  king, 
Judah  Why  have  our  clansmen,  the  men  of  Judah,  stolen  you  away,  and  brought 
the  king  and  his  household  over  the  Jordan,  when  all  of  David's  men  are  his 
people  ?  "^-Then  all  the  men  of  Judah  answered  the  men  of  Israel,  Because 
the  king  is  near  of  kin  to  us.  Why  are  you  angry  at  this  thing  ?  Have  we 
eaten  anything  at  the  king's  cost  ?  or  has  he  been  carried  away  by  us  ?^ 
^^And  the  men  of  Israel  answered  the  men  of  Judah,  and  said,  I  have  ten 
shares  in  the  king,  furthermore  I  am  the  first-born  rather  than  you;^  why 
then  did  you  despise  me  ?  And  was  not  our  advice  first  to  bring  back  the 
king.''  But  the  words  of  the  men  of  Judah  were  fiercer  than  the  words  of 
the  men  of  Israel. 

§  44.  Sheba's  Rebellion  and  the  Murder  of  Amasa,  II  Sam.  ao^" 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Rebel-        II  Sam.  20  ^Now  there  chanced  to  be  there  a  vile  scoundrel,  whose  name 
the*  °     ^'^s  Sheba,  the  son  of  Bichri,  a  Benjamite.     He  blew  on  a  trumpet  and  cried, 

north- 
tribes  We  have  no  share  iii  David, 

And  we  have  no  claim  in  the  son  of  Jesse ! 

Each  to  his  tents,  O  Israel  !* 

^So  all  the  men  of  Israel  ceased  to  follow  David,  and  followed  Sheba  the  son 
of  Bichri ;  but  the  men  of  Judah  remained  loyal  to  their  king,  from  the  Jordan 
even  to  Jerusalem. 


"  1939  y.uc.  possibly  has  preserved  the  orisinal  reading,  But  the  king  stood  still.  The  ciir- 
rent  translation  makes  Barzillai  cross  and  then  immediately  recross  the  river. 

V  IQ^o  So  Gk. 

^  \9^  Or,  has  anything  been  carried  away  by  tis.  The  meaning  is  doubtful.  The  Gk. 
translates  it  in  two  ways. 

^  19*-*  So  Gk.,  which  has  clearly  ret.ained  the  original  reading. 

§  44  From  21'  and  I  Sam.  9^  it  appears  that  Sheba  like  Shimei,  II  Sam.  16^,  belonged,  as 
did  Saul,  to  the  tribe  of  Becher.  Cf.  Gen.  46-'.  All  Saul's  descendants  with  the  exception  of 
the  cripple  Meribaal  being  dead,  Sheba  evidently  assumed  tlie  role  of  a  claimant  to  the  throne 
of  Northern  Israel.  The  story  which  is  the  immediate  sequel  of  the  preceding  clearly  reveals 
the  bitter  jealousy  which  still  existed  between  the  North  and  the  South  and  the  rival  houses  of 
David  and  Saul. 

*  20^  Like  all  the  ancient  Hebrew  war-cries,  poetical  in  form.  It  was  the  cry  of  the  North- 
erners, which  was  again  heard  after  the  death  of  Solomon,  I  Kgs.  12^^, 


162 


SHEBA'S   REBELLION  [II  Sam.  203 

Early  Judcan  David  Narratives 

^And  when  David  came  to  his  palace  at  Jerusalem,  he  took  care  of  his  ten  Fate  of 
concubines,  whom  he  had  left  to  take  charge  of  the  palace,  and  put  them  in  ^ncu'/ 
a  guarded  house  and  supported  them,  but  went  not  in  unto  them.     So  they  bines 
were  shut  in  until  the  day  of  their  death,  living  as  widows.'^ 

■^Then  the  king  said  to  Amasa,  Summon  in  my  name  the  men  of  Judah  Rein- 
within  three  days,  and  also  be  present  yourself.     ^So  Amasa  went  to  summon  ,^^*ient  of 
Judah.     But  when  he  delayed  longer  than  the  time  which  David  had  ap-  J"ab 
pointed  him.  '^^David  said  to  Abishai,  Now  will  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri  do  us  death  of 
more  harm  than  did  Absalom;  take  your  lord's  servants,  and  pursue  after  ^™^®^ 
him,  lest  he  find  for  himself  fortified  cities  and  escape  out  of  our  sight.     "So 
there  went  out  after  Abishai, '^  Joab  and  the  Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites, 
and  all  the  mighty  heroes.     They  set  out  from  Jerusalem  to  pursue  Sheba 
the  son  of  Bichri.     ^^Yhen  they  were  at  the  great  stone  which  is  in  Gibeon, 
Amasa  came  to  meet  them.'i     And  Joab  was  girt  with  a  sword  under  his 
warrior's  cloak,  and  also  over  it  was  a  girdle  with  a  sword  fastened  upon 
his  loins  in  its  sheath;  and  as  he  went  forth  it  fell  out.^     ^And  Joab  said  to 
Amasa,  Is  it  well  with  you,  my  brother  .'*     And  Joab  took  Amasa  by  the 
beard  with  his  right  hand  to  kiss  him.     ^^But  Amasa  did  not  notice  the  sword 
that  was  in  Joab's  hand;  so  he  smote  him  with  it  in  the  body,  and  shed  his 
bowels  to  the  ground,  and  he  did  not  strike  a  second  blow;  but  he  died.    And 
Joab  and  Abishai  his  brother  pursued  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri.     ^^And  one 
of  Joab's  young  men  stood  by  him  and  said,  Whoever  favors  Joab  and  is  for 
David,  let  him  follow  Joab.     ^-But  Amasa  lay  wallowing  in  his  blood  in  the 
middle  of  the  highway.     And  when  the  man  saw  that  all  the  people  stood 
still,  he  carried  Amasa  out  of  the  highway  into  the  field,  and  cast  a  garment 
over  him,  inasmuch  as  he  saw  that  every  one  who  came  to  him  stood   still. 
^^When  he  was  removed  out  of  the  liighway,  all  the  people  went  on  after 
Joab,  to  pursue  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri. 

^"*But  he  passed  through  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  to  Abel-beth-maacah.     And  Pursuit 
all  the  Bichrites^  gathered  together,  and  entered  also  after  him.     ^''And  they  ba  and^ 
came  and  besieged  him  in  Abel-beth-maacah,  and  they  cast  up  a  mound  "^^ 
against  the  city,  and  it  stood  even  with  the  wall;  and  all  the  people  with  sel  of 
Joab  were  devising  how  to  throw  down  the  wall.     ^*^Then  a  wise  woman  ^-^^ 
out  of  the  city,  cried.  Hear,  hear  !     Say,  I  pray,  to  Joab,  '  Come  near  that  "f'ljlf'j 
I  may  speak  with  you.'     ^'^And  he  came  near  her;   and  the  woman  said. 
Are  you  Joab  ?     And  he  answered,  I  am.     Then  she  said  to  him.  Hear  the 
words  of  your  maid-servant.     And  he  said,  I  am  listening.      ^'''Then  she 
spoke,  saying,  They  used  to  say  formerly,  '  T^et  them  ask  in  Abel  and  Dan 
whether  what  the  faithful  in  Israel  have  established  has  ceased  to  be.'s     '^I 

^  2(P  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  is  obscure,  lit.,  as  living  widows. 

"  20'  So  Gk.     Heb.  omits,  AbisJmi. 

^  20'  Or,  making  a  sliKht  correction,  leading  the  people. 

"  20*  This  'le^^cripfion  is  exceerlinKly  obscure.  Ihe  present  Heb.  makes  no  sense  and  the 
other  versions  Kive  little  help.  Vs.  '"  aids  in  the  restoration.  'Ihe  idea  ai)i)ears  to  be  that  Joab 
concealed  an  extra  sword  under  his  warrior's  cloak,  while  lie  puriiosel.y  caused  his  ordinary 
sword  on  the  outside  to  fall,  as  he  approached  Ama.sa.  in  order  to  disarm  suspicion. 

'20"  Heb.,  ftirtes;  but  Gk.  anrl  Lat.  favor  the  above  reading,  which  would  mean  that 
Sheba  was  support  erl  by  the  members  of  his  own  clan. 

163 


II  Sam.  2018]      DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

am  of  those  who  are  peaceful  and  faithful  in  Israel.     You  seek  to  destroy 

a  city  and  a  mother  in  Israel;  why  will  you  consume  the  inheritance  of 

Jehovah .'' 

Death         -*^And  Joab  answered  and  said,  Far  be  it,  far  be  it  from  me,  that  I  should 

Sheba     consume  or  destroy.     ^^That  is  not  at  all  our  errand.     But  a  man  of  the 

a"d        hill-country  of  Ephraim,  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri  by  name,  has  lifted  up  his 

of  the     hand  against  the  king,  even  against  David;  only  deliver  him,   and  I  will 

[fon        leave  the  city.     And  the  woman   said   to   Joab,  Behold   his   head   shall   be 

thrown   to   you   over   the  wall.     —Then  the  woman  went  and  advised  all 

the  people'^  in  her  wisdom.     And  they  cut  off  the  head  of  Sheba  the  son  of 

Bichri   and   threw  it  out  to  Joab.     So  he  blew  the  trumpet,  and  they  were 

dispersed  from  the  city,  each  to  his  home.     And  Joab  returned  to  the  king 

at  Jerusalem. 

§  45.  Adonijah's  Attempted  Usurpation  and  Solomon's  Establishment  on 

the  Throne,  I  Kgs.  1,  I  Chr.  ^23' 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

The  I  Kgs.  1  ^Now  King  David  was  advanced  in  years,'  and  although  they 

kfng  in-  Covered  him  with  clothes,  he  was  not  warm,     ^^herefore  his  servants  said 

trusted  to  him,   Let  there  be  sought  for  mv  lord  the  king  a  young:  virgin  and  let  her 

to  the  .  "  "  o       J  o        o 

care  of    attend  the  king  and  constantly  take  care  of  him;    and  let  her  lie  in  your 
shag       bosom,  that  the  lord  my  king  may  be  warm.     ^So  they  sought  for  a  beau- 
tiful maiden  throughout  all  the  territory  of  Israel  and  found  Abishag  the 
ShunammiteJ  and  brought  her  to  the  king.     '^And  the  maiden  was  surpass- 
ingly beautiful;  and  she  took  care  of  the  king  and  ministered  to  him;  but 
the  king  knew  her  not. 
Adoni-       ^Then  Adonijah  the  son  of  Haggith  exalted  himself,  saying,  I  will  be 
PQ^j'       king.     Therefore  he  prepared  for  himself  chariots  and  horsemen  and  fifty 
spiracy  men  to  run  before  him  as  runners.     ^And  his  father  had  never  in  his  life 
troubled  him  by  saying,  ^\liy  have  you  done  so  ?     And  he  was  also  an  ex- 
ceedingly good-looking  man,  and  he  was  by  birth  next  after  Absalom.     ''And 
he  entered  into  negotiations  with  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah  and  with  Abia- 
thar  the  priest,  so  that  they  espoused  Adonijah's  cause. ^     ^g^t  Zadok  the 
priest  and  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  and  Nathan  the  prophet  and  Shimei 
and  Rei  and  David's  famous  heroes  were  not  with  Adonijah.     ^And  Adoni- 

E  20'*  Heb.,  Let  them  ask  in  Abel  and  so  they  are  at  an  end.  But  the  Gk.  reading  which  is 
followed  above,  seems  to  be  demanded  by  the  succeeding  context.  It  means  that  Abel  was 
famous  as  a  conserver  of  Israelite  custom  and  tradition. 

i-  20^^  So  Gk. 

§  45  Contents  and  literary  style  indicate  that  I  Kgs.  1  is  the  direct  continuation  of  11  Sam. 
9-20.  With  graphic  details  the  early  .ludean  David  narratives  record  the  circumstances  which 
led  to  Solomon's  accession.  Since  the  given  facts  did  not  appeal  to  the  Chronicler,  he  simply 
states  I  Chr  23',  that.  When  David  was  old  and  advanced  in  years,  he  made  Solomon  his  son 
king  over  Israel. 

'  1'  According  to  the  editor  David  at  this  time  was  about  seventy  years  old,  II  Sam.  5^'  ', 
I  Kgs.  2". 

'  1'  From  the  town  of  Sunem  opposite  Gilboa  on  the  northern  side  of  the  plain  of  Esdraelon. 
Cf.  I  Sam.  28^  and  II  Kgs.  4S. 

''I'  lAt.,  his  words  were  with  .  .  .  so  that  they  helped  him,  following  Adonijah. 

164 


than's 
in  to 


ADONIJAH'S   ATTEMPTED   USURPATION      [I  Kgs.  l^ 

Early  Jvdcan  David  Narratives 

jah  slew'  sheep  and  oxen  and  fallings  by  the  Serpent's  Stone,  which  is  beside 
the  Fuller's  Spring,  and  he  invited  all  his  brothers,  the  king's  sons,  together 
with  all  the  royal  officials  of  Judah;  ^*^but  the  prophet  Nathan  and  Benaiah 
and  the  famous  heroes  and  Solomon  his  brother,  he  did  not  invite. 

^^Then  Nathan  said  to  Bathsheba  the  mother  of  Solomon,  Have  vou  not  Na- 
heard  that  Adonijah  the  son  of  Haggith  has  been  made  king  without  David  *! 
our  lord  knowing  it?     ^-^Now  therefore  come,  let  me  counsel  you  that  you  insure 
may  save  your  own  life  and  the  life  of  your  son  Solomon.      ^^Go  at  once  to  mon's 
King  David  and  say  to  him,  '  Did  you  not,  my  lord,  the  king,  swear  to  your  gio^n*^^' 
maid-servant,  saying,  "  Solomon  your  son  shall  be  king  after  me,  and  he 
shall  sit  on  my  throne  ?     Why  then  has  Adonijah  been  made  king  ?  "  '    ^^Just 
as  you  are  talking  with  the  king,  I  also  will  come  in  after  you,  and  confirm 
your  words. 

^^And  Bathsheba  went  in  to  the  king  into  his  apartment;  and  the  king  Bath- 
was  very  old,  and  Abishag  the  Shunammite  was  ministering  to  the  king,  ^^^l^^  ^ 
l^And  Bathsheba  bowed  and  did  obeisance  to  the  king.     And  the  king  said,  s"Ke 
What  do  you  wish  ?     ^'xVnd  she  said  to  him,  My  lord,  you  swore  to  your  David 
maid-servant  by  Jehovah  God,  '  Solomon  your  son  shall  be  king  after  me 
and  he  shall  sit  upon  my  throne.'     ^^And  now,  see,  Adonijah  has  been  made 
king,  without  my  lord,  the  king,  knowing  it.     ^^And  he  has  slain  oxen  and 
fatlings  and  sheep  in  abundance,  and  has  invited  all  the  sons  of  the  king 
and  Abiathar  the  priest  and  Joab  the  commander  of  the  army;  but  Solomon 
your  servant  he  has  not  invited.     20\jjj  now,  my  lord,  the  king,  the  eyes  of 
all  Israel  are  on  you,  that  you  should  tell  them  who  .shall  sit  on  the  throne 
of  my  lord  the  king  after  him.™     -^^Otherwise  the  result  will  be,  when  my 
lord  the  king  shall  sleep  with  his  fathers,  that  I  and  my  son  Solomon  will  be 
regarded  as  criminals. 

22And,  while  she  was  still  talking  with  the  king,  Nathan  the  pro[)het  came  N.a- 
in.     23^\n(l  they  told  the  king,  saying,  Nathan  the  prophet  is  here.     And  he  ^o^"'^ 
came  in  before  the  king  and  did  obeisance  before  the  king  with  his  face  to  fimia- 
the  ground.     -*And  Nathan  said.   My  lord  the  king,  have  you  said,  '  Adoni-  words 
jah  shall  be  king  after  me  and  shall  sit  on  my  throne .'  '      ^-'For  he  has  gone 
down  this  day  and  slain  oxen  and  fatlings  and  she<'p  in  abundance,  and  has 
called  all  the  king's  sons  and  the  commanders  of  the  army"  and  Abiathar 
the  i)riest;  v.nd  there  they  are  eating  and  drinking  before  him,  and  saying, 
'  May  King  Adonijah  live  !  '     20]}, ,j^^  jj^(>^  even  me,  your  servant,  and  Zadok 
the  {)riest,   Hcnaiali  the  son  of  Jchoiada,  and  your  .servant"  Solomon,  has 
he   not    invited.     ^''Ilas    this    been    brought    about    by  my  lord  the  king," 
and  have  you  not  showed  your  servants  who  .should  sit  on  the  throne  of  my 
lord  the  king  after  him  ? 


'  1'  Ttie  wDrd  ordinarily  means,  to  sacrifice.     Tiic  implication  is  that  it  was  a  sacrificial 
meal  in  honor  of  his  acoesHion. 

'"  1™  So 'I'arK.  and  certain  Heb.  MSS.     Accepted  Hcb.,  yoM. 

"   I^''  lyiic,  lUe  commander-in-chief  Joah.     'I'liis  may  well  he  original. 

"  1-*  Luc,  Hon. 

I'  l'^'  The  ll(!l).  form  of  ihc  'lucslioii  implies  the  net^alivc  an.swer. 

1G5 


I  Kgs.  128]        DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

David's      -^Then  King  David  answered  and  said,   Call  Bathsheba  to  me.     And 
^^^r  n    ^^^  came  into  the  king's  presence  and  stood  before  the  king,     ^g'phen  the 
that       king  took  an  oath  and  said,  As  Jehovah  liveth,  who  hath  redeemed  me  out 
"on       of   all  adversity,  "^"^as  I  have  sworn  to  you  by  Jehovah,  the  God  of   Israel, 
'^"/^''^    saying,  '  Solomon  your  son  shall  be  king  after  me  and  he  shall  sit  on  my 
throne  in  my  place;  '  verily  so  will  I  do  to-day.     ^^Then  Bathsheba  bowed 
her  face  to  the  earth,  and  did  obeisance  to  the  king   and  said.  May  my  lord 
King  David  live  forever. 
Com-         22'j>i^gj^  King  David  said.  Call  to  me  Zadok  the  priest,  Nathan  the  prophet, 
{^^^'^     and  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada.     And  when  they  came  before  the  king 
pro-       33fijg  king  said  to  them.  Take  with  you  the  servants  of  your  lord,  let  Solomon 
him        my  son  ride  upon  my  own  mule,  bring  him  down  to  Gihon,'^  ^^and  there 
^'"^       let  Zadok  the  priest  and  Nathan  the  prophet  anoint  him  king  over  Israel; 
and  blow  the  trumpet,  and  say.  May  King  Solomon  live  !     ^^Then  you  shall 
go  up  after  him,  and  he  shall  enter  in  and  sit  upon  my  throne,  for  he  shall 
be  king  in  my  place;  and  I  have  appointed  him  to  be  leader  over  Israel  and 
Judah.      ^'^And  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  answered  the  king  and  said. 
So  mav  it  be  !  thus  may  Jehovah  establish  the  words  of  my  lord  the  king. "" 
^"As  Jehovah  has  been  with  my  lord  the  king,  even  so  may  he  be  with  Solo- 
mon, and  make  his  throne  greater  than  the  throne  of  my  lord  King  David  ! 
Public        ^^Then  Zadok  the  priest,  Nathan  the  prophet,  and  Benaiah  the  son  of 
f;!^,?'„'i,*^  Jehoiada,  tos;ether  with  the  Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites,  went  down  and 

ing  ana  .-  .  .  .  on 

accept-  set  Solomon  on  King  David's  mule,  and  brought  him  to  Gihon.     ^^And 

ance  of  .  . 

Solo-      Zadok  the  priest  took  the  horn  of  oil  out  of  the  tent  and  anointed  Solomon. 

king^*   Thereupon  they  blew  the  trumpet;  and  all  the  people  said.  May  Solomon 

live  !     "^^Then  all  the  people  went  up  after  him  and  the  people  played  on 

flutes  and  rejoiced  so  loudly  that  the  earth  seemed  to  be  rent  with  their  voice. 

An-  ^^Now  Adonijah  and  all  the  guests  who  were  with  him  heard  it  just  as 

ment'^of  ^^^^Y  ^^^'^  finished  eating.     And  when  Joab  heard  the  sound  of  the  trumpet, 

the  fact  he  said.  Why  is  there  the  noise  of  the  city  in  an  uproar  .^     '^- While  he  was  still 

con-       speaking,  Jonathan  the  son  of  Abiathar  the  priest  came.     x\nd  Adonijah 

tors^'     said,  Come  in,  for  you  are  a  valiant  man  and  bring  good  news.  ^    ^^And 

Jonathan  answered  and  said  to  Adonijah,  Nay,  but  our  lord  King  David 

has  made  Solomon  king.     ^^And  the  king  has  sent  with  him  Zadok  the  priest, 

Nathan  the  prophet,  and  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada,  together  with  the 

Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites,  and  they  have  set  him  on  the  king's  mule, 

^°and  Zadok  the  priest  and  Nathan  the  prophet  have  anointed  him  king  in 

Gihon,  and  they  have  come  up  from  there  rejoicing,  so  that  the  city  is  thrown 

into  an  uproar.     That  is  the  noise  which  you  heard.     ^^And  Solomon  also 

has  taken  his  seat  on  the  royal  throne  !     "*~And  moreover  the  king's  servants 

have  already  come  to  congratulate*^  our  lord  King  David,  saying,  '  May  God*^ 

1  1^  Probably  to  be  identified  with  Virgin's  Fount,  the  intermittent  spring  south  of  the 
temple  hill. 

■■  1*^  So  practically  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  thus  may  Jehovah  the  God  of  my  lord  the  king  say, 

'  1^  Jonathan  figures  as  a  messenger  in  II  Sam.  15"  and  IT'^. 

«  1"  Lit.,  bless. 

"  V  So  Gk.,  Lat.,  Luc,  and  Targ.     Heb..  thy  God. 

166 


SOLOMON'S   ACCESSION  [I  Kgs.  1^7 

Early  Judcan  David  Xarratives 

make  the  name  of  Solomon  better  than  your  name,  and  his  throne  greater 
than  your  throne  !  '  and  the  king  bowed  himself  on  his  bed.  ^^And  further- 
more thus  said  the  king,  '  Blessed  be  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel,  who  hath 
given  one  of  my  descendants^  to  sit  on  my  throne  this  day,  my  eyes  even 
seeing  it.' 

^^Then  all  the  guests  of  Adonijah  were  seized  with  terror  and  rose  up  and  Pardon 
each  went  his  way.     °^Bu\.  Adonijah  in  his  fear  of  Solomon  arose,  and  went  ciz^^ 
and  caught  hold  of  the  horns  of  the  altar.  ^^And  it  was  reported  to  Solomon,  spira- 
See,  Adonijah  fears  King  Solomon,  for  behold  he  has  caught  hold  of  the 
horns  of  the  altar,  saying.  Let  King  Solomon  swear  to  me  first  that  he  will 
not  slay  his  servant  with  the  sword.     '^-Solomon  said.  If  he  shall  show  him- 
self a  worthy  man,  not  a  hair  of   him  shall  fall  to  the  earth,  but  if  wicked- 
ness be  found  in  him  he  must  die.      ^^So  Kincj  Solomon  sent  to  brina:  him 
away  from  the  altar.     And  he  came  and  did  obeisance  to  King  Solomon. 
And  Solomon  said  to  him.  Go  to  your  house. 

§  46.  David's  Final  Injunctions  and  Death,  I  Kgs.  2»-",  I  Chr.  SS'-gD^" 
Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


Popular    Solomon 
Traditions 
I  Kgs.  2     iNow 


I  Chr.  28  ^Then  David  assembled  all  the  princes  David's 


w  h  e  n    the    time      of  Israel,  the  princes  of  the  tribes,  and  the  commanders  to  the^^ 

of  the  divisions  that  served  the  king,  and  the  com-  leaders 
manders  of  thousands,  and  of  hundreds,  and  the  people 
rulers  over  all  the  possessions  and  cattle  of  the  king 
and  of  his  sons,  together  with  the  chamberlains  and 
the  mighty  heroes — every  valiant  man — to  Jerusa- 
lem, ^'phen  David  the  king  stood  up  on  his  feet  and 
said.  Hear  me,  my  brothers  and  my  people.  I  myself 
had  in  mind  to  build  a  house  of  rest  for  the  ark  of  the 
covenant  of  Jehovah,  and  for  the  footstool  of  our  God; 


drew  near  that  Da- 
vid must  die,  he 
charged  Solomon 
his  son,  saying,  -^I 
am  going  the  way 

of  all  the  earth.    Be 

strong  therefore,  and 
show  }-ourself  a  man; 
^and  faithfully  dis- 
charge your  duty   to 


■^  1^*  So  Gk.  and  liUc.     Heb.  omits  the  important  expression,  of  my  descendnnls. 

§  46  In  I  Kgs.  2-''-''  '"■  "  the  languaRC  and  ideas  of  the  prophetic  editor  are  readily 
recognized.  Regarding  the  origin  of  the  remaining  verses,  however,  there  is  some  lioubt.  The 
reason  urged  in  -^  for  the  execution  of  Joab  is  not  tlie  command  of  David  but  .loab's  complicity 
in  Adonijah's  conspiracy.  The  motive  in  *i  w  appears  to  be  Solomon's  purpose  to  remove  ."ill 
opponents;  at  least  there  is  no  reference  in  w-^"  (which  evidently  came  from  the  early  David 
source)  to  the  king's  commands  in  '■^.  Certain  Gk.  texts  also  introduce  the  account  of  David's 
death  immefliately  after  1.  suggesting  that  '-'  was  not  found  in  the  text  upon  which  they  are 
ba.sed.  The  bloodthirsty  feeling  is  also  not  in  harmony  with  the  character  of  Davi<l  portrayed 
elsewhere.  Leniency  and  regard  for  human  life  distinguished  him  in  a  marked  degree  from  his 
contemporaries.  On  the  whole,  therefore,  it  .seems  probable  that  this  parting  testament  was 
derived  from  a  later  source.  In  the  early  David  narratives,  Solomon  puts  Shimei  and  Joab  to 
death  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  absolute  rule.  This  w.as  undoubtedly  the  real  motive.  In  ''•", 
however,  the  responsibility  for  the  act  is  transferred  to  David  and  thus  Solomon  is  exculpated. 
This  fact  suggests  that  2''"  was  baser)  on  a  pf)pular  .Sdjomim  tradition. 

The  traditional  last  words  of  David  become  in  the  I  Chr.  28  and  29  explicit  directions  for 
Solomon  regarding  the  buiMing  of  the  temple.  The  presence  of  late  prophetic  expressions  and 
many  ideas  and  idioms,  which  are  not  e.vaetly  characteristic  of  the  Chronicler,  suggest  thnt  they 
may  originally  have  been  t.aken  from  an  earlier  source.  If  .so,  it  wa.s  the  late  priestly  histor.v 
of  the  temple.  Cf.  note  §  Xi.  The  noble  prayer  in  29'"-"',  as  well  as  ^o-^",  is,  however,  from  the 
pen  of  the  Clironicler,  and  possibly  the  entire  section. 


167 


I  Kgs.  23]         DAVID'S  REIGN   OVER  ALL  ISRAEL       [I  Chr.  282 


Injunc- 
tion to 
put  to 
death 
his  foes 


Popular    Solomon 

Traditions 

Jehovah  your  God, 
by  walking  in  his 
ways,  by  keeping  his 
statutes,  his  com- 
mands, his  judgments, 
and  his  testimonies, 
as  it  is  written  in  tiie 
law  of  Moses,  that  you 
may  act  wisely  and 
prosper  in  all  that  you 
do  and  in  all  that  you 
undertake ;  ^that  Je- 
hovah may  redeem 
his  promise  which  he 
made  to  me,  saying, 
'  If  your  sons  take 
heed  to  walk  before 
me  in  truth  with  all 
their  heart  and  with 
all  their  soul,  there 
shall  not  fail  you' 
(said  he)  '  a  man  on 
the  throne  of  Israel.' 

^And  you  also 
know  what  Joab 
the  son  of  Zeruiah 
did  to  me,  how  he 
did  to  the  two  com- 
manders of  the  ar- 
mies of  Israel,  Ab- 
ner  the  son  of  Ner, 
and  Amasa  the  son 
of  Jether,  how  that 
he  slew  them  and 
thus  in  time  of 
peace  avenged 
blood  shed  in  war,^ 
and  put  innocent 
upon  his 
e  that  was 
about  his  loins,  and 
in  his  shoes  that 
were  on  his  feet. 
6Act  therefore  ac- 
cording to  your  wis- 
dom, so  that  you 
will  not  let  his 
hoary  head  go  down 


blood -^ 
gird' 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

and  had  made  ready  for  the  building.  ^B^t  Qod 
said  to  me,  '  Thou  shalt  not  build  a  temple  for  my 
name,  because  thou  art  a  man  of  war,  and  hast  shed 
blood.'  ^However  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  chose 
me  out  of  all  the  house  of  my  father  to  be  king  over 
Israel  forever;  for  he  hath  chosen  Judah  to  be  prince; 
and  in  the  house  of  Judah,  the  house  of  my  father, 
and  among  the  sons  of  my  father,  he  took  pleasure  in 
me  to  make  me  king  over  all  Israel.  ^And  of  all  my 
sons  (for  Jehovah  hath  given  me  many  sons),  he  hath 
chosen  Solomon  my  son  to  sit  on  the  throne  of  Je- 
hovah's rule  over  Israel.  ^And  he  said  to  me,  '  Sol- 
omon thy  son  shall  build  my  temple  and  my  courts; 
for  I  have  chosen  him  to  be  my  son,  and  I  will  be  his 
father.  ''And  I  will  establish  his  kingdom  forever, 
if  he  will  faithfully  execute  my  commands  and  my 
ordinances  as  at  present.'  ^Now  therefore,  in  the 
sight  of  all  Israel,  the  assembly  of  Jehovah,  and  in 
the  audience  of  our  God,  observe  and  seek  to  know  all 
the  commands  of  Jehovah  your  God,  that  ye  may 
possess  this  good  land,  and  leave  it  for  an  inheritance 
to  your  children  after  you  forever. 

^And  thou,  Solomon  my  son,  know  thou  the  God  Exhor- 
of  thy  father,  and  serve  him  with  a  whole   heart,  and  ^o  ^°^ 

with  a  willing  mind;  for  Jehovah  searcheth  all  hearts,  Solo- 

,  .  mon 

and  perceiveth  every  impulse  of  the  thoughts;  if  thou 

seek  him  he  will  be  found  of  thee;  but  if  thou  forsake 

him  he  will  cast  thee  off  forever.     ^^Take  heed  now; 

for  Jehovah  hath  chosen  thee  to  build  a  temple  as  a 

sanctuary;  faithfully  do  it. 

i^Then  David  gave  to  Solomon  his  son  the  model  Plan 

of  the  porch,  and  the  buildings  belonging  to  it:  the  organi- 

treasuries,  the  upper  rooms,  the  inner  chambers,  and  ^fVh° 

the  place  of  the  mercy  seat;  ^^and  the  plan  of  all  that  temple 

he  had  in  mind  regarding  the  courts  of  the  temple  of 

Jehovah,   and  all  the  surrounding  chambers  for  the 

treasures  of  the  house  of  God,  and  for  the  treasures 

of  consecrated    objects,    ^^^g  y^eW   as  for  the   courses 

of  the  priests  and  the  Levites,  and  for  all  the  work  of 

the  service  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  and  for  all  the 

vessels  for  use  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah;  ^^regarding 


"  I  Kgs.  2^  So  Luc.  Heb.,  put  the  blood  of  war  on  peace,  which  is,  to  say  the  least,  ex- 
tremely awkward. 

'  I  Kgs.  2;^  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  Heb.,  blood  of  war,  is  probably  due  to  a  scribal  repetition 
of  the  expression  in  the  preceding  sentence. 


168 


I  Kgs.  26] 

Popular   Solomon 
Traditions 

to  Sheol  in  peace. 
"But  show  kindness 
to  the  sons  of  Bar- 
zillai  the  Gileadite 
that  they  may  be 
among  those  who 
eat  at  your  table; 
for  so  they  came  to 
me  when  I  fled 
from  Absalom  your 
brother.  ^Further- 
more  you  have  with 
you  the  Benjamite, 
Shimei  the  son  of 
Gera  of  Bahurim, 
who  uttered  a  griev- 
ous curse  against 
me  on  the  day  when 
I  went  to  Maha- 
naim.  But  when  he 
came  down  to  meet 
me  at  the  Jordan,  I 
swore  to  him  by  Je- 
hovah, saying,  '  I 
will  not  put  you  to 
death  with  the 
sword.'  ^But  now 
do  not  let  him  go  un- 
punished; you  are  a 
wise  man  and  know 
what  to  do  in  order 
to  bring  his  hoary 
head  down  with 
blood  to  Sheol. 


HIS   FINAL   INJUNCTIONS 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


[I  Chr.  28^4 


the  gold  by  weight  of  gold  for  each  kind  of  vessel  used 
in  the  service,  regarding  all  the  vessels  of  silver  by 
weight  for  each  kind  of  vessel  used  in  the  service,  ^■''by 
weight  also  for  the  golden  candlesticks,  and  for  its 
golden  lamps  by  weight  for  each  candlestick,  and  for 
its  lamps  and  for  the  silver  candlesticks  by  weight  for 
each  candlestick,  and  for  its  lamps  according  to  the 
use  of  each  candlestick,  ^^and  the  gold  by  weight  for 
the  tables  of  showbread,  for  each  table,  and  silver  for 
the  tables  of  silver,  ^''and  the  flesh-hooks,  and  the 
basins,  and  the  cups  of  pure  gold,  and  for  the  golden 
bowls  by  weight  for  each  bowl,  and  for  the  silver  bowls 
by  weight  for  each  bowl,  ^^and  for  the  altar  of  in- 
cense refined  gold  by  weight,  and  gold  for  the  model 
of  the  chariot,  the  golden  cherubim,  that  spread  out 
their  wings  and  covered  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
Jehovah.^  ^^Regarding  all  this^even  all  the  exe- 
cution of  the  plan — he  has  given  me  instruction  by  a 
writing  from  the  hand  of  Jehovah. 

^'^And  David  said  to  Solomon  his  son,  execute  it  Com- 
faithfully   and   courageously  !     Fear  not   nor  be  dis-  ["^goi. 
mayed,  for  Jehovah  God,  my  God,  is  with  you  !     He  omon 
will  not  fail  you,  nor  forsake  you,  until  all  the  work 
for  the  service  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah  is  finished. 
2^And  there  are  the  courses  of  the  priests  and  of  the 
Levites  for  all  the  service  of    the  house  of  God,  and 
there  shall  be  with  you  in  every  work  whoever  has 
skill  for  any  kind  of  service;  also  the  leaders  and  all 
the  people  for  all  your  undertakings.^ 


plete 

the 

work 


39  ^Then  David  the  king  said  to  all  the  assembly,  Solomon  my  son,  whom  David's 
alone  God  hath  chosen,  is  yet  young  and  tender,  and  the  work  is  great;  for  vj^^ions 
the  palace  is  not  for  man,  but   for  Jehovah  God.     -Now  I  have  prepared  as  [gj"jj '',^ 
far  as  I  have  been  able  for  the  house  of  my  God  the  gold  for  the  things  of 
gold,  and  the  silver  for  the  things  of  silver,  and  the  brass  for  the  things  of 
brass,  the  iron  for  the  things  of  iron,  and  wood  for  the  things  of  wood,  onyx 
and  stones  for  setting,  and  dark -colored  stones  and  of  divers  colors,  and  all 

•  I  Chr.  28"  '8  Their  awkward  literary  form  and  the  inimite  details  mark  these  verses  as 
undoubtedly  from  the  Chronicler. 

''  I  f:hr.  2S™.  ^1  These  also  clearly  originated  with  the  Chronicler,  20  being  a  repetition  of  '", 
and  ^'  being  based  on  ^-^o. 

169 


IChr.  292]       DAVID'S  REIGN  OVER  ALL  ISRAEL 

ChronicIer^s  Ecclesiastical  History 

kinds  of  precious  stones,  and  marble  in  abundance.  ^Moreover  also  because 
I  have  set  my  affection  on  the  house  of  my  God,  since  I  have  a  treasure  of 
iiiv  own  of  cjold  and  silver,  I  give  it  to  the  house  of  my  God,  over  and  above 
ali  lluit  I  have  prepared  for  the  holy  house:  ^three  thousand  talents  of  gold, 
of  the  gold  of  Ophir,  and  seven  thousand  talents  of  refined  s'lver,  with  which 
to  overlay  the  walls  of  the  houses, — ^the  things  of  gold  with  gold,  and  the 
things  of  silver  with  silver,  and  also  all  kinds  of  work  made  by  the  hands 
of  artificers.  Who  then  is  now  willing  to  give  with  free  hand  to  Jehovah  ? 
Re-  *^Then  the  head  of  the  families,  and  the  princes  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and 

of  tCr  ^1^<^  commanders  of  thousands  and  hundreds,  with  the  officers  over  the  king's 
jDeople  work,  announced  themselves  as  willing.  '^And  they  gave  for  the  service  of 
wortl  the  house  of  God  in  gold,  five  thousand  talents  and  ten  thousand  darics, 
gift  and  in  silver,  ten  thousand  talents,  and  of  brass,  eighteen  thousand  talents, 
and  of  iron,  a  hundred  thousand  talents.  ^And  those  who  had  precious  stones 
gave  them  to  the  treasure  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  into  the  charge  of  Je- 
hiel  the  Gershonite.  ^Then  the  people  rejoiced  in  that  they  offered  willingly, 
with  a  whole  heart  they  offered  willingly  to  Jehovah;  and  David  the  king 
also  rejoiced  greatly. 
David's  i^Then  David  blessed  Jehovah  before  all  the  assembly;  and  David  said, 
prayer  pjggggj  ^^  thou,  O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel  our  father,  for  ever  and  ever. 
^^Thine,  O  Jehovah,  is  the  greatness,  and  the  might,  and  the  glory,  and  the 
eminence,  and  the  majesty,  for  all  that  is  in  the  heavens  and  in  the  earth  is 
thine.  Thine  is  the  kingdom,  O  Jehovah,  and  thou  art  exalted  as  head 
above  all.  ^-Riches  and  honor  come  from  thee,  and  thou  rulest  over  all, 
and  in  thy  hand  is  might  and  strength,  and  in  thy  hand  it  is  the  power  to 
make  every  one  great  and  strong.  ^^Now  therefore,  our  God,  we  thank 
thee  and  praise  thy  glorious  name.  ^^But  who  am  I,  and  what  is  my  people 
that  we  should  be  able  to  offer  such  voluntary  gifts,  for  all  things  come  of 
thee,  and  from  thine  own  hand  have  we  given  to  thee.  ^^For  we  are  only 
guests  before  thee  and  sojourners,  as  all  our  fathers  were.  Our  days  on 
the  earth  are  as  a  shadow,  and  there  is  no  hope.  ^^O  Jehovah,  our  God, 
all  this  store  of  things  that  we  have  prepared  in  order  to  build  thee  a  temple 
for  thy  holy  name  comes  from  thy  hand,  and  all  belongs  to  thee.  ^"I  know 
also,  my  God,  that  thou  triest  the  heart  and  hast  pleasure  in  uprightness. 
As  for  me,  in  the  uprightness  of  my  heart  I  have  willingly  offered  all  these 
things;  and  now  have  I  seen  with  joy  thy  people,  who  are  present  here,  offer 
willingly  to  thee.  ^^O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Abraham,  of  Isaac,  and  of 
Israel,  our  fathers,  keep  this  forever  as  the  purpose  in  the  thoughts  of  the 
hearts  of  thy  people,  and  direct  their  hearts  toward  thee,  ^^and  grant  to  Sol- 
omon my  son  that  he  may  with  whole  heart  keep  thy  commands,  thy  testi- 
monies, and  thy  statutes,  and  do  all  these  things,  and  build  the  palace  for 
which  I  have  made  provision. 
Re-  20\j^j  David  said  to  all  the  assembly.  Now  bless  Jehovah  your  God.   Then 

of  thf    ^1'  tlie  assembly  blessed  Jehovah,  the  God  of  their  fathers,  and  bowed  down 
people    their  heads,  and  did  homage  to  Jehovah  and  their  king,      si^^^j  they  of- 
fered sacrifices  to  Jehovah,  and  on  the  next  day  they  offered  burnt-offerings 

170 


HIS  FINAL  INJUNCTIONS  [I  Chr.  2921 

Chronicler^ s  Ecclesiastical  History 

to  Jehovah,  a  thousand  bullocks,  a  thousand  rams,  and  a  thousand  lambs, 
with  their  accompanying  libations,  and  sacrifices  in  abundance  for  all  Israel. 
2-Then  they  ate  and  drank  before  Jehovah  on  that  day  with  great  gladness. 
Then  they  made  Solomon  the  son  of  David  king  the  second  time,-^  and 
anointed  him  to  be  Jehovah's  prince  and  Zadok  to  be  priest.  -^So  Solomon 
sat  on  the  throne  of  Jehovah  as  king  in  the  place  of  David  his  father.  And 
he  prospered,  and  all  Israel  obeyed  him ;  -^and  all  the  princes,  and  the  mighty 
heroes  as  well,  all  the  sons  of  King  David  paid  homage  to  Solomon  the 
king.  -°And  Jehovah  exalted  Solomon  greatly  in  the  sight  of  all  Israel 
and  bestowed  upon  him  such  royal  majesty  as  no  other  king  before  him  in 
Israel  had  possessed. 

■^*^Thus  David  the  son  of  Jesse  was  king  over 
all   Israel.     -"And    the    time    durins:   which  he 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

l^Then  David  slept 
with  his  fathers  and  was 
buried  in  the  city  of  Da- 
vid. iiAnd  the  period 
that  Da\'id  reigned  over 
Israel  was  forty  years: 
seven  years  in  Hebron, 
and  thirty-three  years  he 
reigned  in  Jerusalem. 


during 
vears : 


reigned  over  Israel  was  forty  years:  seven  years 
he  reigned  in  Hebron,  and  thirty-three  years  he 
reigned  in  Jerusalem.  -8  ^^j^j  j^g  died  in  a  good  old 
age,  satisfied  with  living,  with  riches,  and  with 
honor;  and  Solomon  his  son  reigned  in  his  place. 
-^Now  the  acts  of  David  the  king  from  beginning 
to  end  are  already  described  in  the  history  of 
Samuel  the  seer,  ^^together  with  all  his  reign  and 
his  brave  deeds,  and  the  fortunes  that  befell  him'^ 
and  Israel  and  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  countries. 


Estab- 
lish- 
ment of 
Solo- 
mon on 
the 

throne 
of 
Israel 


Reign 

and 

death 

of 

David 


IV 

THE   SPLENDORS   AND    BUILDING   ENTERPRISES   OF  SOLO- 
MON'S REIGN,  I  Kgs.  212-1143^  II  Chr.  1-11 

§  47.  Removal  of  Solomon's  Opponents,  I  Kgs.  2'2-46^  jj  q\^j.    ji 
Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

I  Kgs.  2  '-Now  Solomon  .sat  upon  the  throne  of  Da\ad  his  father  and  his  king- 
dom was  firmh^  established.  ^^Then  Adonijah  the  son  of  Haggith  came  to  Balh- 
sheba  the  mother  of  Solomon  and  bowed  before  her.     And  she  said.  Do  you 

'  I  Chr.  2922  Not  founti  in  Gk.     Evidently  it  is  a  harmonizing  scribal  gloss. 

<i  I  Chr.  29^"  Heb.,  limes  that  irent  over. 

The  Splendors  and  Building  Enterprises  of  Solomon's  Reign.  —  1  Kgs.  2'--"'' is  really  the 
conclusion  of  the  David  history.  The  citations  from  the  Solomon  history  begin  with  3  which 
contains  certain  popular  stories  illustrating  his  wisdom  and  furnishing  a  titling  introduction  to 
that  which  follows.  The  kernel  of  the  Solomon  history  is  the  recorfl  of  liis  building  enterprises. 
The  list  of  his  officers  which  precedes  and  the  account  of  his  wealth  and  income  which  follows 


Adoni- 
jah's 
solicita- 
tions 
for 
Abi- 
shag 


§  47.  This  account  of  the  initial  acts  of  Solomon's  reign  is  related  not  to  the  following,  but 
to  the  preceding  passages.  There  is  no  tendency  to  idealize  the  policy  of  the  king,  but  the 
(frirn  facts  arc  presentefl  with  the  directness  and  naturalness,  a.s  well  as  picturcsqueness,  that 
characterize  the  early  .ludean  David  narratives  of  which  this  section  is  the  conclusion^  Tiie 
story  was  objectionable  to  the  Chronicler,  who  in  common  with  his  age  idealized  tlie  cliaracter 
and  history  of  the  builder  of  his  beloved  temple,  .'\ccordingly  he  otnils  it  altogether,  simply 
stating  ClI  f'hr.  1')  that  Solomon  the  son  «/  David  was  stronfjli/  established  in  his  kingdom 
and  Jehovah  his  God  iras  ivith  him  and  made  him  exceedinoiy  pou'crful. 

171 


I  Kgs.  213]        SPLENDORS  OF  SOLOMON'S  REIGN 

Early  Judcan  David  Xarratives 

come  in  a  friendly  manner?-'^  And  he  replied,  Yes,  ^^and  added,  I  have 
something  to  say  to  you.  And  she  said.  Speak.  ^^And  he  said.  You  know 
that  the  kingdom  was  mine  and  that  all  Israel  regarded  me  as  the  coming 
kinw,  but  now  the  kingdom  has  been  taken  away  from  me  and  has  become 
my  brother's,  for  it  was  his  from  Jehovah.  ^^Now,  however,  I  would  ask 
one  thing  of  you;  do  not  refuse  me.  And  she  said  to  him.  Speak.  ^''And 
he  said.  Then  request  Solomon  the  king — he  will  not  refuse  you — to  give  me 
Abishag  the  Shunammite  as  wife.  ^^And  Bathsheba  said.  Good,  I  will  speak 
for  you  to  the  king. 
Solo  i^Bathsheba  went  therefore  to  King  Solomon  to  speak  to  him  for  Adon- 

ind"g-     ij^h.     And  the  king  rose  up  to  meet  her  and  bowed  before  her,  and  sat  down 
nation    q,^  i^jg  throne,  and  a  seat  was  placed^  for  the  king's  mother,  and  she  sat  on 
speedy    his  right.     -^Then  she  said,  I  would  make  a  small  request  of  you;   do  not 
tkTn  of    refuse  me.     And  the  king  said  to  her.  Make  your  request,  my  mother,  for  I 
Adoni-   ^vill  not  refuse  you.     ^i  \n(j  she  said.  Let  Abishag  the  Shunammite  be  given 
to  Adonijah  your  brother  as  wife.     --Then  King  Solomon  answered  and  said 
to  his  mother.  Why  then  do  you  ask  Abishag  the  Shimammite  for  x\donijah  ? 
Ask  for  him  the  kingdom  also  !  for  he  is  my  elder  brother,''  and  on  his  side'^ 
are  Abiathar  the  priest  and  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah.    ^S-j^i^gj-^upon  King  Solo- 
mon swore  by  Jehovah,  saying,  God  do  to  me  whatever  he  pleaseth  if  Adon- 
ijah has  not  spoken  this  word  against  his    own  life.     ^^Now  therefore  as 
Jehovah  liveth,  who  hath  established  me  and  caused  me  to  mount  the  throne 
of   David    my  father,  and  who  hath,  as  he   promised,  given   me  posterity, 
Adonijah  shall  surely  be  put  to  death  this  day.     251^}^^^  King  Solomon  sent 
Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada;  and  he  struck  him  down,  so  that  he  died. 
Banish-      26 .^^^j  ^^  Abiathar  the  priest  the  king  said.  Go  to  Anathoth  to  your  estate; 
of  for  you  are  to-day  condemned  to  die,^  but  I  will  not  put  you  to  death,  because 

U^'^th    y^^  bore  the  ark  of  Jehovah^  before  David  my  father  and  because  you  shared 
priest     all  the  afflictions  which  my  father  experienced.     ^''Thus  Solomon  ejected 

Abiathar,  so  that  he  was  no   longer  Jehovah's   priest,  that  he  might  fulfil  the 

word  of  Jehovah  which  he  spoke  concerning  the  house  of  EH  in  Shiloh.'' 

Joab's        -^But  when  the  report  came  to  Joab — for  Joab  had  supported  Adonijah, 

snd°  ^    although  he  had  not  supported  Absalom^ — Joab  fled  to  the  tent  of  Jehovah, 

and  caught  hold  of  the  horns  of  the  altar.     29\nd  it  was  told  King  Solomon, 

are  clearly  connected  with  this  major  theme.  Chap.  11  alone  reflects  the  deep  shadow  which 
hung  oyer  Solomon's  reign  as  a  consequence  of  his  selfish  despotic  policy.  By  subsequent 
generations  the  shadow  was  forgotten  and  the  builder  shared  the  veneration  and  glory  that 
centred  about  the  temple.  The  tendency  to  idealize  the  comparatively  small  and  modest 
structure  originally  rearer!  by  Solomon,  as  one  of  his  palace  buildings,  is  well  illustrated  by  the 
great  number  of  supplemental  notes  which  have  been  added  to  the  older  accounts  and  the  ten- 
dency to  overlay  it  profusely  with  gold  and  precious  woods. 

*  213  Lit  _  /g  your  coming  peace?  The  last  clause  is  found  in  Gk.  and  Luc.  and  is  probably 
original. 

''2^9  So  Gk.  and  Syr.     Heb..  caused  to  be  placed. 

'^  2--  Ileb.  adfls  through  a  scribal  error,  and  for  him. 

^  2~  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Lat.     The  Heb.  omits,  on  his  side. 

"^  2'*  Heb.,  made  me  a  house. 

'  226  Heb.,  a  man  of  death. 

E  2^5  So  Gk.  and  Syr.     The  Heb.  adds  by  mistake  before  Jehovah  the  word.  Lord. 

^  2-'  Evidently  this  is  a  later  note,  added  by  an  editor  familiar  with  the  later  Ephraimite 
passage.  II  Sam.  2"  =». 

'  22«  So  Heb.,  Gk.,  and  Targ.     Luc.  and  Syr.,  Solomon. 

172 


e 


REMOVAL  OF  S0I.0:M0N'S  OPPONENTS    [T  Kgs.  229 

Early  Judean  David  Narratives 

Joab  has  fled  to  the  tent  of  Jehovah  and  is  there  beside  the  altar.  Thereupon 
Solomon  sent  to  Joab,  saying,  How  comes  it  that  you  have  fled  to  the  altar  ? 
Joab  replied.  Because  I  was  afraid  of  you  and  so  I  fled  to  Jehovah. J  Then 
Solomon  sent  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada,  saying,  Go,  strike  him  down. 
2^And  Benaiah  went  to  the  tent  of  Jehovah  and  said  to  him,  The  king  com- 
mands, '  Come  forth.'  But  he  said.  No;  I  will  rather  die  here.  And  Benaiah 
brought  the  king  word  again,  saying,  Thus  said  Joab  and  thus  he  answered 
me.  -^^And  the  king  said  to  him.  Do  as  he  has  said:  strike  him  down  and 
bury  him,  that  you  may  take  away  the  innocent  blood  which  Joab  shed  from 
me  and  from  my  father's  clan.  -^-And  Jehovah  will  rcfjuite  his  bloody  act 
upon  his  own  head,  because  he  struck  down  two  men  more  honorable  and 
better  than  he,  and  slew  them  with  the  sword  without  the  knowledge  of 
my  father  David:  Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  commander  of  the  army  of  Israel, 
and  Amasa  the  son  of  Jether,  commander  of  the  army  of  Judah.  ^^So  shall 
their  blood  come  back  upon  the  head  of  Joab  and  the  head  of  his  descend- 
ants forever;  but  to  David,  and  to  his  descendants,  and  to  his  house,  and 
to  his  throne  may  there  be  peace  forever  from  Jehovah.  ^"^Then  Benaiah 
the  son  of  Jehoiada  went  up  and  struck  him  down  and  slew  him;  and  he  was 
buried  in  his  own  house  in  the  wilderness.  ^^And  the  king  put  Benaiah 
the  son  of  Jehoiada  in  his  place  over  the  army,  and  the  king  put  Zadok  the 
priest  in  the  place  of  Abiathar. 

3^Then  the  king  summoned  Shimel  and  said  to  him,  Build  a  house  in  Jeru-  The 
salem,  there  you  may  live,  but  you  shall  not  go  forth  from  there  to  any  place  tj^ns'" 
whatever.     ^'^For  as  soon  as  you  go  away  and  cross  the  Brook  Kidron,  know  ""- 
for  certain  that  you  shall  surely  die;  your  blood  shall  be  upon  your  own  head,  upon 
^^And  Shimei  said  to  the  king,  The  statement  is  fair;  Your  servant  will  do  S"'"^®' 
as  my  lord  the  king  has  said.     And  Shimei  lived  in  Jerusalem  a  long  time. 

^^But  at  the  end  of  three  years,  two  of  Shimei's  slaves  ran  away  to  Achish  Shim- 
son  of  Maacah  king  of  Gath.  And  when  it  was  reported  to  Shimei,  Your  ^'  ^  ** 
slaves  are  in  Gath,  '^"Shimei  rose  and  saddled  his  ass  and  went  to  Gath  to 
Achish  to  seek  his  slaves.  And  Shimei  went  and  brought  his  slaves  from 
Gath.  ^^And  it  was  told  Solomon  that  Shimei  had  gone  from  Jerusalem  to 
Gath  and  had  come  back  again.  '^-Then  the  king  summoned  Shimei,  and 
said  to  him,  Did  I  not  cause  you  to  take  an  oath  by  Jehovah  and  solemnly 
admonish  you,  saying,  '  Know  for  certain  that  as  soon  as  you  go  away  to  any 
place  whatever,  you  shall  surely  die  '  ?  And  you  said  to  me,  '  The  statement 
is  fair.'  ^"^Why  then  have  you  not  kept  the  oath  of  Jehovah  and  the  com- 
mand that  I  laid  upon  you  ?  "^^The  king  also  .said  to  Shimei,  You  are  aware 
of  all  the  wickedness  which  you  yourself  alone  know,  that  you  did  to  David 
my  father;  now  Jehovah  hath  brought  your  wickedness  upon  your  own  head. 
^^But  King  Solomon  shall  be  blessed  and  the  throne  of  David  shall  be  es 
tablished  before  Jehovah  forever.  "'So  the  king  gave  conniiand  to  BeiiaiaL 
the  son  of  Jehoiada,  and  he  went  out  and  struck  him  down,  and  thus  he  died. 
So  the  kingdom  was  brought  completely  under  the  control  of  Solomon. 

1  220  The  entire  clause,  Therevpon  Solomon  sent     .     .     .   to  Jehovah,  has  fallen  out  of  Ui« 
Heb.,  but  is  retained  in  the  Gk.  and  Luc. 

173 


I  Kgs.  33]         SPLENDORS  OF  SOLOMON'S  REIGN        [II  Chr.  12 


48.  Solomon's  Wisdom,  I  Kgs.  3--'\  4=«-",  II  Chr.  P-'^ 


Solo- 
mon's 
sacri- 
fice at 
Gibeon 


Popular  Solomon   Tradi- 
tions 

I  Kgs.  3  'Now  Solomon 
loved  Jehovah  so  that  he 
walked  in  the  statutes  of  Da- 
\id  his  father;  onlj-  he  sacri- 
ficed and  burnt  offerings''  on 
the  high  places.  -The  people 
likewise  sacrificed  on  the  high 
places  because  up  to  that 
time    no    temple    liad    been 

built  for  Jehovah.!  '*And  the 

king  went    to    Gibeon  to 

sacrifice    there;    for   that 

was  the  great  high  place; 

a  thousand  burnt  offerings 

did    Solomon    offer  upon 

that  altar. 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  1  2 And  Solomon  summoned  all  Is- 
rael, the  commanders  of  thousands  and  of  hun- 
dreds, and  the  judges  and  every  prince  in  all 
Israel,  the  heads  of  the  clans.  ^gQ  Solomon, 
and  all  the  assembly  with  him,  went  to  the  high 
place  that  was  at  Gibeon;  for  there  was  the  tent 
of  meeting  of  God,  which  Moses  the  servant  of 
Jehovah  had  made  in  the  wilderness.  ^But  the 
ark  of  God  David  had  brought  up  from  Kiriath- 
jearim  to  the  place  that  David  had  prepared  for 
it;  for  he  had  pitched  for  it  a  tent  at  Jerusalem. 
^Moreover  the  brazen  altar,  that  Bezalel  the  son 
of  Uri,  the  son  of  II ur,  had  made,  was  there  before 
the  dwelling  of  Jehovah.  And  Solomon  and  the 
assembly  sought  it.  ^And  Solomon  made  an 
offering  there  before  Jehovah  on  the  brazen  altar 
which  was  at  the  tent  of  meeting,  and  sacrificed 
upon  it  a  thousand  burnt -offerings. 


His 

request 

for 


^In  Gibeon  Jehovah  appeared  to  Solomon 
in  a  dream  by  night.  And  God  said.  Ask 
To'ru?™  ^'^^t  I  shall  give  thee.  ^And  Solomon  said, 
justly     Thou  hast  showed  to  thy  servant  David  my 

father  great  kindness,  according  as  he  walked 
before  thee  in  truth,  in  righteousness,  and  in  up- 
rightness of  heart  with  thee;  and  thou  hast  re- 
served for  him  tliis  great  kindness,  in  that  thou 
hast  given  him  a  son  who  sits  on  liis  throne  tliis 
day.  "And  now,  O  Jehovah  my  God,  thou 
hast  made  thy  servant  king  in  the  place  of 
David  my  father,  although  I  am  but  a  child, 
not   knowing  how  to  go  out  or  come  in. 


''In  that  night  God  appeared 
to  Solomon  and  said  to  him, 
Ask  what  I  shall  give  thee. 
*And  Solomon  said  to  God, 
Thou  hast  showed  great  kind- 
ness to  David  my  father,  and 
hast  made  me  king  in  his  place, 
^Now,  O  Jehovah  God,  let  th^ 
promise  to  David  my  father 
be  established;  for  thou  hast 
made  me  king  over  a  people  as 
numerous  as  the  dust  of  the 


§  48  In  the  Gk.  3'  follows  4  and  is  also  connected  with  9^''  with  which  it  naturally  belongs. 
Vss.  2.  3  are  clearly  from  late  prophetic  editors,  -  having  been  inserted  last.  In  the  passage 
beginning  with  *,  the  worship  at  high  places  is  assumed  as  perfectly  natural,  but  the  later 
editors  felt  it  necessary  to  excuse  Solomon's  act.  These  stories  appear  to  have  been  taken  from 
the  popular  cycle  which  grew  up  about  the  name  of  Solomon,  as  about  those  of  Saul  and 
David.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  15.  'The  Chronicler  in  the  parallel  passages  explains  his  going  to 
Gibeon  by  stating  that  the  tent  of  meeting  was  there,  ^^.  The  narrative  in  I  Kgs.  ^'-^s  is  as  a 
whole  prophetic  in  character,  and  is  based  no  doubt  on  popular  tradition.  It  has  been  sup- 
plemented at  many  points,  however,  by  the  late  prophetic  editor,  whose  work  is  clearly  revealed 
by  the  presence  of  his  characteristic  phrases. 

^  I  Kgs.  3^  The  Heb.  here  and  elsewhere  is  correctly  translated,  burn  incense;  but  it  is 
very  doubtful  whether  or  not  incense  was  ever  employed  in  the  pre-exilic  Heb.  ritual.  The 
original  meaning  of  the  verb  is,  to  cause  the  savor  of  the  sacrifice  to  rise.  In  II  Kgs.  16'3'  i'  it  is 
used  to  describe  the  burning  of  the  burnt-offering  and  the  cereal-offering.  It  is  employed 
elsewhere  in  connection  with  the  burning  of  the  fat  or  vegetable  sacrifices.  Ordinarily  in  pre- 
exilic  literature  it  simply  means,  offer  sacrifice. 

'  I  Kgs.  32  So  Gk.  Heb.,  for  the  name  of  Jehovah.  The  introduction  of  the  name  is  probably 
a  later  scribal  refLnement. 


174 


I  Kgs.  38] 


SOLOMON'S  WISDO:\r 


[II  ChR.  19 


Jeho- 
vah's 


Popular  Solomo7i  Traditions 

*And  thy  servant  is  in  the  midst  of  thy  people 
which  thou  hast  chosen,  a  great  people  too  nu- 
merous to  be  numbered  or  counted.  "Give  thy 
servant  therefore  an  understanding  mind  to 
judge  thy  people,  that  I  may  discern  be- 
tween good  and  evil;  for  who  is  able  to 
judge  this  thy  great  people  ? 

^^And  it  pleased  the  Lord  that  Solomon 
had  asked  this  thing.  ^^And  God  said  to 
him,  Because  thou  hast  asked  this  thing  and 
hast  not- asked  for  thyself  long  life  nor  riches 
nor  the  life  of  thy  enemies,  but  hast  asked 
for  thyself  insight  to  discern  justice;  ^-be- 
hold, I  have  done  according  to  thy  request: 

I  have  given  thee  a  wise  and  discerning  mind, 

so  that  there  hath  been  none  like  thee  before 
thee,  neither  after  thee  shall  any  arise  like  thee. 

^^And  I  have  also  given  thee  that  which  thou 

hast  not  asked:  both  riches  and  honor,  so 
that,  as  long  as  thou  livest,  there  shall  not  be  any 
among  the  kings  like  thee.  i^And  if  thou  wilt 
walk  in  my  ways,  so  that  thou  wilt  keep  my  stat- 
utes and  my  commands,  as  did  thy  father  David, 

then  will  I  give  thee  long  life.     ^^And  when 

Solomon   awoke,  behold   it  was  a  dream. 

Then  he  returned  to  Jerusalem,  and  stood 
before  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah  and  of- 
fered up  burnt-offerings  and  sacrificed  peace-of- 
ferings and  made  a  feast  for  all  his  servants.™ 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical 
History 

earth.  ^"Give  me  now  wis- 
dom and  knowledge,  that  I 
may  go  out  and  come  in  be- 
fore this  people;  for  who  can 
judge  this  thy  great  people  ? 

^^Then  God  said  to  Solo- 
mon, Because  this  was  in  thy 
heart  and  thou  hast  not  asked 
riches,  wealth,  nor  the  life  of 
those  who  hate  thee,  neither 
hast  thou  asked  long  life,  but 
hast  asked  wisdom  and  knowl- 
edge for  thyself,  that  thou 
mayest  judge  my  people  over 
whom  I  have  made  thee  king, 
^^wisdom  and  knowledge  is 
granted  to  thee;  and  I  will  give 
thee  riches  and  wealth  and 
honor,  such  as  none  of  the  kings 
has  had  who  have  been  before 
thee,  neither  shall  there  any 
after  thee  have  the  like.  ^^So 
Solomon  came  from  the  high 
place  that  was  at  Gibeon,  from 
before  the  tent  of  meeting,  to 
Jerusalem, 
over  Israel 


And  he  reigned 


i^Then  two  harlots  came  to  the  king  and  stood  before  him.     ^''And  the  An  ex- 
one  woman  said,  O,  my  lord,  this  woman  and  I  dwell  in  the  same  house;  ofSolo 
and  I  was  delivered  of  a  child  in  her  presence  within  the  house.     ^^Now  on  mpns 
the  third  day  after  I  was  delivered,  this  woman  was  also  delivered  and  we  dom: 
were  together,  there  being  no  one  else  with  us  in  the  house:  we  two  being  l^l^ 
alone  in  the  house.     ^^And  this  woman's  child  died  in  the  night,  because  she  of  the 
lay  upon  it.     20\^(j  g]^g  arose  at  midnight  and  took  my  son  from  beside  me,  moth- 
while  your  maid-servant  slept,  and  laid  it  in  her  bosom  and  laid  her  dead  '"^^ 
child  in  my  bosom.     2i\jj(j  when  I  rose  in  the  morning  to  nurse  my  child, 
there  it  was  dead;  but  when  I  looked  at  it  in  the  morning,  behold,  it  was 
not  my  son  whom  I  had  borne.     22''p],pj^  |],p  other  woman  said.  No;  but 
the  living  is  my  son,  and  the  dead  child  is  your  son.     And  the  first  womAn 
was  saying,  No;  but  the  dead  is  your  son  and  the  living  child  is  my  son. 
Thus  they  contended  before  the  king. 


"  I  Kgs.  3"*  The  inconsistency  of  Solomon's  first  Roinp;  to  Gibeon  to  sacrifice,  if  he  was 
accustonaefi  to  do  so  before  the  ark,  did  not  f)ccur  to  the  late  projjhetic  editor,  who  added  this 
half-verse  in  order  to  bring  Solomon's  conduct  into  harmony  with  later  usage  and  ideas. 


175 


IKgs.  323]        SPLENDORS  OF  SOLOMON'S  REIGN 

Popular  Solomon  Traditions 

His  ^S'pijpn  »lig  i^ing  said,  This  one  says,  '  This  is  my  son,  the  hving,  and  your 

cfous      son  is  the  dead.'     And  the  other  says,  'No;  but  your  son  is  the  dead,  and 

decision  my  g^j^  jg  tjjg  hving ! '     24^}^gi.pypQj^  the  king  said,  Bring  me  a  sword.     And 

they  brought  a  sword  before  the  king.     -^^And  the  king  said,  Divide  the 

living  child  in  two  and  give  half  to  the  one  and  half  to  the  other.     ^"^Then 

the  woman  to  whom  the  living  child  belonged,  spoke  to  the  king — for  her 

heart  vearned  over  her  son — and  she  said,  O,  my  lord,  give  her  the  living 

child  and  on  no  account  put  it  to  death.     But  the  other  said,  It  shall  be 

neither  mine  nor  yours!     Divide  it!     ^^Xhen  the  king  answered  and  said, 

Give  her  the  hving  child,  and  on  no  account  put  it  to  death;  she  is  his 

mother.     28\j^(j  ^yhen  all  Israel  heard  of  the  judgment  which  the  king  had 

rendered,  they  revered  the  king,  for  they  saw  that  divine  wisdom  to  execute 

justice  was  in  him. 

His  4  -"And  God  gave  Solomon  wisdom  and  insight  in  plentiful  measure,  and  breadth  of 

reputa-   rnind,  even  as  the  sand  that  is  on  the    sea-shore,  ^''so  that    Solomon's  wisdom    sur- 

tionfor   passed  the  wisdom  of  all  the  eastern  Arabians"  and  all  the  wisdom  of  Egj-pt.      ^'For 

^'^        he  was  wiser  than  all  men:  than  Ethan  the  Ezrahite,  and  Heman,  Calcol,  Darda,  the 

sons  of  Mahol,  and  his  fame  was  in  all  the  surrounding  nations.     ^-And  he  uttered 

three  thousand  proverbs,  and  his  songs  were  five  thousand."     ^^And  he  spoke  of  different 

varieties  of  trees  from  the  cedar  that  is  in  Lebanon  even  to  the  hyssop  that  springs  out  of 

the  wall ;  he  spoke  also  of  beasts,  of  birds,  of  creeping  things,  and  of  fishes. p     '^And 

there  came  some  from  among  all  peoples  to  hear  the  wisdom  of  Solomon,  deputed  by 

all  kings  of  the  earth,  who  had  heard  of  his  wisdom.i 

§49.  Organization  and  Glories  of  Solomon's  Kingdom,  I  Kgs.  3''  4'-"'  "■^*- 

Annals  of  Solomon 

Solo-  I  Kgs.   4  ^Now  Solomon  was  king  over  all  Israel.     -And  these  were  the 

court^     princes  whom  he  had:  Azariah  the  son  of  Zadok  was  priest;  "^Elihoreph  and 

officials  Ahijah,  the  sons  of  Shisha,  were  scribes;  Jehoshaphat  the  son  of  Ahilud 

was  chancellor;'"  *and  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  was  at  the  head  of  the 

"  430  Lit.,  children  of  the  East.  But  this  is  used  in  Judg.  63-  s*.  7^^,  Is.  11».  Jer.  49=s,  and 
elsewhere  to  designate  the  nomadic  Arabian  tribes  east  of  Israel  in  northern  Arabia,  the  home 
of  the  popular  proverb. 

°  4P  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  and  certain  Lat.  MSS.  Heb.,  one  thousand  and  five,  but  by  analogy 
the  round  number  is  probably  original. 

p  433  Cf .  for  an  example,  Pr.  6^.  The  habits  of  plants  and  animals  were  frequently  used 
by  ancient  proverb-makers  to  illustrate  their  teachings. 

q  429-M  4  part  of  these  verses  in  the  Gk.  follow  2--^.  They  embody  the  late  prophetic  tradi- 
tion regarding  the  wisdom  of  Solomon,  which  is  here  magnified  and  conceived  of  as  ethical  as 
well  as  mere  keenness  of  wit,  as  in  the  previous  early  tradition  citefl  as  an  illustration.  The 
author  appears  to  have  in  mind  proverbs  similar  to  those  found  in  the  early  collection  in 
Pr.  101-162=.  ^ 

§  49  I  Kgs.  4  marks  a  new  beginning  independent  of  the  preceding  chapter.  The  flowing, 
picturesque  style  of  the  popular  story  is  suddenly  exchanged  for  the  repetitious  verbiage  of  the 
state  annals  which  appear  here  to  have  been  quoted  verbatim.  The  Gk.  seems  to  have  pre- 
ser^-ed  the  original  order.  Since  it  is  also  much  more  logical  than  the  Heb.  it  has  been  followed 
for  the  most  part.  Vss.  20.  21,  24-25  however,  are  awkwardly  introduced  in  the  Gk.  after  2-». 
1  hey  appear  to  be  later  insertions  which,  as  is  frequently  the  case  with  similar  additions,  have 
found  a  different  place  in  the  two  versions.  Vs.  26  in  the  Gk.  is  combined  with  ICF^,  where  it 
probably  belonged  in  the  original  text. 

The  older  sections  vividly  present  that  system  of  organization,  taxation,  and  forced  labor, 
which  was  the  source  of  Solomon's  wealth  and  glory  and  at  the  same  time  the  cause  of  the  ulti- 
mate division  of  the  empire. 

''4^  The  one  xvho  called  to  remembrance,  i.e.,  laid  important  questions  before  the  king, 
doubtless  advising  him.  He  probably  also  kept  records  of  important  events,  so  that  the  mean- 
ing recorder  is  not  misleading,  but  this  did  not  apparently  represent  all  his  functions. 

176 


ORGANIZATION  OF  HIS  KINGDOM  [I  Kgs.  4^ 

Annals  of  Solomon 

amiy;  and  Zadok  and  Abiathar  were  priests;'  ''and  Azariah  the  son  of  Nathan 
Avas  at  the  head  of  the  officers;  and  Zabud  the  son  of  Nathan  was  a  priest* 
and  the  kuig's  friend;  ^and  Ahishar  was  prefect  of  the  palace;  and  Adoniram 
the  son  of  Abda  was  in  charge  of  the  forced  lew. 

"And  Solomon  had  twelve  officers  over  all  Israel,  who  provided  food  for  Officers 
the  king  and  his  household:  each  man  had  to  make  provision  for  a  month  e.'u\"ith 
m  the  year.     ^And  these  are  their  names:  Ben-hur,"  in  the  hill-country  of  t'lepol- 

Icct  ion 

Ephraim;  ^Ben-deker,  in  INIakaz,  Shaalbim,  Bethshemesh,  and  Elonbeth- of  food 
hanan:  I'^Ben-hesed,  in  Arubboth;  to  him  belonged  Socoh  and  all  the  land  court  ^ 
of  Hepher;  ^^Ben-abinadab,  in  all  the  highland  of  Dor  (he  had  Tapath  the 
daughter  of  Solomon  as  wife);  ^-Baana  the  son  of  Ahilud,  in  Taanach  and 
Megiddo  and  all  Bethshean,  which  is  beside  Zarethan,  beneath  Jezreel,  from 
Bethshean  to  Abel-meholah,  as  far  as  the  other  side  of  Jokneam;  ^^Ben-geber 
in  Ramoth  in  Gilead;  to  him  belonged  the  towns  of  Jair  the  son  of  Manasseh,  which 
are  in  Gilead  p"  to  him  belonged  the  region  of  Argob,  which  is  in  Bashan,'^'  sixty 
great  cities  with  walls  and  brazen  bars;  ^^Ahinadab  the  son  of  Iddo  in 
Mahanaim;  ^'^^himaaz,  in  Naphtali  (he  also  took  Basemath  the  daughter 
of  Solomon  as  wife);  ^^Baana  the  son  of  Hushai,  in  Asher  and  Bealoth;^ 
^"Jehoshaphat  the  son  of  Paruah,  in  Issachar;  ^^Shimei  the  son  of  Ela,  in 
Benjamin;  ^^Geber  the  son  of  Uri,  in  the  land  of  Gad,^  the  country  of  Sihon 
king  of  the  Amorites  and  of  Og  king  of  Bashan;  and  one  officer  was  over  all  the 
officials  w  ho  were  in  the  land.^ 

^"And  these  officers  provided  food  for  King  Solomon  and  for  all  who  Amount 
came  to  King  Solomon's  table,  each  in  his  month.     They  let  nothing  be  lack-  pro-"' 
ing.     -^Barley  also  and  straw  for  the  horses  and  swift  steeds  they  brt)ught  visions 
to  the  proper  place — each  according  to  his  individual  responsibility.     ^^^And 
Solomon's  provision  for  one  day  was   about  six  hundred   bushels''  of   fine 
flour,  and  about  one  thou.sand,  two  hundred  bushels'^  of  meal,  -'^ten  fat, 
and  twenty  meadow-fed  oxen,  and  a  hundred  sheep,  besides  harts,  gazelles, 

roebucks,  and  fatted  fowls. 

2'For  he  had  dominion  over  everything  on  the  other  side  the  River  Euplirates,  from  Extent 

Tiphsah  even  to  Gaza,  over  all  the  kings  on  the  other  side  the  River.      And  he  had  of  Solo- 
mon's 
rule 

'  4^  Evidently  a  later  insertion.  In  1  Zadok's  son  has  succeeded  him  and  in  2-*-"  .Vbiathar's 
banishment  is  recorded. 

'  4^  Possibly  the  word  means,  an  official,  but  the  priests  were  early  regarded  as  members 
of  the  court. 

"  4'  Ben-hur,  and  the  names,  compounded  with  ben,  son  of,  are  not  surnames,  but  un- 
fortunately five  of  these  names  have  been  lost  in  all  texts.  Probably  the  oriRinal  text  was 
annalistic  in  part,  each  line  beginning  with  a  name  (of.  ,Iosh.  12'--''),  and  the  words  next  to  the 
margin  suffered  a  common  fate. 

^'  4'-'  The  Ok.  and  Luc.  omit.     It  was  probably  aflded  by  a  late  editor  from  Dt.  3". 

"  4"  This  last  descriptive  clau.se  may  also  have  been  added  from  Dt.  3'.  It  is  found, 
however,  in  the  Gk. 

^  4'"  This  place  has  not  been  identified.  Zebulon  has  been  suggested  with  much  plausi- 
bility. 

»  4'»  So  Gk.  and  I.uc.     Heb..  Gilead. 

h  419  jijof  f,niy  ij,  ,yjg  current  translation,  he  vns  the  onlji  officer  vho  ivas  in  the  lutul,  un- 
warranted by  the  Hob.,  but  it  is  also  contradicted  by  '■'•  ".  A  more  than  probiililc  recon- 
struction, suggested  by  the  I,at.,  gives  tlie  aliove  consistent  reading.  Tiie  Git.,  wliich  has  lost 
one  of  the  jireceding  names,  completes  tlio  twelve  by  reading,  in  lite  land  of  Jtidak. 

'  4^  Heb.,  i'"  cor.     The  cor  —  the  honicr  =  about  SO  galloiu. 

<"  422  Heb.,  60  cor. 

177 


IKgs.  424]        SPLENDORS  OF  SOLOMON'S  REIGN 

Annals  of  Solomon  • 

peace  on  all  sides  of  him/  "so  that  Judah  and  Israel  from  Dan  to  Beersheba  dwelt 
in  safety,  every  man  under  his  own  vine  and  fig  tree,  as  long  as  Solomon  lived.  -"Judah 
and  Israel  were  as  numerous  as  the  sand  which  is  by  the  sea;  they  were  ever  eating  and 
drinking  and  making  merry.  ■^^And  Solomon  was  the  ruler  from  the  River  to  the  land 
of  the  Philistines,  and  to  the  border  of  Egypt.  They  brought  tribute  and  were  subject 
to  Solomon  as  long  as  he  lived. 

3  ^And  Solomon  allied  himself  by  marriage  with  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt, 
and  took  Pharaoh's  daughter,  and  brought  her  into  the  city  of  David,  until 
Egypt  iig  }|ad  completed  the  building  of  his  own  palace  and  the  temple  of  Jehovah 
and  the  wall  around  Jerusalem. 

9  ^"^Then  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt  went  up,  captured  Gezer,  and  burnt  it 
with  fire,  slew  the  Canaanites  who  dwelt  in  the  city,  and  gave  it  as  a  portion 
to  his  daughter,  Solomon's  wife.     ^'^And  Solomon  rebuilt  Gezer. 


Al- 
liance 
with 


Capt- 
ure of 
Gezer 


§  50.  Solomon's  Preparations  for  his  Building  Enterprises,  I  Kgs.  5, 

II  Chr.  2 


Solo- 
mon's 
request 
that 
Hiram 
send 
work- 
men 
and 
mate- 
rials 


Annals  of  Solomon 

I  Kgs.  5  'And  Hi- 
ram king  of  Tyre  sent 
his  servants  to  Solomon 
because  he  had  heard 
that  they  had  anointed 
him  king  in  the  place  of 
his  father;  for  Hiram 
had  loved  David.  2\nd 
Solomon  sent  to  Hiram, 

saying,  'You  yourself 
know  that  David  my  father 
was  not  able  to  build  a  tem- 
ple for  the  name  of  Jeho- 
vah his  God  on  account  of 
the  warlike  foes'  who  were 
about  him  on  every  side, 
until     Jehovah    brought 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  2  ^Now  Solomon  purposed  to  build  a 
temple  for  the  name  of  Jehovah,  and  a  temple  for 
his  kingdom,  ^^nd  Solomon  counted  out  seventy 
thousand  burden-bearers  and  eighty  thousand 
hewers  of  stone  in  the  mountains  and  three  thou- 
sand six  hundred  to  oversee  them.  ^And  Solo- 
mon sent  to  Iluram  king  of  Tyre,  saying.  As  you 
dealt  with  David  my  father,  in  that  you  sent  him 
cedars  to  build  himself  a  palace  in  which  to 
dwell,  *so  I  now  am  about  to  build  a  temple  for 
the  name  of  Jehovah  my  God,  to  dedicate  it  to 
him,  and  to  burn  before  him  incense  of  sweet 
spices,  and  for  regular  presentation  of  the  bread  of 
the  presence,  for  the  burnt-offerings  morning  and 
evening,  on  the  sabbaths  and  on  the  new  moons 


« 4^''  Evidently,  like  kindred  passages  in  the  post-exilic  -^vTiter?,  e.g.,  Ezra  4"''  '••  '', 
721,  25_  Neh.  2''  9^  written  from  the  point  of  view  of  Babylon  and  therefore  a  late  insertion. 
From  Tiphsah  .  .  .  the  River  is  not  found  in  Gk.A  and  Luc.  The  verse  as  a  whole  is  a 
later  duplicate  of  21. 

§  50  I  Kgs.  5  appears  to  be  a  continuation  of  the  quotation  from  the  annals,  although 
somewhat  more  expanded,  as  the  subject-matter  required.  To  the  original  narrative  the 
late  prophetic  editor  has  evidently  also  made  certain  additions  in  order  to  harmonize  it  with 
his  representations  elsewhere  and  to  bring  into  prominence  the  religious  motives  which  most 
concerned  him.  Thus  3.  ■>.  sb  depend  on  II  Sam.  7.  Cf.  Dt.  12^.  i".  The  late  religious  con- 
ception of  Solomon's  wisflom  is  reflected  in  ''•  ^'-.  Vss.  ^^-  "*  do  not  appear  to  be  in  complete  har- 
mony with  >3.  i4_  Not  only  may  the  large  numbers  be  questioned,  but  '^'  '•'  seem  after  ''■  '■*  to 
be  superfluous,  even  though  they  do  not  refer  to  the  same  people.  From  their  position,  in  the 
moiaitains  would  naturally  refer  to  the  Lebanons,  but  the  reference  is  ambiguous,  as  well  as 
the  question  whether  the  workmen  were  Israelites  or  not.  Cf.  9-.  It  is  significant  that  the 
Chronicler  reproduces  these  verses  and  ignores  '^^  ",  which  give  a  different  picture  of  the  levy 
and  one  in  harmony  with  the  extracts  from  the  annals.  Removing  these  secondary  passages, 
the  remaining  narrative  has  all  the  characteristics  of  a  primitive  source  of  the  highest  historical 
value. 

'  I  Kgs.  53  The  Heb.  has  the  abstract  noun,  warfare,  although  it  contains  the  plural 
antecedent  of  the  following  verb.     Targ.,  enemies. 


178 


IKgs.  53]  PREPARATIONS  FOR  HIS  BUILDING       [II  Chr.  2^ 

Chronicler''s  Ecclesiastical  History 

and  on  tlie  set  feasts  of  Jehovah  our  God  (which 
is  the  constant  practice  of  Israel).  ^And  the  tem- 
ple which  I  am  about  to  build  is  great,  for  our  God 
is  greater  than  all  gods,  ^u^t  y^.\^Q  jg  ^ble  to  build 
him  a  temple,  since  heaven  and  the  heaven  of 
heavens  cannot  contain  him  ?  Who  am  I  then, 
that  I  should  build  him  a  temple?  It  is  fitting 
only  to  offer  sacrifice  before  him.  "Now  there- 
fore send  me  a  man  skilful  in  working  in  gold, 
silver  and  in  purple,  crimson  and  violet  stuffs,  and 
who  knows  how  to  engrave  stone  in  conjunction 
with  the  skilful  men  who  are  w  ith  me  in  Judah 
and  in  Jerusalem,  whom  David  my  father  pro- 
vided. ^Send  me  also  cedar,  cypress,  and  sandal- 
wood from  I^ebanon;  for  I  know  that  your  ser- 
vants understand  how  to  cut  timber  in  Lebanon ; 
and,  behold,  my  servants  w  ill  unite  with  your  ser- 
vants, ^even  to  prepare  me  timber  in  abiuidance; 
for  the  temple  which  I  am  about  to  build  should  be 
great  and  wonderful.  ^^And  I  will  now  give  to 
your  servants,  the  hewers  that  cut  timber,  four 
hundred  thousand  bushels'^  of  beaten  wheat  and 
four  hundred  thousand  bushels'^  of  barley,  and 
one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  gallons'  of  wine 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  gallons  of  oil. 

^-And  Huram  said.  Blessed  be  Jeho- 
vah, the  God  of  Israel,  who  hath  made 
heaven  and  earth,  who  hath  given  to 
David  the  king  a  wise  sou.  endued  with 
discretion  and  understanding  enough 
to  build  a  temple  for  Jehovah  and  a 
temple  for  his  kingdom.  ^^And  Hu- 
ram the  king  of  1  yre  sent  to  Solomon 
the  following  reply  in  writing,  I?ccause 
Jehovah  loveth  his  people,  he  hath 
made  you  king  over  them.  ^-^And  now 
I  have  sent  a  skilful  man.  endued  with 
imderstandiiig,  lluram-abi,  *  'the  son  of 
a  Danite  woman;  and  his  father  was  a 
man  of  Tyre,  who  knows  how  to  work 
in  gold,  silver,  brass,  iron,  stone,  and 
timber,  and  in  jjurple,  violet,  and  fine 


Atmals  of  Solomon 

them  into  subjection  to 
him.^  ■'But  now  Jehovali 
my  God  hath  given  me  rest 
on  every  side:  there  is 
neither  adversary  nor  mis- 
fortune. °Now  I  pur- 
pose to  build  a  temple 
for  the  name  of  Jehovah 

mv  God,  as  Jehovah  spoke 
to  David  mj^  father,  saying, 
'  Tliy  son,  wliom  I  will  set 
on  thy  throne  in  thy  place, 
he  shall  build  the  temple 

for  my  name.'  ^there- 
fore command  that  they 
cut  for  me  cedar  timber 
from  I,ebanon;  and  my 
servants  will  go  with 
your  serv'ants,  and  I  w  ill 
give  you  wages  for  your 
servants  just  as  you  shall 
say;  for  you  know  that 
there  is  no  one  among 
us  who  knoAvs  how  to 
cut  timber  as  the  Sido- 
nians. 


"Now  when  Hiram  heard  the  words 
of  Solomon,  he  rejoiced  exceedinglj'^ 
and  said,  Blessed  be  Jehovah  this  day, 
who  hath  given  to  David  a  wise  son 
over  this  great  people.  '*^So  Hiram 
sent  to  Solomon,  saving,  I  have 
heard  your  message  to  me;  I,  on 
my  part  will  fulfil  all  your  wishes 
in  regard  to  cedar  and  cypress 
timber.  ^My  servants  shall  bring 
them  down  from  Lebanon  to  the 
sea,  and  I  will  make  them  into 
rafts  to  go  by  sea  to  the  place  that 
you  shall  appoint,  and  will  have 
them  broken  up  there,  and  you 
.shall  receive  them.  You  also  sliall 
fulfil  my  wish  by  providing  food 
for   my   household.     ^^So    Hiram 


e  I  Kits.  5^  Hcb.,  put  them  under  the  soles  of  the  feet. 
••  II  Chr.  2'"  Heb.,  20,rm  cor. 
i  II  Chr.  2">  Heb.,  SO.OOO  baths. 

179    • 


I  Kgs.  510]      SOLOMON'S  BUILDING  ENTERPRISES    [II  Chr.  2^^ 


Solo- 
mon's 
forced 
levy  of 
work- 
men 


Annals  of  Solomon 
furnished  Solomon  cypress  timber, 
as  much  as  he  wished.  11  And 
Solomon  gave  Hiram  four  hun- 
dred thousand  bushels^  of  wheat 
for  food  for  his  household,  and 
one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 
gallons'^  of  oil  from  the  beaten 
olives.  This  much  Solomon  gave  to 
Hiram  year  by  year.  ^^And  Jehovah 
gave  Solomon  wisdom,  as  he  promised 
him;  and  there  was  peace  between 
Hiram  and  Solomon,  and  they 
made  an  alliance  with  each  other. 


13 And  King  Solomon  raised  a  forced  levy  out  of 
all  Israel;  and  the  levy  consisted  of  thirty  thou- 
sand men.  ^'^And  he  sent  them  to  Lebanon,  ten 
thousand  a  month  in  relays;  a  month  they  were 
in  Lebanon,  and  two  months  at  home;  and  Adoni- 
ram  was  in  charge  of  the  forced  levy.  ^^And  Sol- 
omon had  seventy  thousand  burden-beaTjrs  and 
eighty  thousand  hewers  of  stone  in  the  mountains; 
l^besides  Solomon's  chief  officers  who  were  in 
charge  of  the  work,  three  thousand,  three  hun- 
dred, who  superintended  the  people  who  did  the 
work.  l^And  the  king  commanded  that  they 
should  hew  out  great,  costly  stones,  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  the  temple  with  cut  stone.  ^^And 
Solomon's  builders  and  Hiram's  builders  and  es- 
pecially the  Gebalites'  shaped  them  and  prepared 
the  timber  and  the  stones  to  build  the  temple. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

linen,  and  in  crimson;  also  to  do  all 
kinds  of  engraving  and  to  plan  any  ar- 
tistic work  which  may  be  assigned  to 
him,  together  with  your  skilled  work- 
men and  with  the  skilled  workmen  of 
my  lord  David  your  father.  ^^jsjow 
therefore  the  wheat  and  the  barley,  the 
oil  and  the  wine,  of  which  my  lord  has 
spoken,  let  him  send  to  his  servants; 
l^and  we  will  cut  wood  out  of  Lebanon, 
as  much  as  you  need,  and  we  will  bring 
it  to  you  in  floats  by  sea  to  Joppa,  and 
you  shall  carry  it  up  to  Jerusalem. 

i^And  Solomon  took  a 
census  of  all  the  resident 
aliens  who  were  in  the 
land  of  Israel,  according 
to  the  census  which  his 
father  had  instituted. 
And  there  were  found  a 
hundred  and  fifty-three 
thousand,  six  hundred. 
i^And  he  made  seventy 
thousand  of  them  bur- 
den-bearers, and  eighty 
thousand  hewers  of  stone 
in  the  mountains,  and 
three  thousand,  six  hun- 
dred overseers  to  make 
the  people  serve. 


Dimen- 
sions 
of  the 
temple 


§  51.  Building  the  Temple,  I  Kgs.  6,  II  Chr.  3'-'* 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  3  ^Then  Solomon  began 
to  build  the  temple  of  Jehovah  at  Je- 
rusalem   on    Mount    Moriah  where 


Annals  of  Solomon 

I  Kgs.  6  ^Now  in  the  four  Imndred 
and  eightieth  year  after  the  departure  of 
the  Israelites  from  the  land  of  Egypt,  in 


'  1  Kgs.   5"  Heb.,  20,000  cor. 

^  1  Kks.  5»  So  Gk.  and  II  Chr.  21"  and  Josephus,  20.000  baths.  Heb.,  20,000  cor.  But  the 
cor  was  a  dry  measure. 

'  I  Kgs.  51'  The  prominent  place  given  to  the  workmen  from  Gebal  is  not  explained  here 
or  in  any  previous  reference.  Tlie  Gk.  takes  the  word  as  a  verb.  If  this  be  the  true  rendering, 
the  corresponding  verb  would  mean,  and  Iheij  bordered  them  inth  grooved  edges. 

§  51  The  importance  of  the  subject  explains  why  this  section  has  been  supplemented  by 
many  editorial  and  scribal  additions.  I  Kgs.  G'*  was  evidently  a  later  note  which  in  abbreviated 
form  appears  in  the  Gk.  an<l  Luc.  before  5''',  and  its  place  is  taken  by  6^''  '^^'^.  The  somewhat 
more  logical  order  of  the  Gk.  is  probably  due  to  the  translators,  although  it  may  possibly  repre- 
sent the  original  text.  That  6'''  is  a  late  note  is  demonstrated  by  its  use  of  a  late  Heb.  word 
for  montii,  instead  of  the  earlier  synonym,  and  by  the  fact  tliat  it  outlines  the  general  chrono- 
logical scheme  which  is  followed  by  the  late  editor  of  the  book,  i.e.,  480  (40x12)  years  from 

180 


RESTORATION  OF  SOLOMON'S  TEMPLE. 

ACCORDING  TO  STADE.  m. 


I  Kgs.  61] 


BUILDING  THE  TEMPLE 


[II  Chu.  31 


Annals  of  Solojuon 

the  fourth  year  of  Solomon's  reign 
over  Israel,  in  the  month  Ziv,  that  is  the 
second  month,  he  built  the  temple  of 
Jehovah.  2\nd  the  length  of  the 
temple  which  King  Solomon  built  for 
Jehovah  was  sixty  and  its  breadth 
twenty  cubits,  and  its  height  thirty 
cubits.  "^And  the  porch  before  the 
large  room™  of  the  temple  was  twen- 
ty cubits  wide,  corresponding  to  the 
breadth  of  the  temple,  ten  cubits 
deep  before  the  temple.  '*And  for 
the  temple  he  made  windows  with 
narrowed  frames.'* 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

Jehovah  had  appeared  to  David  his 
father  in  the  place  which  David  had 
prepared,  on  the  threshing-floor  of 
Oman  the  Jebusite.  ^^^j  j^g  began 
to  build  in  the  second  day  of  the 
second  month,  in  the  fourth  year  of 
his  reign,  ^^^d  these  are  the  foun- 
dations which  Solomon  laid  for  the 
building  of  the  house  of  God.  The 
length  by  cubits,  according  to  the  old 
measure,  was  sixty  cubits,  and  the 
breadth  twenty  cubits.  "^And  the 
porch  that  was  before  the  temple — 
its  length  before  the  front  of  the  tem- 
ple was  twenty  cubits,  and  the  height 
a  hundred  and  twenty;  and  he  over- 


laid it  within  with  pure  gold. 
^And  around  against  the  wall  of  the  temple  he  built  wings, o  both  around  The 
the  larger  room    and    the    inner  room,P   and    made  side  chambers  round  c'ham- 
about.     *^he  lower  side-chamber'?  was  five  cubits  broad,  and  the  middle  six  ^''^ 
cubits  broad,  and  the  thinl  seven  cubits  broad;  for  on  the  outside  he  made 
offsets  around  about  the  temple  in  order  not  to  make  an  inset  into  the  walls 
of   the   temple.""       'In  building  the  temple  it  was  built  with  stone  which  had  been 
made  ready  at  the  quarry ;'  neither  hammer  nor  chisel  nor  any  iron  tool  was  heard 
while  the  temple  was  building.     ^The  entrance  into  the  lower*  side-chambers 
was  on  the  south  side  of  the  temple.     And  one  could  go  up  by  winding 


the  exoflus  to  the  building  of  Solomon's  temple,  and  480  years  from  the  latter  event  to  the  close 
of  the  Uabylonian  exile.     O' '  is  also  not  found  in  the  jiarallel  passage  in  Chr. 

The  statements  that  all  the  walls  of  the  outer  and  inner  rooms,  -'oi>.  213,  were  overlaid  with 
gold  seem  to  he  from  later  scribes  who  sought  thereby  to  eniiance  the  glories  of  the  temple. 
When  it  was  later  jilundered,  there  is  no  reference  to  this  gold.  S|)ecial  decorations  might 
be  expected  in  the  oa.se  of  the  cherubim  (cf.  the  golden  calves  of  .leroboam  1)  and  the  doors 
leaihng  into  the  sanctuary,  although  these  may  also  be  only  the  i(U>as  of  the  scribes.  The 
decision  really  turns  ujion  whether  or  not  the  Hebrew  or  the  Plurnician  workmen  were  at 
this  time  ac(4UaiMted  witli  a  process  of  thin  giliHng  with  li(inid  gold.      Cf.  Pr.  2()--'. 

The  remaining  passages  have  been  taken  from  the  annals  of  Solomon's  reign.  With  '"■  * 
the  briefer  description  ends,  so  that  the  more  detailed  account  beginning  with  '■''  is  probably  from 
the  temple  records.  The  Chronicler  has  a  briefer  narrative,  heightened  at  certain  iioints.  Cf. 
3*'  9.  For  the  probable  form  ancl  structure  of  the  temfjle,  cf.  the  accompanying  plans.  The 
cubit  in  Kgs.  wa-s  probabl.v  equivalent  to  about  twenty  inches. 

"  I  Kgs.  G''  Lit.,  (/real,  hoiiac.  It  is  the  technical  designation  of  the  large  central  hall,  or 
Holy  Place.     It  corresponded  to  the  audience-room  of  a  palace. 

n  I  Kg.s.  6'  I.e.,  smaller  on  the  outside  than  on  the  inside  of  the  wall,  as  in  an  ancient  for- 
tress. So  hat.  and  Syr.,  ohliqve  yiarroirrd.  Otiierwise,  following  the  Gk.,  it  means,  windows 
with  frames  cloxed,  i.e.,  with  grating  or  lattice-work. 

"  1  Kgs.  G-'  Heb.  contains  what  is  jjrobabl.v  simply  a  later  scribal  note,  around  the  mills 
of  the  temple.  (!k.  and  Luc.  omit  it.  It  appears  to  be  an  exi)lanatory  duplicate  of  the  im- 
mediately following  clause. 

''  I  Kgs.  r/'  The  most  holy  place,  behind  the  large  room,  where  the  ark  was  placed.     Cf.  ". 

''  I  Kgs.  0"  Heb.,  wing,  but  this  is  probabl.v  due  to  a  scribal  confusion  with  the  similar 
Heb.  worrl,  side-chamher.     This  is  also  suggested  bv  <ik.  aiul   I'arg.  and  is  confiinicd  li.\-  '*. 

■■  I  Kgs.  C'  I.e.,  that  the  beams  which  sui)portcd  the  side-chambers  might  not  be  set  into 
the  exterior  walls,  but  rather  rest  on  the  rebateincnts. 

"  I  Kgs.  (P  So  t;k.   The  Heb.  makes  no  sense. 

*  I  Kgs.  0'  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  middle.  ^ 


181 


II  Kgs.  39]      SOLOMON'S  BUILDING  ENTERPRISES 

Annals  of  Solomon 

stairs"  into  the  middle  story,  and  from  the  middle  into  the  third. 


lOAnd 


he  built  the  wings  against  all  the  temple,  each  story  five  cubits  high;  and 
they  rested  on  the  temple  with  timbers  of  cedar."^'  ^gQ  ]^q  built  the  temple 
and  finished  it;  and  he  covered  the  temple  with  cedar. ^ 


The 

inte- 
rior 


Temple  Records 

i^And  he  built  the  walls  of  the  temple 
within  with  boards  of  cedar:  from  the  floor 
decora-  of  the  temple  to  the  rafters  of  the  ceiling, 
overlaying  them  on  the  inside  with  wood; 
and  he  covered  the  floor  of  the  temple  with 
boards  of  cypress.^  ^^And  he  l)uilt  ofi^  the 
back  twenty  cubits  from  the  innermost 
part  of  the  temple  with  boards  of  cedar  from 
the  floor  to  the  rafters:^  he  built  it  within 
for  an  inner  room,  even  for  the  most  holy 
place.''  ^"And  the  temple,  that  is  the  large 
rooin  before  the  inner  room"'  was  forty  dibits 
long.  ^^And  there  was  cedar  in  the  interior  of 
the  temple,  carving  in  the  form  of  gourds  and 
open  flowers;  all  was  cedar,  no  stone  was  seen.'^ 
I'^And  he  prepared  an  inner  room  in  the  interior 
of  the  temple  in  order  to  place  there  the  ark  of 
the  covenant  of  Jehovah."  20^\jjj  ^]^g  inner 
room^  was  twenty  cubits  long  and  twenty 
cubits  broad  and  twenty  cubits  high.  And 
he  overlaid  it  with  piire  gold.     And   he  made^ 

an  altar  of  cedar  wood  -'before  the  inner  room, 
and  he  overlaid  it  with  gold.'"  --And  the  whole 
temple  he  overlaid  with  gold,  until  all  the  temple 
was  finished.'     29  \j^(j  j^g  carved  all  the  walls 


^And  the  chief  structure 
he  ceiled  with  cypress  wood, 
which  he  overlaid  with  fine 
gold,  and  wrought  thereon 
palm  trees  and  chains.  "^And 
he  beautified  the  temple  with 
precious  stones;  and  the  gold 
was  gold  of  Parvaim.  "^He 
also  overlaid  the  temple,  the 
beams,  the  thresholds,  and 
the  walls,  and  the  doors  with 
gold;  and  engraved  cheru- 
bim on  the  walls.  ^And  he 
constructed  the  most  holy 
room:  its  length,  correspond- 
ing to  the  breadth  of  the 
temple,  was  twenty  cubits, 
and  its  breadth  twenty  cubits. 
And  he  overlaid  it  with  fitie 
gold,  amounting  to  six  hun- 
dred talents.  ^And  the  weight 
of  the  nails  was  fifty 
shekels    of    gold.      And     he 


"  I  Kgs.  6*  So  Syr.  and  Targs.  Gk.  and  Luc,  winding  stairs.  But  these  are  probably  in- 
ventions peculiar  to  the  Greek  age. 

^  I  Kgs.  6"^  Vss.  9'  1"  have  apparently  been  transposed  by  mistake.  Restoring  them 
to  what  appears  to  have  been  their  original  order  the  sense  is  clear. 

■*  I  Kgs.  6^  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Syr.  Heb.  has  a  gloss  before  cedar,  beams  and  planks,  which 
was  probably  a  marginal  note.     The  resulting  Heb.  sentence  is  also  ungrammatical. 

^  I  Kgs.  615  Omitted  by  Gk.  and  Luc. 

"  I  Kgs.  6'^  Again  reading  with  Gk.  and  Luc.      Heb.,  walls. 

^  I  Kgs.  6'8  A  very  late  explanatory  note,  introducing  the  terminology  of  th3  post-exilic 
priestly  writers,  cf.,  e.g.,  Ex.  2633-  **,  Num.  4^. 

■^  I  Kgs.  61"  This  explanatory  note  was  apparently  added  after  the  Gk.  translation  was 
made. 

<•  I  Kgs.  6'*  This  descriptive  verse  was  also  added  after  the  Gk.  translation  was  made. 

"  I  Kgs.  6^^  The  jjhrase,  ark  of  the  covenant,  indicates  that  this  was  added  by  a  late  prophetic 
editor.     It  is  unnecessary  after  '^. 

'  I  Kgs.  620  Heb.,  before  the  inner  room.  E^^dently  this  is  due  to  a  dittography  of  the 
same  phrase  in  '^. 

B  I  Kgs.  &"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  Heb.,  through  a  scribal  error,  repeats  the  preceding, 
covered. 

"■  I  Kgs.  6^*  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  A  very  late  and  confusing  gloss  has  crept  into  the  Heb. 
which  is  really  only  an  anticipation  of  ^^. 

•  I  Kgs.  6-b  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  here  has  a  dupHcate  of  the  original  21. 


182 


I  Kgs.  629] 


BUILDING  THE  TEMPLE 


n  chr.  39 


Temple  Records 

of  the  house  round  about  with  carved 
figures  of  cherubim  and  pahn  trees  and 
opening  flowers,  both  in  the  inner  and  outer 

rooms.  ^"And  the  floor  of  the  temple  he  over- 
laid with  gold.J 

23aAnd  in  the  inner  room  he  made  two 
cherubim  of  oHve  wood.  ^O'pj^g  height  of 
tlie  one  cherub  was  ten  cubits,  and  so  was 
that  of  the  other^ — ^Sb^^ph  ten  cubits  high. 
^■^And  one  wing  of  the  cherub  measured 
five  cubits,  and  the  other  wing  of  the 
cherub  also  five  cubits — ten  cubits  from 
the  extremity  of  one  wing  to  the  extremity 
of  the  other.  -^And  the  other  cherub  also 
measured  ten  cubits:  both  the  cherubim 
were  of  the  same  measurement  and  form. 
2^ And  he  set  up  the  cherubim  in  the  inner 
room  of  the  temple,  and  the  wings  of 
the  cherubim  were  stretched  forth,  so  that 
the  wing  of  the  one  touched  the  one 
wall,  while  the  wing  of  the  other  cherub 
touched  the  other  wall,  and  their  wings 
touched  each  other  in  the  middle  of  the 
temple;  and  he  overlaid  the  cherubim 
with  gold. 


overlaid  the  upper  chambers 


with  gold. 


^^And  in  the  most  holy  room 
he  made  two  cherubim  of  image"^ 
work;  and  they  were  overlaid 
with  gold.  ^^And  the  wings  of 
the  cherubim  were  twenty  cubits 
long;  the  wing  of  the  one  cherub 
measured  five  cubits,  reaching 
to  the  wall  of  the  temple,  and 
the  other  wing  likewise  meas- 
ured five  cubits,  reaching  to  the 
wing  of  the  other  cherub.  ^-And 
the  wing  of  the  other  cherub 
measured  five  cubits  reaching 
to  the  wall  of  the  temple;  and 
the  other  wing  measured  five  cu- 
bits also,  joining  to  the  wing  of 
the  other  cherub.  ^'^The  wings 
of  these  cherubim  spread  them- 
selves forth  twenty  cubits.  And 
they  stood  on  their  feet,  and  their 
faces  were  toward  the  temple. 


^"^And  he  made  a 
veil  of  violet,  piirple, 
crimson,  and  fine  lin- 
en, and  he  wrought 
cherubim  thereon. 


^^And  the  door  of  the  inner  room  he  made  with 
folding  doors  of  olive  wood:  the  pilasters'"  formed  a 
pentagonal.  ^-^And  on  the  two  doors  of  olive  wood 
he  carved  carvings  of  cherubim  and  palm  trees  and 
opening  flowers,  and  he  spread  the  gold  over  the  cher- 
ubim and  the  palm  trees. 

3"^So  also  he  made  for  the  door  of  the  large  room"  posts  of  olive  wood, 
four  square,  '^^and  two  folding  leaves  of  cypress-wood:  the  two  leaves  of  the 
one  door  were  folding,  and  the  two  leaves  of  the  other  door  were  folding. 
^■^And  he  carved  cherubim  and  palm  trees  and  opening  flowers,  and  over- 
laid them  with  gold  a{)plied  evenly  to  the  carving.  '^''And  he  built  the  inner 
court  with  three  courses  of  hewn  stone  and  a  course  of  cedar  beams. 


'  I  Kgs.  629.  30  So  Gk.    Heb.,  within  and  without,  but  without  would  have  no  meaning  in  ^. 
A  slight  revision  gives  the  reading  followed  above. 

''  IT  Chr.  3'°  The  meaning  of  the  word  translated,  image,  is  very  doubtful. 

'  I  Kgs.  fr"  The  ob.scuritics  of  ■*  are  removed  by  the  restoration  of  the  verse  to  what  was 
clearly  its  original  po.«ition. 

'"  I  Kgs.  fr'  An  e.xceedingly  difficult  passage.  The  current  tran.slation,  lintel,  is  untenable 
in  the  light  of  the  usage  of  the  term  in  I^zek.  41-'  and  40".  Posts  seems  to  have  been  added  in 
Heb.  as  an  explanatory  gloss,  or  from  '•°.     The  door  appears  to  have  been  of  this  shape: 

"  I  Kgs.  &"  So  Gk.  and  restored  Heb. 


Ll 


183 


I  Kgs.  G^i]      SOLOMON'S  BUILDING  ENTERPRISES 

Temple  Records 

Com-  ''And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Solomon,  saying,  '-Concerning  this  temple  which 

pletion  thou  art  building,  if  thou  wilt  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  execute  my  judgments,  and 
of  the  keep  all  my  commandments  by  walking  in  accordance  with  them,  then  will  I  redeem 
temple  ^j^j^  ^j^^^  ^^  promise,  which  I  gave  to  David  thy  father,  '^^nd  I  will  dwell  among 
the  Israelites  and  will  not  forsake  my  people  Israel.  "So  Solomon  completed  the 
building  of  the  temple."  ^"In  the  fourth  year  was  the  foundation  of  the  tem- 
ple of  Jehovah  laid,  in  the  month  Ziv.P  ^^And  in  the  eleventh  year,  in  the 
month  BulP  (that  is  the  eighth  month),  was  the  temple  completed  in  all  its 
parts,  and  according  to  all  the  specifications.  Thus  he  was  seven  years  in  build- 
ing it. 

§  52.  Ornamentations  and  Furnishings  of  the  Temple,  I  Kgs.  713-51,  H  Chr. 

3^5-51,  Jer.  59?'-^^ 

Teinple  Records 
The  I   Kgs.   7  ^"^Then  King  Solomon  sent  and  brought  Hir9,m-abi  from  Tyre, 

at'the     "H*^  '*^'^^  *'^®  ^°^  °^  ^  widow  of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  an   Aramean   worker  in 
en-         brass ;^  and   he  was   gifted   with    skill,    understanding,    and   knowledge   to 
made      carry  on  all  kinds  of  work  in  brass.     And  he  came  to  King  Solomon  and 
ram^abi  ^^'^  ^^^  ^^^  work.     ^^For  he  casf  the  two  pillars  of  brass  for  the  porch  of 
the  temple.^     Eighteen  cubits  was  the  height  of  one  pillar,  and  its  circum- 
ference measured  twelve  cubits;  the  thickness  of  the  pillar  was  four  fingers — 
it  was  hollow.     And  the  second  pillar  was  similar.*     ^^And  he  made  two 
capitals  of  molten  brass,  to  set  upon  the  tops  of  the  pillars;  the  height  of 
the  one  capital  was  five  cubits,  and  the  height  of  the  other  capital  was  five 
cubits.     ^''And  he  made"  two  nets  (woven  work,  festoons,  chain-work)^  for  the 
capitals  which  were  on  the  top  of  the  pillars;  a  net^  for  the  one  capital,  and  a 
net^  for  the  other  capital.     ^^'^And  he  made  the  pomegranates;^  and  two 


o  I  Kgs.  611-1*  These  verses  are  not  found  in  Gk.  and  Luc.  They  have  no  real  connection 
with  their  context  and  their  language  and  thought,  as  well  as  their  absence  in  the  Gk.  and  Luc, 
confirm  the  conclusion  that  they  were  added  to  the  Heb.  by  a  late  priestly  editor. 

p  I  Kgs.  6"'  ^  The  foundation  therefore  was  laid  in  Apr.-May  and  the  work  was  com- 
pleted in  Oct.-Nov.  The  names  of  the  months  are  those  of  the  old  Canaanitish  calendar. 
Cf.  Appendix  XIII. 

§  52  The  prominence  given  in  I  Kgs.  T^^-si  to  the  temi)le  in  comparison  with  the  brief  de- 
scription in  711-  of  the  building  of  Solomon's  palace  and  other  extensive  buildings  strongly 
suggests  that  the  latter  was  taken  from  the  annals,  while  the  more  detailed  account  of  the  orna- 
mentation and  furnishings  of  the  sanctuary  came  from  the  temple  records.  The  nature  of  the 
subject-matter  also  confirms  this  inference. 

Again  the  Chronicler  has  a  briefer  and  somewhat  magnified  parallel  version.  Thus  accord- 
ing to  him  the  pillars  in  front  of  the  temple  were  thirty-five,  31^,  instearl  of  eighteen  cubits  in 
height,  as  in  I  Kgs.  71^.  Also  probably  having  in  mind  the  furnishings  of  the  second  temple,  he 
introduces  a  brazen  altar  and  golden  candlesticks  not  found  in  the  parallel  passage  in  Kgs. 
and  probably  not  known  to  the  Hebrews  until  after  their  contact  with  the  Assyrians  and 
Babylonians.  Cf.  the  brazen  altar  erected  by  Ahaz  after  paying  homage  to  Tiglath-Pileser 
at  Damascus,  II  Kgs.  16^18,  §  119. 

q  713.  11a  According  to  II  Chr.  212.  13  tj^e  workman's  name  was  Huram-abi  and  he  was  the  son 
of  a  Danite  mother.  Vs.  "^  seems  to  have  been  added,  like  the  variant  reading  in  Chr.,  to 
make  him  of  part  Israelitish  origin.  The  original  text  probably  read,  Hiram-abi,  an  Aramean 
worker  in  brass. 

'  71^  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     An  apparent  error  in  Heb.  gives  the  reading,  fashioned. 

'  715  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.  omits,  for  the  porch  of  the  temple. 

*  715  So  Gk.,  confirmed  by  Jer.  522',  Luc,  and  in  part  by  the  Syr.  The  last  three  clauses 
have  been  almost  entirely  lost  in  the  Heb. 

"  71'  So  Gk.  and  Luc. 

^  71^  This  explanatory  note  is  found  in  none  of  the  versions  and  parallel  passages. 

"  71'  So  Gk.  and  Luc  in  accord  with  i"".     Heb.,  seven. 

»  71*''  So  certain  Heb.  manuscripts  confirmed  by  the  parallel  passage,  Jer.  5222.  Other 
Heb.  manuscripts  read,  pillars. 

184 


ORNAMENTATIONS  OF  THE  TEMPLE    [I  Kgs.  Ti^b 

Temple  Records 

rows  of  pomegranates  in  brass  were  upon  the  one  network,'*  ^Obm^j  there 
were  two  hundred  pomegranates — two  rows  around  about  the  one  capital. 
^^''And  he  did  the  same  to  the  other  capital.  i^And  the  capitals  that  were  upon 
the  top  of  the  pillars  in  the  porch  were  of  lily-work — four  cubits.  ^And  tliere  were  cap- 
itals above  also  upon  the  two  pillars,  in  connection  with  the  bowl-shaped''  part  of  the 
pillar  wliich  was  beside  the  network."^  -^And  he  set  up  the  pillars  at  the  porch 
of  the  temple:  and  he  set  up  the  pillar  at  the  right  and  called  it  Jachin;*^ 
and  he  set  up  the  pillar  at  the  left  and  called  it  Boaz.  -l^j  ^po^  the  top  of 
the  pillars  was  hly-work.     So  was  the  work  of  the  pillars  finished. 

-^And  he  made  the  molten  sea  ten  cubits  in  diameter  from  brim  to  brim.  Molten 
and  five  cubits  high,  and  its  circumference  measured  thirty  cubits.  ^^And  *^^ 
under  its  brim  on  the  outside  were  gourds  which  encircled  it,  for  thirty® 
cubits,  encircling  the  sea  on  the  outside  ;f  the  gourds  were  in  two  rows,  cast 
when  it  was  cast.  -"^And  it  was  a  handbreadth  thick;*?  and  its  brim  was 
wrought  like  the  brim  of  a  cup,  similar  to  the  flower  of  a  lily.  It  held  about 
sixteen  thousand  gallons.^  25j^  stood  upon  twelve  oxen,  three  looking 
toward  the  north,  and  three  looking  toward  the  west,  and  three  looking 
toward  the  south,  and  three  looking  toward  the  east;  and  the  .sea  was  set 
down  upon  them,  and  all  their  hinder  parts  were  turned  inward. 

2' And  he  made  the  ten  stands  of  brass:  each  stand  was  four  cubits  long,  Mov- 
four  cubits  broad,  and  three  cubits  high.i     -^And  the  stands  were  made  as  brazen 
follows:  they  had  border-frames,  and  the  border-frames  were  between  the  stands 
upright  supports;  -^and  on  the  border-frames  that  were  between  the  up- 
right supports  were  lions,  oxen,  and  cherubim;  and  upon  the  upright  sup- 
ports likewise;  and  above  and  beneath  the  lions  and  oxen  and  cherubim 
was  bevelled  work.J     ^Oa^j^^j  every  stand  had  four  wheels  of  brass  and  axles 
of  brass. ^     ^-And  the  four  wheels  were  underneath  the  border-frames;  and 
the  axles  and  the  wheels  were  cast  as  a  part  of  the  stand.    And  the  height  of 


a  7isb  xhe  Syr.  order,  which  is  probably  original,  has  been  followed.  In  Heb.,  -'">  has  been 
transposed. 

b  720a  i^it.,  belly.     The  exact  meaninft  is  not  entirely  clear. 

c  719.  20a  The  account  of  tlie  construction  of  the  pillars  is  apparently  completed  in  i^b  to 
which -' is  the  natural  .sequel.  This  is  the  order  in  the  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  a<l(liti(>nal  notes 
regarding  the  appearance  of  the  pillars  in  ''■*■  -"■  --  are  evidently  from  a  later  hand  and  were  intro- 
duced into  the  te.xt  differently  in  the  (ik.  and  Heb.  versions.  Furthermore  in  the  recapitulation 
in  ^''  '-  there  is  no  reference  to  the  lily-work  and  bowl-shape<l  part  of  (he  pillars.  It  may  well 
have  been  suggested  to  a  later  scribe  by  the  I^gyptian  temples  in  which  the  motif  was  common. 

"^  7-'  The  meanings  of  the  names  is  obscure.  Jnchin  may  mean,  he  (Jeltovah)  establishes. 
They  probably  represented  the  .sacred  pillars  which  were  set  up  before  e\ery  ancient  Canaanite 
sanctuary. 

'  T^*  Heb.,  ten,  but  this  must  be  the  mistake  of  a  scribe  who  confused  the  diameter  and 
the  circumference. 

'  72*  Probably  a  gloss,  as  is  indicated  by  the  use  of  a  different  word  for  encircling. 

'  T^'  Gk.  order  ^'  '^.     This  is  undoubtedly  original. 

I"  7^  Heb.,  two  thousand  baths. 

\  7"  Gk.  and  Luc.  make  the  entire  dimensions  including  the  stand,  5x4x6. 

>  7^'  FoUowing  Gk.  and  Luc. 

k  730a  From  this  point  on  the  description  of  the  stands  is  confusing.  Those  recently  dis- 
covered in  Cyprus  at  Larnaka  and  Enkomi  were  probably  u.sed  for  the  same  purpose  and  were 
of  similar  construction.  Of.  Murray  in  Journ.  of  Roi/al  Inst,  of  lirit.  Architects,  1899,  \TI, 
pp.  20  ff.;  Stade  in  ZATW.,  1901,  "pp.  14.5  ff.  In  •'"I'.  ■"  the  top  of  the  stand  is  described,  and 
these  vss.  logically  follow  •"'•  •«.  Transposing  tliem,  the  accounts  of  llic  wliccl.s  beginning  in  •'"» 
is  continued  in  •f-  •''.  The  resulting  order  in  which  the- stands  are  described  is  (1)  their  bases 
with  the  engravings  of  lions,  oxen,  and  cherubim  on  the  outside  framework,  (2)  the  wheels  and 
axles  beneath,  and  C-i)  the  opening  at  the  top  (into  which  were  set  the  pots  ^")  and  the  orna- 
mentaiioD  of  the  outside  framework. 

185 


IKgs.  7^2]      SOLOMON'S  BUILDING  ENTERPRISES 

Temple  Records 

each  wheel  was  a  cubit  and  a  half,     ^s^j^^j  ^^  construction  of  the  wheels 

was  like  that  of  a  chariot  wheel:  their  axles,  their  felloes,  their  spokes,  and 

their  hubs,  were  all  cast.     34^j^(j  3^^  ^}jg  fQ^J,  corners  of  each  stand  were  four 

shoulder-pieces;  the  shoulder-pieces  were  cast  as  part  of  the  stand.      ^5^^^^ 

in  the  top  of  the  stand  was  a  round  opening,^  half  a  cubit  high,  and  on  the  top 

of  the  stand  were  its  stays  and  its  border-frames,     ^e^j^^j  ^j^  ^j^g  g^^  surface 

of  the  stays  and  border-frames,  he  engraved  cherubim,  lions,  and  palm  trees, 

according  to  the  space  on  each,  with  wreaths  round  about.       20b\j^f}  ^j^g 

four  corners'^  had   shoulder-pieces:   beneath  the  bowl   the   shoulder-pieces 

were  cast,  with  wreaths  at  the  side  of  each.      ^^And  its  opening  within  the 

shoulder-pieces^  was  a  cubit  and  more:  and  its  opening  was  round  after  the 

form  of  a  pedestal  (a  cubit  and  a  half)  and  also  upon  its  opening  were  gravings, 

and  its°  border-frames  were  square,  not  round.      ^''Thus  he  made  the  ten 

stands:  all  of  them  had  one  casting,  and  were  of  the  same  measure  and  form. 

Posi-         28\jjfl  i^g  made  ten  lavers  of  brass:  one  laver  contained  three  himdred 

ofThe     ^^*^  twenty  gallons, p  and  each  laver  measured  four  cubits;  and  on  each  one 

stands    of  the  ten  stands  was  a  laver.     -^^And  he  set  the  stands,  five  on  the  right 

their      side  of  the  temple  and  five  on  the  left  side  of  the  temple:  and  he  set  the  sea 

la\ers     ^^^  ^|^g  right  side  of  the  temple  eastward  toward  the  south. 

Altar  of       II  Chr.  4    'Moreover  he  made  an  altar  of  brass — twenty  cubits  long,  and  twenty 
brass       cubits  broad,  and  ten  cubits  high. 

^And  he  made  the  ten  candlesticks  of  gold  according  to  the  directions  concerning 
Candle-  them;  and  he  set  them  in  the  temple,  five  on  the  right  hand  and  fi\e  on  the  left.      *He 
sticks      made  also  ten  tables,  and  placed  them  in  the  temple,  five  on  the  right  side  and  five  on 
the  left.     And  he  made  a  hundred  golden  bowls. 

Com-  I  Kgs.  7  ^"^And  Hiram <i  made  the  lavers  and  the  shovels,  and  the  bowls. 

of^tJae"  ^'^  Hiram  completed  all  the  work  that  he  wrought  for  King  Solomon  in  the 

work      temple  of  Jehovah:  "^^the  two  pillars  and  the  two  bowl-shaped  capitals  that 

were  on  the  top  of  the  pillars,  '*2and  the  four  hundred  pomegranates  for 

the  two  networks  to  cover  the  two  bowl-shaped  capitals  that  were  on  the 

top  of  the  pillars,  '*^and  the  ten  stands  and  the  ten  lavers  on  the  stands, 

'^"^and  the  one  sea  with  the  twelve  oxen  under  the  sea. 

Vast  ^^And  the  pots,  the  shovels,  and  the  bowls,  and  all  these  vessels  which 

o"brass  Hiram  made  for  King  Solomon  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  were  of  burnished 

^^'.     ,    brass.      ^"There  w^as  no  weighinjj  the  brass  from  which  he  made  all  these 

quired  ,  o        o 

vessels,  because  it  was  so  very  much,  the  weight  of  the  brass  could  not  be 

determined.  ^    ^°In  the  Plain  of  the  Jordan  he  cast  them,  in  the  clay  ground 

between  Succoth  and  Zarethan. 

Ar-  ■^^And  Solomon  placed  all  the  vessels  which  he  had  made  in  the  temple 

ment       ^f  Jehovali:  the  golden  altar  and  the  golden  table  on  which  was  the   showbread; 

of  the      ^^and  the  candlesticks,  five  on  the  right  side,  and  five  on  the  left  before  the  inner 

vessels 

in  the  '- 

temple  '  7^  Unfortunately  the  subject  has  fallen  out  of  the  text.     It  must  be  supplied  from  so. 

m  730b  Heb.,  feet,  but  this  is  probably  a  scribal  error  for,  corners. 

"  7^'  Again  some  Heb.  scribe  apparently  misread  a  letter  giving,  capital,  instead  of  shoulder- 
■pieces. 

0731  Heb.,  their. 

P738  Heb.,  forty  baths. 

5  7'"'  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Ijat.,  confirmed  by  the  summary  in  ■'5  and  the  parallel  in  II  Chr.  4". 

r  746-48a  go  Qjj    ^jj^j  Luc,  which  introduce  ''*  in  its  natural  place  after  ■*"  and  preserve  a 
much  better  reading  for  "  and  ^'^. 

186 


FURNISHINGS  OF  THE  TE^IPLE  [I  Kgs.  7^9 

Temple  Records 

room,  of  pure  gold;  and  the  flowers,  the  lamps,  and  the  golden  tongs;  ^and  the  cups, 
the  snuffers,  basins,  bowls,  and  fire-pans,  of  pure  gold;  and  the  golden  hinges,  both 
for  the  folding  doors  of  the  inner  room  (the  most  holy  place)  and  for  the  folding  doors 
of  the  temple  (the  large  room).'  ^^Thus  all  the  work  that  Kins  Solomon  wrouorht 
in  the  temple  of  Jehovah  was  finished.  And  Solomon  brought  in  the  things 
which  David  his  father  had  dedicated,  even  the  silver  and  the  gold  and  the 
vessels,  placing  them  in  the  treasuries  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 

§  53.  Dedication  of  the  Temple,  I  Kgs.  8,  9'  »•  «    n  Chr.  5-7'°,  8''-'« 

Temple  Records 

I  Kgs.  8  ^Then  Solomon  assembled  the  elders  of  Israel,  and  all  the  heads  of  Trans- 

the  tribes,  the  princes  of  the  fathers'  houses  of  the  Israelites  in  Jerusalem  to  brine  Uie  ark 

up  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah   out  of  the  citv  of  David,  which  is  in  i"*"^'  V'® 

'  temple 

Zion.     ^And  all  the  men  of  Israel  assembled  about  King  Solomon  at  the  feast,  in  the 

month  of  Ethanim,  which  is  the  seventh  month.'  ^And  all  the  elders  of  Israel  came, 
and  the  priests  took  up  the  ark.  ^And  the.y  brought  up  the  ark  of  Jehovah,  and 
the  tent  of  meeting,  and  all  the  holy  vessels  that  were  in  the  tent;  even  these 
did  the  priests  and  Le\'ites  bring  up.  ^Then  King  Solomon  and  all  the  congrega- 
tion of  Israel,  who  were  assembled  to  liim,  were  with  him  before  the  ark  sacrific- 
ing so  many  sheep  and  oxen,  that  they  could  neither  be  counted  nor  numbered. 
^So  the  priests  brought  in  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah  to  its  place  in 
the  inner  room  of  the  temple  (in  the  most  holy  place)  under  the  wings  of  the 
cherubim.  'For  the  cherubim  spread  forth  their  wings  over  the  place  of 
the  ark,  so  that  the  cherubim  formed  a  covering  above  the  ark  and  its  staves. 
^And  the  staves  were  so  long  that  the  ends  of  the  staves  were  seen  from  the 
place  before  the  inner  room;"  but  further  out  they  could  not  be  seen.  And 
there  they  are  to  this  day.  ^There  wa.s  nothing  in  the  ark  except  the  two 
tables  of  stone  which  Moses  put  there  at  Horeb,  when  Jehovah  made  a  covenant 
with  the  IsraeUtes  as  they  came  from  the  land  of  Egypt.      ^^And  when  the  priests 


■  7*^^-^"  These  verses  by  their  awkward  constructions,  late  terms  (such  as  most  holy  place), 
and  contents  are  clearly  marked  as  later  additions.  The  golden  altar  and  candlesticks  are  not 
mentioned  in  the  original  narrative  and  first  appear  in  the  writings  of  the  Chronicler.  Cf.  the 
introd.  note  to  this  section. 

§  53  The  temple  records,  and  probably  also  the  annals  of  Solomon,  had  an  account  of  the 
dedication  of  the  temple.  It  was,  however,  a  theme  which  lent  itself  readily  to  later  e.\|)an.sion. 
Succeeding  generations  pictured  the  act  as  it  would  have  been  performed  in  their  own  day. 
The  original  kernel  of  the  narrative  is  represented  by  the  nnich  briefer  ver.sion  of  S''',  i>re.served 
by  the  Ok.  and  Luc.  This  appears  in  the  Heb.,  supjilemented  by  the  expressions  and  ceremonial 
usages  characteristic  of  tlie  priestly  writers  who  flourished  during  and  after  the  Babylonian 
exile. 

Beginning  with  ",  a  very  late  prophetic  editor,  who  evidently  lived  in  the  shadow  of  the 
exile,  adds  a  majestic,  spiritual  address,  prayer,  and  blessing,  embodying  tlie  lofty  .sentiments 
which  seemed  appropriate  at  the  deflication  of  the  temple,  which  was  regarded  l)y  iiim  and  Ids 
contemporaries  as  the  one  legitimate  sanctuary.  Cf.  '".  The  prayer  in  ---'"'  was  clearly  .suggested 
by  the  curses  in  Dt.  28'^-"*.  The  peculiar  expressions  and  ideas  are  tho.se  of  tiie  late  prophetic 
school.  Such  passages  as  8*'-'3  and  a"'-*  reflect  the  exilic  background.  In  the  account  of  tiio 
festival  in  ''--'^  he  perhaps  incorporates  earlier  material. 

The  Chronicler  for  the  most  part  reproduces  the  address  in  I  Kgs.,  but  at  certain  ixiints 
he  introduces  the  singers  and  other  data  calculated  further  to  adapt  it  to  the  peculiar  views  of 
his  own  age. 

'  82  The  seventh  month  (Bab.,  Tishri),  Sept.-Oct. 

"  8'  Heb.,  holy  place. 

187 


Solo- 
mon's 
hymn 
of  dedi- 
cation 


I  Kgs.  8">]      SOLOMON'S  BUILDING  ENTERPRISES 

Temple  Records 

had  come  from  the  sanctuary,'^  the  cloud  filled  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  ^^so 
that  the  ])riests  could  not  stand  to  minister  because  of  the  cloud,  for  the 
glory  of  Jehovah  filled  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 
^-Then  Solomon  said, 

Jehovah  liatli  set  the  sun  in  the  heavens, 
But  he  hath  himself  determined  to  dwell  in  thick  darkness. 
'^So  I  have  built  thee  a  temple  as  a  place  of  abode, 
A  dwelling  for  thee  to  abide  in  forever. 

Is  it  not  written  in  the  Book  of  Jashar  ?" 


His 

address 
to  the 
people 


His 

dedi- 
catory 
prayer 
ff.r  the 
reign- 
ing 
house 


Later  Prophetic  (Exilic)  Addition 

^^Then  the  king  turned  about  and  blessed  all  the  assembly  of  Israel;  and 
all  the  assembly  of  Israel  stood  up.  ^^He  said.  Blessed  be  Jehovah,  the 
God  of  Israel,  who  has  with  his  own  hand  fulfilled  what  he  spoke  with  his 
mouth  to  David  my  father,  saying,  ^*'' Since  the  day  that  I  brought  forth 
my  people  Israel  from  Egypt,  I  chose  no  [other]  city  out  of  all  the  tribes  of 
Israel  to  build  a  temple,  that  my  name  might  be  there  ;-"^  but  I  have  chosen 
Jerusalem  that  my  name  might  be  there,  and  I  have  chosen  David  to  be 
over  my  people  Israel.'  ^^Now  it  was  in  the  heart  of  David  my  father  to 
build  a  temple  for  the  name  of  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel.  ^^But  Jehovah 
said  to  David  my  father,  'Whereas  it  was  in  thy  heart  to  build  a  temple  for 
my  name,  thou  didst  well  that  it  was  in  thy  heart;  ^^nevertheless  thou  shalt 
not  build  the  temple;  bat  thy  son,  who  shall  come  forth  out  of  thy  loins, 
he  shall  build  the  temple  for  my  name.'  ^ojsjy^y  Jehovah  has  fulfilled  his 
promise  that  he  made:  for  I  have  risen  up  in  the  place  of  David  my  father  and 
sit  on  the  throne  of  Israel,  as  Jehovah  promised,  and  have  built  the  temple 
for  the  name  of  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel.  2i^\^ii(j  there  have  I  set  a  place 
for  the  ark  in  which  is  the  covenant  of  Jehovah,  which  he  made  with  our 
fathers,  when  he  brought  them  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 

^-^Then  Solomon  stood  before  the  altar  of  Jehovah  in  the  presence  of  all 
the  assembly  of  Israel  and  spread  forth  his  hands^  toward  heaven,  23and  said, 
O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  there  is  no  God  like  thee  in  heaven  above  or 
on  earth  beneath,  who  keepest  the  covenant  and  showest  kindness  to  thy 
servants  who  walk  before  thee  with  all  their  heart,  ^^who  hast  kept  with 


^  gi"*,  II  Chr.  5"''  In  the  following  long  parenthesis,  here  inserted  by  the  Chronicler  into 
the  older  source,  the  musicians  in  which  he  was  so  deeply  interested  were  made  to  have  a  part 
in  the  dedication  of  the  temple:  '">  (for  all  the  priests  that  u'ere  present  had  sanctified  themselves, 
it  being  impossible  to  arrange  them  in  divisions;  ^'and  all  the  Levites  who  icere  singers,  even 
Asaph,  Heman,  Jeduthun,  and  their  so7is  and  their  clansmen,  arrayed  in  fine  linen,  with 
cymbals  and  tyres  and  harps,  stood  at  the  east  end  of  the  altar,  and  with  them  a  hundred  and 
twenty  priests  blowing  on  trumpets;  ^^and  the  trumpeters  and  singers  miited  in  one  harmonious 
sound  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  to  Jehovah,  and  they  lifted  up  their  voice  with  the  trumpets  and 
cymbals  and  musical  instruments  and  praised  Jehovah,  saying,  For  he  is  good,  for  his  loving- 
kindness  endureth  forever). 

w  gi2.  13  Restoring  on  the  basis  of  Gk.  and  Luc,  which,  however,  place  the  quotation  later 
in  the  context  (8^).      Book  of  Jashar,  i.e.,  the  Righteous  One  (Israel).     C'f.  Vol.  I,  p.  16. 

=■  8'^  So  Gk.  and  II  Chr.  6^'.     The  abbreviation  of  the  Heb.  is  due  to  a  scribal  error. 

y  8--  II  Chr.  6'3  adds  the  characteristic  parenthetic  note:  (for  Solomon  had  made  a  brazen 
scaffold,  five  cubits  long  and  five  cubits  broad  and  three  cubits  high,  and  had  set  it  in  the  midst 
of  the  court;  and  upon  it  he  stood  and.  kneeled  doivn  upon  his  knees  before  all  the  assembly 
of  Israel  and  spread  forth  his  hands  toward  heaven). 


188 


DEDICATION   OF  THE  TEMPLE  [I  Kgs.  824 

Later  Prophetic  (Exilic)  Addition 

thy  sen-ant  David  mv  father  the  promise  that  tliou  didst  make  to  him:  yea, 
thou  spakest  witli  thy  mouth  and  hast  fulfilled  it  with  thy  IuukI,  as  it  is  this 
day.  -^Now  therefore,  O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  keep  with  thy  servant 
David  my  father  the  promise  that  thou  hast  made  to  him,  saying.  'There 
shall  not  fail  thee  a  man  in  my  sight  to  sit  on  the  throne  of  Israc-l.  if  onlv 
thy  children  take  heed  to  their  way,  to  walk  before  me  as  thou  hast  w  alkcd 
before  me.'  20\j^Q^y  therefore,  O  God  of  Israel,  let  thy  word,  I  pray  thee, 
be  verified,  which  thou  hast  spoken  to  thy  servant  David  my  father. 

-"But  can  God  actually  dwell  with  men'^  on  the  earth  ?     Indeed  heaven  For 
and  the  highest  heaven  cannot  contain  thee;  how  much  less  this  temple  that  ^j^'g. 
I  have  built !     -*Yet  have  respect  to  the  prayer  of  thy  servant  and  to  his  nf"ss 
supplication,  O  Jehovah,  my  God,  listening  to  the  cry  and  to  the  ]:)rayer  sins 
which  thy  servant  offereth  before  thee  this  day,  -^that  thine  eyes  may  be 
open  toward  this  temple  night  and  day,  even  toward  the  place  of  which 
thou  hast  said,  'My  name  shall  be  there,'  to  listen  to  the  prayer  which  thy 
servant  shall  offer  toward  this  place.     3*^And  hear  thou  the  supj)licalion  of 
thy  servant  and  of  thy  people  Israel,  when  they  shall  pray  toward  this  place; 
yea,  hear  thou  in  heaven  thy  dwelling  place;  and  when  thou  hearest  forgive. 

2^ If  a  man  sin  against  his  neighbor,  and  an  oath  be  laid  upon  him  to  cause  Of  the 
him  to  swear,  and  he  come  and  swear  before  thine  altar  in  this  tcTuple.'^  ^'Idual 
2-then  hear  thou  in  heaven,  and  act  and  judge  thy  servants,  condenming 
the  wicked,  to  bring  the  consequences  of  his  conduct  upon  his  own  head 
and  justifying  the  righteous,  to  recompense  him  according  to  his  righteousness. 

^^When  thy  people  Israel  are  smitten  down  before  the  enemy  because  Of  the 
they  have  sinned  against  thee,  if  they  turn  again  to  thee  and  coTifcss  thy  "^''"° 
name  and  pray  and  make  supplication  to  thee  in  this  temple,  "^^then  hear 
thou  in  heaven  and  forgive  the  sin  of  thy  people  Israel  and  bring  them 
again  to  the  land  which  thou  gavest  to  their  fathers.  •^'When  heaven  is 
shut  up  and  there  is  no  rain,  because  they  have  sinned  against  thee;  if  they 
pray  toward  this  place  and  confess  thy  name  and  turn  from  their  sin.  \\hcn 
thou  doest  humble  them,  ^^'then  hear  thou  in  heav(Mi  atid  forgive  the  sin  of 
thy  servants  and  of  thy  people  Israel,  when  thou  teachest  them  the  good 
way  in  which  they  should  walk,  and  send  rain  upon  thy  land,  which  thou 
hast  given  to  thy  people  for  an  inheritance.  -^'If  there  be  in  the  lane!  fann'ne, 
if  there  be  pestilence,  if  there  be  blasting  or  mildew,  locust  or  caterpillar,  if 
their  enemy  besiege  them  in  any  of  their  gates;''  whatever  plague,  whatever 
sickness  there  be,  ^^whatever  prayer  and  .supj)lication  be  made  by  any  man," 
who  knows  his  own  personal  affliction,®  and  spreads  forth  his  hands  toward 
this  temj)le,  -^^then  hear  thou  in  heaven  thy  dwelling  place  and  forgive  and 
act  and  render  to  every  man  according  to  all  his  ways,  whose  heart  thou 
knowest  (for  thou,  even  thou  only,  knowest  llic  hearts  of  all  the  children  of 


»  8"  Supported  by  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Targ. 
bgs'  Cf.  K.\.  22'". 

'  8"  Supported  bv  flk.,  Luc,  and  Syr.     Heb.,  in  the  land  of  their  cities. 
<iH^  So  (;k.  and  Luc.  . 

'  83»  Heb.  lit.,  u-ho  shall  know  each  the  platjue  of  his  own  heart.     The  Gk.  and  Luc.  suggest 
the  rendering  given  above. 

189 


IKgs.  839]      SOLOMONS  BUILDING  ENTERPRISES 
Later  Prophetic  {Exilic)  Addition 

men),  ^Othat  they  may  fear  thee  all  the  days  that  they  live  in  the  land  which 
thou  fjavcst  to  our  fathers. 
Of  the        ^^AIso  to  the  alien,  who  is  not  of  thy  people  Israel,  but  comes  from  a 
repent-  ^^^  country  for  thy  name's  sake — '^-iov  they  shall  hear  of  thy  great  name 
alien       and  of  thy  mighty  hand  and  of  thine  outstretched  arm — when  he  shall  come 
and  pray  toward  this  temple,  "^^wilt  thou  listen  in  heaven  thy  dwelling  place, 
and  do  all  things  as  the  alien  requests  of  thee,  that  all  the  peoples  of  the 
earth  may  know  thy  name,  to  fear  thee,  as  doth  thy  people  Israel,  and  that 
they  may  know  that  this  temple  which  I  have  built  is  called  by  thy  name. 
For  '*"*If  thy  people  go  out  to  battle  against  their  enemy,  by  whatever  way 

fn'bat-   thou  shalt  send  them,  and  they  pray  to  thee^  in  the  direction  of  the  city 
tie         which  thou  hast  chosen  and  the  temple  which  I  have  built  for  thy  name, 
^^then  hear  thou  in  heaven  their  prayer  and  their  supplication  and  uphold 
their  cause. 
For  •^sif  they  sin  against  thee — for  there  is  no  man  that  sinneth  not — and  thou 

erance    ^'^  ^ngry  with  them  and  deliver  them  to  their  enemy,  so  that  they  carry  them 
^'""■^.      away  captive  to  the  land  of  the  enemv.  far  off  or  near;  ^''vet  if  thev  shall  be 
ity,  if     converted  in  the  land  to  which  they  are  carried  captive  and  turn  again  and 
people    iiiake  supplication  to  thee  in  the  land  of  their  captivity, ^  saying,  'We  have 
repent    ginned,  and  have  acted  perversely  and  wickedly;'  "^^if  they  return  to  thee 
with  all  their  heart  and  with  all  their  soul  while  yet  in  the  land  of  their  ene- 
mies, who  carried  them  captive,  and  pray  to  thee  in  the  direction  of  their 
land,  which  thou  hast  chosen  and  the  temple  which  I  have  built  for  thy 
name,  "^^then  hear  thou  their  prayer  and  their  supplication  in  heaven  thy 
dwelling  place,  and  uphold  their  cause, ^  ^"^and  forgive  thy  people  who  have 
sinned  against  thee,  and  all  their  transgressions  with  which  they  have  trans- 
gressed against  thee,   anJ  give  them  compassion  with  those  who  carried 
them  captive,  that  they  may  have  compassion  on  them — ^^for  they  are  thy 
people,  and  thine  inheritance,  which  thou  broughtest  forth  out  of  Egypt, 
from  the  midst  of  the  iron  furnace — ^-that  thine  eyes  may  be  open  to  the 
supplication  of  thy  servant  and  to  the  supplication  of  thy  people  Israel,  to 
listen  to  them  whenever  they  cry  to  thee.     ^^Pq^  thou  didst  separate  them 
from  all  the  peoples  of  the  earth  to  be  thine  inheritance,  as  thou  spakest  by 
Moses  thy  servant,  when  thou  broughtest  our  fathers  out  of  Egypt,  O  Lord 
Jehovah. 
Con-  ^"^After  Solomon  had  finished  praying  all  this  prayer  and  supplication  to 

blessing  Jehovah,  he  arose  from  kneeling  on  his  knees  before  the  altar  of  Jehovah 
horta-^'  ^^^^^^  ^^^^  hands  spread  forth  toward  heaven,  ^'^and  stood,  and  with  a  loud 
tion  voice  blessed  all  the  assembly  of  Israel,  saying,  ^^Blessed  be  Jehovah  who 
hath  given  rest  to  his  people  Israel,  according  to  all  that  he  promised. 
One  word  hath  not  failed  of  all  his  good  promise,  which  he  made  by  INIoses 
his  servant.  ^^Jehovah  our  God  be  with  us,  as  he  was  with  our  fathers; 
let  him  not  leave  us  nor  forsake  us,  ^*that  he  may  incline  our  hearts  to  him, 

'8^  Heb.,  to  Jehovah,  probably  due  to  a  copyist's  error. 

8  8^7  So  Gk.,  Luc.  and  II  Chr.  6". 

h  849b  Qii_  and  Luc.  omit,  perhaps  correctly. 

190 


DEDICATION  OF  THE  TEMPLE  [I  Kgs.  S^s 

Later  Prophetic  (Exilic)  Addition 

to  walk  in  all  his  ways  and  to  keep  his  commands  and  his  statutes  and  his 
ordinances,  which  he  commanded  our  fathers.  '^'-'And  let  these  my  words, 
wherewith  I  have  made  supplication  before  Jehovah,  be  near  to  Jehovah, 
our  God,  day  and  night,  that  he  uphold  the  cause  of  his  servant  and  the 
cause  of  his  people  Israel,  as  each  day  shall  require,  ^'''that  all  the  peoples 
of  the  earth  may  know  that  Jehovah  is  God  alone.  ^'Ux't  your  heart  there- 
fore be  perfect  with  Jehovah  our  God,  to  walk  in  his  statutes  and  to  keep 
his  commandments,  as  at  this  day. 

II  Chr.   7  'Now  when  Solomon  had  made  an  end  of  praying,  the  fire  came  down  The 
from  heaven,  and  consumed  the  burnt -offering  and  the  sacrifices.      And  the  glorj^  of  fhvine 
Jehovah  filled  the  temple,  -so  that  the  priests  could  not  enter  into  the  temple  of  Je-  gp^jjse 
hovah,  because  the  glorj^  of  Jehovah  filled  Jehovah's  temple.      '.Vlso  all  the  Israelites 
looked  on,  when  the  fire  came  down,  and  the  glory  of  Jeliovahwas  upon  the  temple. 
And  they  bowed  themselves  with  their  faces  to  the  ground  upon  the  pavement  and 
worshipped  and  gave  thanks  to  Jehovah,  saying,  For  he  is  good;  for  his  lovingkind- 
ness  endureth  forever. 

I  Kgs.  8  *^-Both  the  king  and  all  Israel  offered  sacrifice  before  Jehovah.  Feast 
^^Solomon  offered  for  the  sacrifice  of  peace-oiferings,  which  he  offered  to  ^"^^j. 
Jehovah,  twentv-two  thousand  oxen,  and  a  hundred  and  twentv  thousand  fjce?  of 
sheep.     So  the  king  and  all  the  Israelites  dedicated  the  temple  of  Jehovah.'  tion 
^"^The  same  day  the  king  hallowed  the  middle  of  the  court  that  was  before 
the  temple  of  Jehovah;  for  there  he  offered  the  burnt-offering  and  the  cereal- 
offering  and  the  fat  pieces  of  the  peace-offerings,  becau.se  the  brazen  altar 
that  was  before  Jehovah  was  too  small  to  receive  the  burnt-offering  and  the 
cereal -offering  and  the  fat  of  the  peace-offerings.     ^•'^So  Solomon  held  the 
feast  at  that  time  and  all  Israel  with  him — a  great  assembly,  from  the  en- 
trance to  Ilamath  to  the  brook  of  Egypt— before  Jehovah  our  God,  seven 
days.J     ^^But  on  the  eighth  day  he  sent  the  people  away;  and  receiving  a 
blessing  from  the  king,*^  they  went  to  their  homes,  joyful  and  glad  of  heart 
for  all  the  goodness  that  Jehovah  had  showed  to  David  his  .servant,  and  to 
Israel  his  people. 

9  ^Xow  when  Solomon  had  finished  the  building  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  Jeho- 
and  the  royal  palace,  and  all  Solomon's  plans'  which  he  wi.shed  to  carry  out,  p,om- 
2Jcli()vah  ai)j)eared  to  Solomon  the  .second  time,  as  he  had  appeared  to  him  '^'i^^^,^"'^ 
at  (iibeon.     -^And  Jehovah  said  to  him,  I  have  heard  thy  j)rayer  and  thy  .sup-  ings  in 
plication,  that  thou  hast  made  before  me."*     I  have  hallowed  this  temple  gponse 
which  thou  hast  built  to  put  my  name  there  forever;  and  mine  eyes  and  my  \^^^f^^°' 
heart  shall  be  there  perpetually.     '^If  indeed  thou  wilt  walk  before  me,  as  prayer 

i  g03b  This  is  lacking  in  Gk.  The  Chronicler  in  II  Chr.  T"  furthermore  aiUls,  And  the 
priests  stood,  according  to  their  otjiccs:  the  Levites  (dso  with  instruments  for  the  tniisic  of 
Jehovah,  which  David  the  kino  had  made  to  dive  thanks  to  Jehovah  {for  his  lovuif/kuidness 
endureth  forever),  by  means  of  rrhom  David  gave  praise.  And  the  priests  sounded  trumpets  be- 
fore them;  and  all  Israel  stood  up.  .  ■        ,• 

J  8«^  The  shorter  text  is  supi)ortecl  by  the  Ok.,  and  required  by  the  introductory  conjunction 
of  68,  And  on  the  eighth  day.  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Lat.  Heb.  adds,  and  seven  days,  even  four- 
teen days.  .         ,      ,        •        1  n-     r      »i 

!>  8W'  The  present  Ilch.  is  due  to  an  early  scribe  who  mistook  the  singular  suthx  for  the 
plural  en. ling.  It  then  became  nece.ssary  to  supply  an  object.  The  Gk.  translators  .support 
a-s  original  the  above  reading,  .though  ncjt  understanding  il.  ,  .  ,    .  .    i  .      n     /-.i 

'  9'  A  slight  change  in  the  Heb.  gives  the  above  rendering  which  is  supported  by  the  uk. 

and  Luc.  ,  .  ,      ,,    ,  i  •  i  i  „ 

mf^ta  Ok.  and  Luc.  add,  /  Itave  acted  in  accordance  with  all  thy  prayer,  which  may  bo 

original. 

191 


iKgs.  94]        SOLOMON'S  BUILDING  ENTERPRISES 

Later  Prophetic  (Exilic)  Addition 

David  thy  father  walked,  in  integrity  of  heart  and  in  uprightness,  to  do  accord- 
inof  to  all  that  I  have  commanded  thee,  and  wilt  keep  my  statutes  and  mine 
ordinances,  ^ihen  I  will  establish  the  throne  of  thy  kingdom  over  Israel  for- 
ever, as  I  promised  to  David  thy  father,  saying,  'There  shall  not  fail  thee  a 
man  upon  the  throne  of  Israel.'  '^But  if  ye  shall  turn  away  from  following  me, 
ye  or  your  children,  and  shall  not  keep  my  commands  and  my  statutes  which 
I  have  set  before  you,  but  shall  go  and  serve  other  gods,  and  worship  them; 
'^then  I  will  take  away  Israel  from  the  land,  which  I  have  given  them;  and 
this  temple  which  I  have  hallowed  for  my  name,  will  I  cast  away  from  me, 
and  Israel  shall  be  a  proverb  and  a  byword  among  all  peoples.  ^Moreover 
this  temple  shall  become  ruins, °  every  one  that  passeth  by  it  shall  be  aston- 
ished and  shall  hiss,  and  they  shall  say,  'Why  hath  Jehovah  done  thus  to  this 
land  and  to  this  ])eople.''  ^And  they  shall  answer,  'Because  they  forsook 
Jehovah  their  God,  who  brought  forth  their  fathers  from  the  land  of  Egypt, 
and  took  up  with  other  gods,  w  orshipping  and  serving  them ;  therefore  Jeho- 
vah hath  brought  all  this  evil  upon  them.' 


Institu- 
tion of 
the 

regular 
service 
of  the 
temple 


2^ And  three 
times  in  the  year 
Solomon  used 
to  offer  burnt- 
offerings  and 
peace  -  offerings 
upon  the  altar 
which  he  built 
to  Jehovah,  and 
he  used  to  cause 
the  savor  of  the 
sacrifice  to  rise 
before  J  e  h  o  - 
vah.  °  So  he  fin- 
ished the  tem- 
ple. 


Chronicle/s  Ecclcsiasticcd  History 

IT  Chr.  8  ^-Then  Solomon  offered  burnt-offerings  to 
Jehovah  on  the  altar  of  Jehovah,  which  he  had  built  be- 
fore the  porch,  ^'^even  as  the  service  of  each  day  required, 
offering  according  to  the  command  of  Moses,  on  the  sab- 
baths, on  the  new  moons,  and  on  the  set  feasts,  three 
times  in  the  year,  even  at  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread 
and  at  the  feast  of  wrecks  and  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles. 
^■^And  he  appointed,  according  to  the  ordinance  of  Da- 
vid his  father,  the  courses  of  the  priests  to  their  service 
and  the  Levites  to  their  offices,  to  praise  and  minister 
before  the  priests,  as  the  service  of  each  day  required;  the 
doorkeepers  also  by  their  courses  at  every  gate,  for  so 
had  David  the  man  of  God  commanded.  ^-^And  they 
departed  not  from  the  king's  command  to  the  priests  and 
Levites  concerning  any  matter  or  concerning  the  treasures. 
i^Now  all  the  work  of  Solomon  was  completed  to  the  day 
of  the  foundation  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  until  it 
was  finished.     So  the  temple  of  Jehovah  was  completed. 


"  9*  Heb.  lit.,  And  this  house  shall  be  most  high,  which  is  contrary  to  the  idea  of  the  con- 
text. Gk.  and  Luc.  seem  to  have  had  the  present  Heb.  Lat.,  And  this  house  shall  be  for  an 
example.     A  slight  change  in  Heb.  gives  the  above  rendering,  which  the  Sjt.  supports. 

o  925  xhe  present  Heb.,  by  inserting  it  which,  has  become  meaningless.  The  shorter  read- 
ing is  supported  by  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Lat. 


192 


PLAN   OF   SOLOMON'S   PALACE 

(ACCORDING  TO  STADE) 


SOLOMON'S  PALACE  [I  Kgs.  7^ 

§  54.  Solomon's  Palace,  1  Kgs.  7'-'%  9^*%  11  Chr.  8*^ 
Annals  of  Solotnon 

I  Kgs.  7  ^And  Solomon  was  building  his  palace  thirteen  years,  until  he  House 
had  completely  finished   his  palace.     ^There  also  he  built  the  Forest  of  aLVn'^ 
Lebanon .p  its  length  was  a  hundred  cubits,  and  its  breadth  fifty  cubits,  and  '^["' 
its  height  thirty  cubits,  upon  three'J  rows  of  cedar  pillars,  with  cedar  beams'"  Judg- 
upon  the  pillars.     "^And  it  was  covered  with  cedar  above  over  the  forty-five  "^^"'^ 
beams,  that  were  upon  the  pillars;  and  the  number  of  the  pillars'^  was  fifteen 
in  a  row.     "^And  there  were  window-frames  in  three  rows,  and  window  was 
over  against  window  in  three  tiers.     ^And  all  the  doors  and  windows  Avere 
made  with  square  frames:  and  door  was  over  against  door  in  three  tiers.*- 
^And  the  hall  of  pillars  he  made  fifty  cubits  long  and  thirty  cubits  broad; 
and  a  porch  before  them  and  pillars  and  a  threshokl'*  before  them.     "And 
he  made  the  throne-hall  where  he  was  to  judge,  even  the  Hall  of  Judgment ; 
and  it  was  covered  with  cedar  from  floor  to  ceiling. 

^And  his  palace,  where  he  was  to  dwell,  in  another  court  farther  in  from  Private 
the  Hall  of  Judgment,  was  of  the  same  workmanship.     He  also  made  a  of  Sj'jfo. 
palace  for  Pharaoh's  daughter  (whom  Solomon  had  taken  as  wife),  similar  to  mo"  . 
his  hall.     9  ^^a^jj^j  Pharaoh's  daughter  came  up  out  of  the  city  of  David  Kgyp- 
to  her  palace  which  Solomon  had  built  for  her.  queen 

7  ^AU  these  were  of  costlv  stones,  hewn  according  to  measurements,  sawed  ,, 

' .  .  .         Mate- 

w  ith  saws,  both  on  the  interior  and  on  the  exterior,  even  from  the  foundation  rials 
to  the  coping,  and  from  the  exterior  to  the  great  court.     ^°And  the  foundation  "^^t^  "* 
was  of  costlv  great  stones — stones  of  ten  cubits  and  stones  of  eight  cubits,  struct- 

*'  inff  the 

^^And  above  were  costly  stones,  hewn  according  to  measurements,  and  cedar  palace 
wood.     ^-And  the  great  encircling  court  had  three  courses  of  hewn  stone 
and  a  course  of  cedar  beams;  even  so  it  was  round  about  the  inner  court  of 
the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  the  court  of  the  porch  of  the  palace.^ 

%55.  Solomon's  Resources  and  Wealth,  I  Kgs.  Q'O'^.  i7b-23.  20-28^  iqu,  12,  14.29^ 

II  Chr.  S''"'  "•  "*    O^"-  '^'  ^^'^^ 

Annals  of  Solomon 

I   Kgs.   9  '"Now  at  the  end  of  twenty  years,  during  wliicli  Solomon  liad  built  the  Solo- 
two  buildings :  the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  the  king's  palace,  "Iliram  tlie  king  of  Tyre  "ion's 
having  furnished  Solomon  with  cedar  and  cypress  wood  and  with  gold  as  much  as  he  ^^^^\ 

■ —         for  the 

5  .54  This  narrative  appears  to  have  been  the  conclusion  of  the  original  account  of  Solomon's    •  "i  j- 
building  enterprises.     In  the  Gk.  text  it  stands  at  the  end  of  7,  hut  the  fact  that  '-''  has  beoii  left  „ij^|,g,i  " 
behind  indicates  that  it  was  the  work  of  a  later  editor.     The  ilescription  is  so  brief  that  it  is  at  ^^,  ^i^^ 
points  scarcely  intelligible  and  the  statistical  element  is  i)rominent.      It  has  all  the  characteristics     • 
of  a  |>assage  taken  directly  from  the  original  annals  of  Solomon.     With  this  the  do)  ached  passage, 
9-'^»,  logically  beltjngs.      Cf.  7*.      For  the  jdan  of  Solomon's  palace,  cf.  accomi)anying  diagram. 

>■  7-  Doubtless  so  named  because  the  four  rows  of  supporting  cedar  of  bebanon  pill.ars  gave 
the  effect  of  a  forest  or  else  because  the  wood  came  from  bebanon. 

•i  7^  So  Gk.  and  buc.     Heb.,  four. 

'  7^  Gk.  and  buc,  shoulder-pieces. 

•7''  So  Gk.     Ileb.  ornits,  find  the  numher  of  the  pillarit. 

'  7^^  So  Cik.  and  buc.     The  Ileb.  is  but  a  dittography  of  ''•'. 

"7"  The  meaning  of  this  word  is  doubtful.  Projecting  roof  and  cornice  have  been  sug- 
gested, but  all  are  only  conjectural. 

"  V  Incorporating  two  words  which  have  been  preserved  in  the  Gk.  and  Luc. 

J  .5.5  J'olltiwing  tlie  account  of  Solomon's  liuilding  enteriirises  are  a  series  of  miscpjlanooua 
notices  intended  further  to  iihistratf  his  resources,  wealth,  and  wisdom.  The  order  is  far  from 
logical.     The  Gk.  and  Chr.  each  differ  from  the  Ileb.     The  Gk.  on  the  whole  has  the  best  order 

193 


ram 


IKgs.  910]        SPLENDORS  OF  SOLOMON'S  REIGN 

Annals  of  Solomon 

■wished,  King  Solomon  gave  Hiram  twenty  cities  in  the   land  of  Galilee.'' 
l^But  when  Hiram  came  from  Tyre  to  see  the  cities  which  Solomon  had 
given  him,  he  was  displeased  with  them.     I3\jj(j  jjg  sg^j^j^  What  sort  of  cities 
are  these  which  you  have  given  me,  my  brother  ?     So  they  are  called  the 
land  of  Cabul  [Good  for  nothmg]'^  even  to  the  present  day.     ^^But  Hiram 
sent  to  the  king  one  hundred  and  twenty  talents  of  gold. 
His  ad-       i^And  this  is  the  way  it  was  with  the  levy  which  King  Solomon  raised  to 
buUd°^  build  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  his  own  palace,  Millo,  the  wall  of  Jerusalem, 
ing         Hazor,  Meggido,  Gezer,   ^'^^lower  Bethhoron,^   ^^Baalath,   and  Tamar  in 
prises     the  wildemess  in  the  land  of  Judah,  ^^and  all  the  store-cities  that  Solomon 
forced     ^^'i^  and  the  cities  for  his  chariots,  and  the  cities  for  his  horsemen,  and  that 
levies     which  Solomon  was  pleased  to  build  for  his  pleasure  in  Jerusalem,  in  Leb- 
anon, and  in  all  the  land  over  which  he  ruled.     =".411  the  people  who  were  left 
of  the  Amorites,  the  Hittites,  the  Perizzites,  the  Hivites,  and  the  Jebusites,  who  were  not 
of  the  Israelites,  ^'their  children  who  were   left  after  them  in  the  land,   whom   the 
Israelites  were  not  able  utterly  to  destroy,  of  them  did  Solomon  raise  a  forced  levy 
of  bondmen,  even  to  this  day.      ^^But  of  the  Israelites  Solomon  made  no  bondmen, 
for  they  were  the  warriors  and  his  servants,  his  generals,  his  captains,"  liis  officers  over 
his  chariots,  and  his  horsemen. 

Offi-  23^}^ggg  were  the  chief  officers  who  were  over  Solomon's  work,  five  hun- 

o'^^gy       dred  and  fifty,  who  directed  the  people  who  did  the  work, 
the  26\jj(j  King  Solomon  made  a  fleet  of  ships  in  Ezion-geber,  which  is  near 

Elath  on  the  shore  of  the  Red  Sea  in  the  land  of  Edom.     27^^^(j  Hiram  sent 
His        with  the  fleet  his  subjects — seamen,  who  had  knowledge  of  the  sea,  together 
fleet       with  the  servants  of  Solomon,     ^s^j^^j  tijgy  ^ent  to  Ophir,  and  took  from 
there  gold,  four  hundred  and  twenty  talents,  and  brought  it  to  King  Solomon. 
Prod-  10  11  And  Hiram's  fleet  of  ships,  that  bore  gold  from  Ophir,  also  brought 

brought  a  great  amount  of  red  sandal  wood^  and  precious  stones.  i-And  the  king 
by  Hi-  made  of  the  sandal  wood  from  Ophir  pilasters''  for  the  temple  of  Jehovah, 
fleet       and  for  the  royal  palace,  and  lyres  and  harps  for  the  singers.     There  came 

no  other  such  sandal  wood  nor  has  the  like  been  seen  to  the  present  day. 
Solo^  i^Now  the  weight  of  gold  that  came  to  Solomon  in  one  year  was  six  hun- 

income  dred  and  sixty-six  talents  of  gold,  i^besides  what  came  from  the  traffic  of 
in  gold  the  merchants'^  and  from  all  the  kings  of  the  Arabians®  and  from  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  country. 

and  this  has  been  followed,  except  in  one  or  two  cases  where  a  more  logical  arrangement  is  pos- 
sible. Like  the  notices  in  4,  5,  most  of  these  appear  to  have  been  taken  from  the  annals  of  Solo- 
mon. They  have,  however,  been  supplemented  by  later  notes  embodying  current  traditions 
and  intended  still  further  to  glorify  Solomon's  reign.  With  the  exception  of  lO-'^'  -'',  which  ar 
clearly  late  generalizations,  these  supplementary  notices  seem  to  embody  earlier  data.  draw. 
from  the  annals,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  with  assurance  between  the  original  and  thti 
later  expansions;  but  a  later  hand  is  clearly  discernible  in  the  introductory  words,  9'"-  "'^  and 
in  20-22  (where  the  theory  is  expressed  that  only  the  older  inhabitants  were  enlisted  in  the  forced 
levy),  and  perhaps  in  10"-  ^^-  -K 

w  gio,  n  xhe  Chronicler  could  not  be  reconciled  to  the  idea  of  Solomon's  having  ceded 
Israelitish  territory,  so  he  has,  8^,  But  the  cities  which  Huram  had  ceded  to  Solomon,  Solomon 
fortified  and  settled  Israelites  there. 

'  9'^  A  popular  etymology  based  simply  on  the  sound  of  the  word. 

y  QW-is  cf_  map  opp    p  49  ^nj  Ezek.  47i«,  48^^. 

»  9-  The  exact  meaning  of  this  word  is  not  known.     Lat.  as  abovs. 

■'  10"  Heb.,  almug  wood.     The  exact  meaning  of  the  word  has  not  been  determined. 

e  lO^^  The  meaning  is  doubtful.     The  above  is  suggested  by  the  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Lat. 

"  10^*  Emending  what  is  otherwise  untranslatable. 

•  lO"  So  II  Chr.  919  and  many  Gk.  texts. 


>n  income 


SOLOMOX'b  WEALTH  [I  Kgs.  IQi^ 

Annals  of  Solomon 

^''And  King  Solomon  made  two  hundred  bvieklers  of  beaten  gold — six  His 
hundred  shekels^  of  gold  went  on  one  buckler — ^"and  three  hundred  shielcLs  {^"g^' 
of  beaten  gold — three  minahs^  of  gold  went  on  one  shield — and  the  king  f^i'ie'lds, 
put  them  in  the  House  of  the  Forest  of  Lebanon.     ^^The  king  also  made  a  throne 
great  throne  of  ivory,  and  overlaid  it  with  the  finest  gold.    ^^The  throne  had  "^  ^"^"^ 
six  steps  and  behind  the  throne  were  heads  of  calves,  and  on  both  sides  of 
the  seat  were  arms,  and  beside  the  arms  stood  two  lions,  ^Oon  the  six  steps 
stood  twelve  lions  on  each  side.     The  like  was  not  made  in  any  kingdom. 

2iAnd  all  King  Solomon's  drinking  vessels  were  of  gold :  none  were  of  His 
silver;  it  was  accounted  of  no  value  in  the  days  of  Solomon.  22poj.  (],p  ]^j„„.  P>'^'^^ 
had  at  sea  a  fleet  of  Tarshish  ships  with  the  fleet  of  Hiram.  Once  every 
three  years  the  fleet  of  Tarshish  ships  came  bringing  gold,  silver,  ivory, 
apes,  and  peacocks.  -^So  King  Solomon  exceeded  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  in 
riches  and  in  wisdom.  -■•And  all  the  earth  sought  the  presence  of  Solomon,  to  hear  his 
wisdom,  with  which  God  had  endowed  his  mind.  ^^And  they  brought  each  a  pres- 
ent: vessels  of  silver  and  gold,  clothing,  weapons,  spices,  horses,  and  mules, 
year  by  vear. 

2^And  Solomon  gathered  together  chariots  and  horsemen;  and  he  had  His 
one  thousand  four  hundred  chariots  and  twelve  thousand   horsemen   that  anfl"°  ^ 
he  stationed  in  the  chariot  cities  and  with  the  Idng  at  Jerusalem,     ^v^^^j  |in>  trade 
king  made  silver  in  Jerusalem  as  common  as  stones,  and  cedars  he  made  as  plentiful  horses 
as  the  sycamore  trees  that  are  in  the  lowland.      -^^Solomon's    import    of    horses 
was  from  Mu^ri^  and  Kue;  the  king's  traders  received  them  from  Kue  at 
a  price,  -^^so  that  a  chariot  could  be  imported  from  Mu9ri  for  six  hundred 
shekels  of  silver  and  a  horse  for  a  hundred  and  fifty.     Even  so  through  their 
agency  these  were  exported  to  all  the  kings  of  the  Hittites  and  the  Arameans. 

§  56.  Visit  of  the  Queen  of  Sheba,  I  Kgs.  10'  '«■  '^  II  Chr.  G'-^'  >^ 
Pojndar  Solomon  Traditions 

I  Kgs.  10  ^Now  when  the  queen  of  Sheba  heard  of  the  fame  of  Solomon  impres- 
through  the  name  of  Jehovah, >  she  came  to  test  him  with  riddles.     -So  she  n,?i"e 
came  to  Jerusalem  with  a  very  great  retinue,  with  camels  that  bore  spices  hySolo- 
and  very  much  gold  and  precious  stones.     And  as  soon  as  she  came  to  Solo-  wo.ilth 
mon,  she  told  him  all  that  was  on  her  mind.     '^And  Solomon  answered  all  ^^l-^. 
her  questions;  there  was  nothing  hid  from    the  king  which   he  could  tioI  ''"ii" 
answer  her.     '^And  when  the  queen  of  Sheba  had  seen  all  the  wisdom  of  the 
Solomon,  the  house  that  he  had  built,  ^the  food  of  his  table,  the  seating'  ^f"'**" 
of  his  courtiers,   the   attendance   of  his  waiters,   their  clothing,   his  cup-  Sheba 

'  10">  Probably  between  twenty  and  twenty-five  pounds. 

K  IC  About  three  and  one-half  pounds. 

^  10^'  The  horse  does  not  seem  to  have  been  known  in  Egypt  until  about  1600  B.C.  and 
after  that  time  was  probably  imported  rather  than  exported,  so  that  the  current  translation, 
Egypt,  has  little  probability.  Mu^ri,  however,  in  Northern  Syria  had  fine  pasture  lands,  and 
Ezek.  27'<  refers  to  the  importation  of  horses  into  Israel  from  that  region.  Dt.  17'",  however, 
indicates  that  Egypt  was  also  later  regarded  as  a  source  of  supply  for  horses.  Kue  is  identified 
with  the  plain  ofCilicia,  cf.  .\ppendix  V,  note  ''. 

'  10'  Many  emend  bo  as  to  read,  and  the  report  of  the  house  which  he  had  built  to  the  name 
of  Jehovah. 

>  10*  I.e.,  at  his  royal  table.  The  context  does  not  favor  the  other  possible  meaning, 
dwellingB. 

195 


I  Kgs.  105]       SPLENDORS  OF  SOLOMON'S  REIGN 

Popular  Solomon  Traditions 

bearers,  and  his  burnt-offering  which  he  used  to  offer  at  the  temple  of 
Jehovah,  there  was  no  more  spirit  in  her.''  ^And  she  said  to  the  king.  True 
was  the  report  that  I  heard  in  my  own  land  of  your  acts  and  of  your  wisdom. 
"But  I  would  not  believe  the  words  until  I  came  and  saw  with  my  own  eyes; 
the  half  was  not  told  me;  you  exceed  in  wisdom  and  prosperity  the  report 
which  I  heard.  ^Happy  are  your  wives  !^  Happy  are  these  your  courtiers 
who  stand  continually  before  you  and  hear  your  wisdom !  ^Blessed  be 
Jehovah  your  God  who  delighted  in  you  and  has  set  you  on  the  throne  of 
Israel !  Because  Jehovah  loved  Israel  forever,  he  has  made  you  king  that 
you  may  do  justice  and  righteousness.  ^'^Then  she  gave  the  king  a  hundred 
and  twenty  talents  of  gold  and  a  very  great  store  of  spices  and  precious 
stones;  never  again  came  so  many  spices  as  these  which  the  queen  of  Sheba 
gave  to  King  Solomon. 
His  ^3\nd  King  Solomon  gave  to  the  queen  all  that  she  wished  and  asked, 

fo  her  ^-side  from  that  which  she  had  brought  to  Solomon,  accortling  to  his  royal 
bounty.  So  she  returned  and  went  to  her  own  land,  together  with  her 
servants. 

§  57.  Solomon's  Idolatry,  I  Kgs.  IV-'^ 

Annals  of  Solomon 

Solo-  I  Kgs.  11  ^^Now  King  Solomon  was  a  lover  of  women;  and  he  took  many 

Foreign   foreign    wives — Moabites,   Canaanites,    Edomites,    Sidonians,   Hittites,    and 

mar-       Ammonites — ^From  the  nations  concerning  which  Jehovah  had  said  to  tlie  Israehtes, 

ye  shall  not  go  among  them,  neither  shall  they  come  among  you;  for  otherwise  they 

will  turn  away  your  heart  after  their  gods;   Solomon  clung  to  these  in  love. 

His  ^And  he  had  seven  hundred  wives,  princesses,  and  three  hundred  con- 

fasy'  cubines;  and  his  wives  turned  away  his  heart.™  *Now  when  Solomon  was  old 
in  wor-  J^fg  heart  was  not  perfect  with  Jehovah  his  God,  as  was  the  heart  of  David 
ring  his  father;  and  his  wives  turned  away  his  heart  after  their  gods.  'But  Solomon 
gods  of  built  a  high  place  for  Chemosh  the  god  of  Moab,  in  the  mount  that  is  be- 

'^'s         fore  Jerusalem,  and  for  Milcom  the  god  of  the  Ammonites,'^  ^and  also  for 

wives  .  .  c  ... 

Ashtarte  the  goddess  of  the  Sidonians.  °    ^And  so  he  did  for  all  his  foreign 
wives,  burning  incense  and  sacrificing  to  their  gods.P 

''  10'  I.e.,  she  was  completely  overwhelmed. 

'  108  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Syi-.,  and  II  Chr.  9".     Heb.,  7nen. 

§  57  At  least  two  distinct  stages  are  represented  in  the  literary  history  of  this  passage. 
The  original  is  represented  by  the  brief  extracts  from  the  annals  to  the  effect  that  Solomon  made 
many  alliances,  sealed  by  marriages  with  foreign  princesses,  and  that,  as  the  international  law  of 
his  day  demanded,  he  reared  shrines  in  Jerusalem  in  honor  of  the  gods  of  the  allied  peoples. 
These  acts  the  original  annalist  doubtless  regarded  as  only  further  evidence  of  Solomon's  glory. 

The  late  prophetic  editor,  whose  peculiar  ideas  and  expression  are  found  in  a  majority  of 
the  verses,  enjoyed  much  greater  religious  enlightenment  and  therefore  found  in  these  foreign 
marriages  and  the  toleration  of  heathen  worships  the  direct  cause  of  the  rebellions  which  dark- 
ened the  closing  years  of  Solomon's  reign.  ' 

The  section  has  been  much  recast  and  supplemented.  The  Gk.,  which  has  a  briefer,  more 
logical,  and  doubtless  more  original  reading,  has  been  followed  in  most  cases. 

™  11^  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  awkwardly  transposes  the  order  of  the  clauses. 

°  IP  With  the  aid  of  the  Heb.  inland  the  Gk.,  it  is  possible  to  reconstruct  the  original. 
For  god,  the  latter  scribes  have  in  the  Heb.  substituted,  abomination.  Cf.  ^  where  the  Heb.  has 
retained,  (7od,  while  the  Gk.  has  in  one  case,  abomination. 

°  11=  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  Heb.  reads.  And  Solomon  went  after  Ashtoreth  the  goddess  of 
the  Sidonians  and  Milcom  the  abomination  of  the  Ammonites. 

pll^*  So  Luc.  The  present  Heb.  text  delivers  Solomon  from  the  curse  of  idolatry  by 
making  his  wives  perform  the  heathen  sacrifices. 

196 


SOLOMON'S  IDOLATRY  [I  Kgs.  lie 

Annals  of  Solcnnon 

Mnd  Solomon  did  that  wliich  displeased  Jehovah  and  did  not  faithfully  follow 
Jehovah,  as  did  David  his  father.  ^Aj^^j  Jehovah  was  angry  with  Solomon,  because  his 
heart  was  turned  away  from  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,'  who  had  appeared  to  him 
twice,  '"and  had  commanded  him  concerning  this  thing,  that  he  should  not  go  after 
other  gods;   but  he  did  not  take  care  to  do"  that  wliich  Jehovah  had  commanded. 

"Therefore  Jehovah  said  to  Solomon,  Inasmuch  as  this  is  thy  character  and  thou  Jeho- 
hast  not  kept  my  statutes,  which  I  have  commanded  thee,  I  will  sureh^  rend''  the  king-  vah's 
dom  from  thee,  and  will  give  it  to  thj^  servant.'     ^^Notwithstanding   in  thy  days  I  '^J^'^- 
will  not  do  it,  for  David  thy  father's  sake;  but  I  will  rend  it  out  of  the  hand  of  thyson.  ^^^^^ 
'^However  I  will  not  rend  away  all  the  kingdom;   but  I  will  give  one  tribe  to  thy  son, 
for  the  sake  of  David  mv  servant  and  for  the  sake  of  Jerusalem  which  I  have  chosea. 


nation 


§58.  Solomon's  Adversaries  and  Death,  I  Kgs.  \V**\  II  Chr.  9=9-3i 
Annals  of  Solomon 

I  Kgs.   1 1  i^Then  Jehovah  raised  up  against  Solomon  an  adversary,  Hadad, 
the  Edomite  Hadad,  of  the  race  of  Edomite  kings;  ^^^'  ''for  when  David  Ec?om- 
smote  the  Edomites,  he  smote  every  male  in  Edoni.     ^"'^Biit  Hadad  being  a  i*® 
child,  one  of  his  father's  servants  brought  liim  to  Egypt.     ^^'^\nd  he  found 
great  favor  in  the  eyes  of  Pharaoh,  so  that  he  gave  him  to  his  chief  wife, 
20band  she  brought  him  up  in  Pharaoh's  palace  among  the  sons  of  Pharaoh. 
2lBut  when  Hadad  heard   in  Egypt  that  David  slept  with  his  fathers,  he 
said  to  Pharaoh,  Let  me  depart  that  I  may  go  to  my  own  cotintrv.     22'^ij(>^ 
Pharaoh  said  to  him,  What  do  you  lack  with  nie  that  you  are  now  seeking 
to  go  to  your  own  country  ?     And  he  said  to  him.  Nevertheless  you  must  let 
me  go.     .     .     .     ^obfjjjs  jg  t}jg  gyji  ti^ai  Hadad  did;  and  he  abhorred  Israel 
and  ruled  in  Edom. 

'■'''^Also  when  Joab  the  commander  of  the  army  went  up  to  bury  the  slain —  Adad, 
•^^for  Joab    and    all   Israel   remained  there  six  months — ^'^Adad   fled  and  ^n'^iian- 
certain  Edomites  with  him.     ^^And  they  set  out  from  Midian  and  came  to  ^^^ 
Paran  and  took  men  with  them  out  of  Paran  and  came  to  Egypt  to  Pharaoh 
king  of  Egypt,  who  gave  him  a  house  and  land.     ^'-"^Ile  also  gave  him  as 

1  llio  So  Gk.  and  Luc.    Heb.,  kept. 

Ml".  «  Gk.  and  Luc,  take.     So  also  in  Heb.  »*•  ^,  but  cf.  ^i. 

■  11"   Lat.,   u-ith  thee.  .   . 

§  58  Four  distinct  rebellions  against  the  authority  of  Solomon  appear  to  have  been  origi- 
nally  recorded.  The  hi.story  and  state  of  the  accounts  favor  the  conclusion  that  the  first  three 
were  found  in  the  annals  of  Solomon,  where  tiiey  would  naturally  belong.  Probably  because 
of  the  similarity  of  the  names  of  the  chief  actors  and  because  they  both  found  refuge  in  '"e-VPt. 
two  of  these  accounts  have  been  closely  combined,  as  is  frequently  the  case  with  the  parallel 
stories  in  Gen.,  Ex.,  Num.,  and  Judg.  The  resulting  confusion  is  apparent  in  \\^\----  Two 
names,  Hadad  and  Adad,  recur.  As  the  narrative  reads  in  Kgs.,  Hadad,  a  little  child,  heuig 
carried  as  a  refugee  to  ICgvpt,  is  at  once  Ki\en  an  I'.gvptian  princess  as  wife  and  his  son  Cicnu- 
bath  is  reared  in  the  palace  as  a  son  of  I'haraoli.  The  original  character  of  the  two  stones  i.s 
revealed  bv  the  analysis,  and  with  this  the  inconsistencies  (lisaj)pear.  One  tells  of  an  Kdomite 
prince,  Hadad.  who  as  a  child  wa,s  brought  to  Kgypt  and  .adopted  by  Pharaohs  queen;  the 
other  of  Adarl.  a  .Midianite  chief,  who,  as  a  refugee  in  Egypt,  was  given  as  wife  an  Egyptian 
princess,  who  in  turn  bore  to  him  a  son  named  (ienuhath.  ,    ii     •    .      i        i 

The  brief  account  of  Hezon  in  23-2-^  is  not  found  in  the  Ok.  and  was  probably  introduced 
at  a  very  late  date  into  the  Heb.  text.  It  clearly  comes,  however,  from  an  early  source,  wlucn 
may  originally  have  been  the  annals  of  Solomon.  .  i     i   t 

Einally  in  ^I'f-  appears  the  first  extract  from  what  was  prf)bably  once  an  independent  Jero- 
boam history.  In  ■=>'-•*'■'  the  oracle  of  Ahij.ih  is  cxpan.lcd  by  a  late  proi>helic  eilitor.  .\  some- 
what briefer  version  is  preserved  in  the  (ik..  while  in  12-'-'  (S«elc)  the  apparently  later  and 
wi.lely  variant  version  is  ff)und.  In  this  there  is  no  mention  of  Alujali,  suggeslmg  that  pos- 
sibly this  was  not  found  in  the  original  story.  In  "«  appears  the  late  prophetic  editor  a  regular 
formulas. 


Rezon 
the 
Ara- 
mean 


I  Kgs.  1119b]    SPLENDORS  OF  SOLOMON'S  REIGN 

Annals  of  Solomon 

wife  the  sister  of  Tahpenes.*  20a,  c^j^jj  ^\^q  sister  of  Tahpenes  bore  to 
him  Genubath  his  son,  and  Genubath  lived  in  Pharaoh's  house.  Bid  xvhen 
he  heard  that  David  slejd  tvith  his  fathers,  he  returned  to  his  land  and  like- 
uise  became  an  adversarij  to  Solomon. 

2^God  also  raised  up  as  an  adversary  to  him,  Rezon  the  son  of  Eliada, 
who  had  fled  from  his  master,  Hadadezer  king  of  Zobah.  -^And  he  gathered 
men  about  him  and  became  commander  of  a  marauding  band,"  and  they 
went  to  Damascus,  and  dwelt  there  and  reigned  in  Damascus,  ^oa^j^j  jjg 
was  an  adversary  to  Israel  as  long  as  Solomon  lived. 


Jero- 
boam's 
early 
history 


Ahi- 
jah's 
predic- 
tion 
that 
he 

should 
rule 
over 
ten 
tribes 


Jeroboam  History 

2^And  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  an  Ephraimite  of  Zeredah,  an  official 
of  Solomon,  whose  mother's  name  was  Zeruah,  a  widow,  also  lifted  up  his 
hand  against  the  king.  2*^ And  this  was  the  reason  why  he  lifted  up  his 
hand  against  the  king:  Solomon  built  Millo  and  closed  up  the  exposed  place 
in  the  city  of  David  his  father,  ^s^j^^j  Jeroboam  was  a  man  of  great  ability.'^ 
And  when  Solomon  saw  that  the  young  man  was  industrious,  he  placed  .him 
over  all  the  forced  levy  of  the  house  of  Joseph. 

29Now  it  came  to  pass  at  that  time  when  Jeroboam  went  away  fronj 

Jepjsalem,  that  the  prophet  Ahijah  of  Shilo  found  him  in  the  way  and 

turned  him   aside    from  the   way.     Now  Ahijah  had  clad  himself  with  a 

new  garment;^  and  they  two  were  alone  in  the  field.     ^^Then  Ahijah  took 

hold  of  the  new  garment  that  was  on  him,  and  rent  it  in  twelve  pieces. 

^^And  he  said  to  Jeroboam,  Take  for  yourself  ten  pieces;  for  thus  saith 

Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  '  Behold,  I  will  rend  the  kingdom  out  of  the  hand 

of  Solomon  and  will  give  ten  tribes  to  thee,  ^-but  he  shall  have  one  tribe, 
for  the  sake  of  my  servant  David  and  for  the  sake  of  Jerusalem,  the  city  which  I  have 
chosen  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  ^^because  he''  has  forsaken  me  and  worshipped 
Ashtarte,  the  goddess  of  the  Sidonians,  Chemosh,  the  god  of  Moab,  and  Milcom,  the 
god  of  the  Ammonites,  and  has  not  walked  in  my  ways  to  do  that  which  is  pleasing  to 
me,  and  to  act  in  accordance  with  my  statutes  and  mine  ordinances,  as  David  his  father. 
'■'However  I  will  not  take  the  whole  kingdom  out  of  his  hand;  but  I  will  surely  uphold 
him  all  the  days  of  his  life,''  for  David  my  servant's  sake  whom  I  chose,  who  kept  my 
commandments  and  my  statutes.  ^53^^  j  ^^w  take  the  kingdom  out  of  his  son's 
hands  and  will  give  it  to  thee,  even  ten  tribes.  ^^And  to  his  son  will  I  give  one  tribe, 
that  David  my  servant  maj^  have  a  lamp  ever  before  me  in  Jerusalem,  the  city  where  I 
have  chosen  to  put  my  name.  'Tj^i^^i  j  -^wi  take  thee  and  thou  shalt  reign  over  all 
that  thou  desirest,  and  shalt  be  king  over  Israel.  '^And  if  thou  wilt  hearken  to  all 
that  I  command  thee,  and  wilt  walk  in  my  ways  and  do  that  which  is  pleasing  to  me, 
in  keeping  my  statutes  and  my  commandments,  as  David  my  servant  did,  then  I 


t  1119b  The  Gk.  and  Luc.  in  12-4'',  jn  a  closely  parallel  passage  associated  with  Jeroboam, 
state  that  the  king  gave  him  Anoth  the  oldest  sister  of  Tahpenes  as  wife.  It  is  probable  that  the 
two  traditions  have  there  been  confused  and  that  Anoth  was  the  name  of  the  princess  given  not 
to  the  Hebrew  refugee  but  to  the  Midianite  prince. 

"  IV*  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  A  scribe,  reminded  by  the  reference  to  Zobah  in  23,  of  David's 
victory  over  the  king  of  Zobah  (II  Sam.  8)  added,  when  David  sleir  them. 

"  1128  Cf.  I  Chr.  913,  268,  but  also  Ruth  2'  and  I  Sam.  9',  where  the  possession  of  wealth 
and  reputation  rather  than  personal  skill  seems  to  be  intended. 

"  1129  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     This  clause  is  omitted  in  the  Heb.  through  a  scribal  error. 

^  11^3  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Lat.,  and  Syr.  Heb.  has  by  mistake  introduced  a  plural  in  the  first 
part  of  the  verse. 

*  11**  Following  the  original  which  appears  to  have  been  before  the  Gk.  translators.  Heb., 
make  or  appoint  him  prince,  but  Solomon  had  already  long  reigned  as  king. 

198 


SOLOMON'S  ADVERSARIES  AND  DEATH    [I  Kgs.  1138 

Jeroboam  Hist  or y 

Till  be  with  thee  and  will  build  thee  an  enduring  house,  as  I  built  for  David,  and  mil 
give  Israel  to  thee.  ^^And  I  will  for  this  afflict  the  descendants  of  David,  but  not  for- 
ever.' 

^oSolomon  sought  therefore  to  kill  Jeroboam.     Then  Jeroboam  arose  and  His 
fled  to  Egj^t,  to  Shishak  [Sheshonk  I]  king  of  Egj'pt,  and  was  in  Egypt  ^^^  * 
until  the  death  of  Solomon.  i^gypt 

■•iXow  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Solomon,  and  all  tliat  he  did,  and  his  wisdom,  are  they  Solo- 
not  already  recorded  in  the  Historj-  of  the  Acts  of  Solomon?''     ^-And  tlic  time  during  mon'e 
which  Solomon  reigned  in  Jerusalem  over  all  Israel  was  forty  years.     ■'^Then  Solomon  death 
slept  with  his  fathers  and  was  buried  in  the  city  of  David  his  father.     And  Rehoboam 
his  son  became  king  in  his  place.  ■= 

•>  11"  II  Chr.  9^9  gives  as  additional  sources,  the  history  of  Nathan  the  prophet,  the  prophecy 
of  Ahijah  the  Shilonite  and  the  visions  of  Iddo  the  seer  concerning  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat, 
CI.  Introd.,  p.  25. 

e  1142,  43  Paralleled  by  II  Chr.  Q'o.  ^K 


199 


B.C. 

940 

920 
900 
880 
860 

840 
820 
800 
780 
760 
740 
720 

700 
680 

660 
640 
620 

600 

580 
^60 


Ea.YPT 


JUDAH 


Sioshenk  I 
(Shlshak)  ~~wvASioi? 

Osorkon  I 

TiKelot  I 


DIVISION        OF        THE        HEBREW        EMPIF 


OF        '  '      S 

Rehoboam 

Abijah     .  I'S?? 
(Abijaiu)        "" 


OsorKon.II 

Shoslienk:  II 

/rikeloUI 


A  a 


WAR 

B  ■ 
E 
T 
W 
E 
E 
N 
ISRAEL 


B76 


Jebosnapliat 


AND  JUOAH 

ALLIANCE 
A 
G 
A 
I 
N 


ghoshenklll 


Peiiial 


851. 
Jehoram 

.V.      I    V,  843 

Abazlah  ^42 

Atbaliab 
■    836 


s 

T 
DAMASCUS 


H 


E> 


Jo  tsb 


Shoshenk  IV 

1 '^  "T80  ^ 

I 
•  PetuDastis 


Ama  !iah 


810    JOASH    PAYS 
.TRIBUTE    TO    HAZAEL 


•796 


782 


Osorl  on  HI 


Psammus 


Zfet 


7:;i 


Azaffiab 

(Uzziah) 

751 
Jothani 

(Co-Eegeiit) 

i  "*'7737  * 

735 

Ataz 


Bocchoris 


715 


Shabako 
703 


ASSYRIA 
M      M 


M 
HI.       Ze 


—      CA 


715 
Hezekiah 


S 

T 

-E- 

R 


CAF 


GREAT    \ 
—  ■% <- 


Sliabatako 

691  < <- 

Taliarko  

(Xlrhakah) 

,  .     665      • Necho  I«-  <- 

Taiiut  Amnion  664 

662         ■«— ^- —  < <- 

ASSYRIAN  RULE 


CAMPAIGN    , 


,  -  686 


Psan  etlkl 


608 


TXfiaHion. 


MauasseU 


641^ 


L- 

E 

S« 

-I- 
N 

E 


..610 


639 


Ji>  lah 


N 

A 


±.  608. 


Necho  II 
594 
Psametlk  II 

588 
Apries 
(Hophra) 

569 

Aniasis 


JeUoiakim 
037 


FIRST 


Jehuiakin 

Zedekiab 

..^FINAU  •■* CAPTIVITY 

_    BABYLONIAN 
E 
X. 
I 


H    o 

B~ 

A 
O 
I 

A 
M 


UEBREW  AND  CONTEMPORARY  CHRON^OIOGY  FROM  THE  DIl 


ISRAEL 


Jeroboam  I 

fadab        915 
913 

aatba 


DAMASCUS 

'  Eezon  I  • 

HejioQ 

I 

Tabrilnmou 


ASSYRIA 


Baatl 


889 
ah  887 

uri 
- —  Omrl 

^    875 

Abab 


^ab 


WARS 

B 

E 
T 
W 
E 
E 
N 


.930 
.    AshtirdaD  II 

.    9tl 
Adad-nlrarl  n 


Beu-badad  I 


•    891 
Xiglath-Adar  H 

885 


aziah        |?2 

Jehoram 

r 842 


Jebu 

814 

boaliaz 
797 

i'loasb 
78L 


)bDam  II 


R 
A 

E 
L 

A 
N 
D 


HaJadezer        battle   of 
XBeinia<ladIir*'<A*"<AR   83-» 

^  « * < 4 


< ■* 876 

Ashurna^irpal  n 

860- 


Ha  ael 


-    * A^ — 

M 
A 

■— «. 

C 
U 

s 

1—- 

Ben-baUad  III 

(Mari) 

K 


Shalnianeser.  II 
825 

Sbainsbi-Adad 

--i  -  812 

-  < —  «—  803 
— « —  «—  797 
Adad-nirari  HI 

-;--  783 
Shalmaneser  III 
i —  «-         773 

Asburtaa  III 


Re!  »u.II 


740 
em*—       138 
ah  136 

ah  134 

Hosliea 


■■*—«- 


1^    OF  SAMARIA  722-1 

TY    OF     ISRAEL    72  1 


*-FINAL   <-CONQUEST  732, 

-     * * « <; < 


Ashurn 


-■738 
.734 


755 
rari 
745 


Tiglath-Pilesei-  III 

727 
ier 
722 


i2J 

"Shalmaneser  IV 


_   ^ ^ ^ CAMPAIGN    AGAINST    ASHDOD    71  1    Sargon 

fERN    CAMPAIGN     OF     701  4-705 

-  ■« * <— — -  < < <  <  <         < «- 


-P 


NST   THE    ARABIANS  AND  EGYPTIANS   ABOUT   690         Sennacherib 
■" « •» * « < < <; ■« < « < . 


(URE    OF    THEBES     660 


_,.-  681 

EsarbacVdcm. 

—    « ^67i 

i <-  662 


Asbui  i)auipal 


^TION     OF     JOSIAH     621 


BABYLONIA 
626 


BATTLE  OF 

►     CARCHEMISH   605-4       < < ■, -■, •< < «- 

QUEST  OF  JUDAH  BY  NEBUCHADREZZAR  ABOUT  600 


626 
Ashiaetlllli 

Stiishilshkeuijjabololassac. 


T 

}ObOl 


DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM  586 


<-        cnr, 
[597 

588 


« * ; 


NEBUCHADREZZAR 


I 


I 


6S2 


lt»'  OF  THE  HEUKEW  EMPIKE  TO  THE  BAIiVLO.MAX  EXlLfi 


HISTORY   OF   NORTHERN   ISRAEL 

I  Kgs.    IS^-II  Kgs.    1811  {exclusive  of  data 
relating  to  Juclah),  II  Chr.   10 


HISTORY    OF    NORTHERN    ISRAEL    FROM 

THE   DIVISION  OF  THE   EMPIRE   TO 

THE   FALL   OF   SAMARIA 


FROM  JEROBOAM  TO  OMRI,  I  Kgs.  12i-U20, 152M020,  II  Chr.  10 

§  59.  Rejection  of  Rehoboam  by  the  Northern  Tribes  and  the  Election  of 

Jeroboam,  I  Kgs.  12'",  II  Chr.  10 

Jeroboam  History 

I  Kgs.  12  2Xo\v  as  soon  as  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Xebat  heard  [that  Sol-  Jero-^ 
omon  was  deadj^for  he  was  still  in  Egypt,  whither  he  had  fled  from  the  retu'rn 
presence  of  King  Solomon,  and  he  dwelt  in  Egypt — he  returned  at  once  to  fc™  ^ 
his  native  town,  Zeredah  in  Mount  Eplu-aim.^ 

^And  Rehoboam  w^ent  to  Shechem,  for  all  Israel  had  come  to  Shechem  Popu- 
to  make  him  king.  'And  they  sent  and  called  Jeroboam,  and  he,  with  all  the  niaiKl 
assembly  of  Israel,  came.  And  they  said  to  Rehoboam,  '^Your  father  made  ^^^^^ 
our  yoke  intolerable.  Now  therefore  make  the  intolerable  ser\'ice  of  your  boam 
father  and  the  heavy  yoke  he  laid  upon  us  lighter,  and  we  will  serve  you.  hfs  "^ 
^And  he  said  to  them,  Go  away  for  three  days,  then  come  again  to  me.  So  po^'^y 
the  people  went  away. 

^And  Kins;  Rehoboam  took  counsel  with  the  old  men  who  had  stood  Coun- 
before  Solomon  his  father  during  his  lifetime,  saying,  ^Vhat  answer  do  you  |o1ch- 
advise  me  to  give  this  people  ?    'And  they  replied  to  him  saying.  If  now  you  "Jj"°g^ 
will  be  a  sen'ant  to  this  people,  and  will  serve  them,  and  give  them  a  favor-  ers 
able  answer,  then  they  will  be  your  servants  forever.     ^But  he  rejected  the 

From  Jeroboam  to  Omri. — The  importance  of  the  rlivision  of  the  kinKdoro  led  the  editor 
of  Kgs.  to  quote  at  length  from  the  source  that  recorded  this.  Ci)nsidcral)le  space  is  also  given  to 
the  reign  of  Jeroboam,  the  first  king  of  Northern  Israel,  for  to  the  religious  iiolicy  inaugurated 
by  him  the  editor  traced  the  series  of  calamities  that  overtook  the  Northern  Kingdom.  The 
remaining  reigns  of  this  epoch  are  dismi.s.sed  with  a  few  brief  citations  from  the  annals  of  Israel, 
usually  set  in  the  formulas  of  the  editor.  For  the  Chronicler,  whose  interest  was  centred  m 
Judah  and  the  temple,  events  in  the  North  had  no  significance  beyond  the  fatal  act  of  division. 

§  .59  The  record  of  the  division  of  the  Helirew  empire  was  apparently  taken  from  the  his- 
tory of  ,Jeroboam,  which  the  late  prophetic  editor  may  have  found  incorporated  as  a  section 
in  the  royal  chronicles  of  Israel.  The  tik.  aii<l  Luc.  have  preserved  a  more  logical  and  probably 
a  more  original  order  and  reafling  for  the  opening  ver.ses.  The  ICphraimite  point  of  view  la 
prominent  in '-".  V'ss.  -'-^^  were  probably  added  by  a  later  .ludean  editor,  but  otherwise  the  unity 
of  the  section  is  complete  anrl  it  is  unsurpas.sed  as  a  vivid  piece  of  early  historical  writing.  It 
evidently  comes  from  about  the  .same  period  as  the  Saul  and  David  narratives  of  Sam. 

»  122  So  practically  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  Heb.  omits  the  hwt  clause,  substituting^"  for  it. 
But  this  implies  that  .leroboam  was  sumtnonod  from  I'.gypt  and  arrived  at  Shechem,  •",  before 
the  expiration  of  the  three  da.vs,  ■'',  which  was  an  obvious  impossibilit.y.  The  (!k.  order  fol- 
lowed above  removes  this  and  other  diflicultics.  According  to  the  original  narrative  Jero- 
boam was  not  at  Shechem  until  after  Rehoboam  was  rejected,  2". 

203 


I  Kgs.  128]  FROM  JEROBOAM  TO   OMRI 

Jeroboam  History 

Coun-     counsel  which  the  old  men  had  given  him,  and  took  counsel  with  the  young 

^^g°^      men  who  had  grown  up  with  him  and  had  stood  before  him.     ^And  he  said 

young    tQ  them,  What  answer  do  you  advise  us  to  give  to  this  people,  who  have  spoken 

to  me,  saying,  '  Make  the  yoke  that  your  father  put  upon  us  lighter  '  ?     104^^^ 

the  young  men  who  had  grown  up  with  him  replied  to  him,  saying.  Thus 

must  you  answer  this  people  who  have  said  to  you,  '  Your  father  made  our 

yoke  heavy,  but  you  make  it  lighter  for  us';  thus  must  you  say  to  them, 

'  My  little  finger  is  thicker  than  my  father's  loins !     ^^And  now  whereas  my 

father  loaded  you  with  a  heavy  yoke,  I  will  make  your  yoke  heavier;  my 

father  chastised  you  with  whips,  but  I  will  chastise  you  with  scourges.' 

Reho-         ^-So  when  Jeroboam    and   all    the    people  came  to  Rehoboam  the  third 

tvran-^  day,  as  the  king  bade,  saying.  Come  to  me  the  third  day,  ^^the  king  answered 

nical      the  people  harshly,  and  did  not  follow  the  counsel  which  the  old  men  had 

to  the    given  him,  ^'^but  spoke  to  them  according  to  the  counsel  of  the  young  men, 

demand  raying.  My  father  made  your  yoke  heavy,  but  I  also  will  make  your  yoke 

still  heavier;  my  father  chastised  you  with  whips,  but  I  will  chastise  you  with 

scourges.    ^'^So  the  king  gave  no  heed  to  the  people;  for  it  was  a  thing  brought 

about  of  Jehovah  to  confirm  his  word,  which  Jehovah  spoke  by  Ahijah  the 

Shilonite  to  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat.^ 

Rejec-        ^^And  when  all  Israel  saw  that  the  king  gave  no  heed  to  them,  the  people 

Rfiho*-    answered  the  king,  saying, 

boam 

^J^,  What  share  have  we  in  David  ? 

ern  We  have  no  claim  in  the  son  of  Jesse ! 

tribes  To  your  tents,  O  Israel ! 

Now  care  for  your  own  house,  O  David ! 

So  the  Israelites  went  to  their  homes.     "But  over  the  Israelites  who  dwelt  in  the 

cities  of  Judah,  Rehoboam  reigned. >=     ^^Then  King  Rehoboam  sent  Adoniram, 

who  was  over  the  men  subject  to  forced  labor;  but  all  Israel  stoned  him  to 

death.     Thereupon  King  Rehoboam  quickly  mounted  his  chariot  in  order 

to  flee  to  Jerusalem.     ^^So  Israel  rebelled  against  the  house  of  David  to  the 

present  day. 

Elec-  20^j^(j  a^g  soon  as  all  Israel  heard  that  Jeroboam  had  returned,  they  sent 

je°ro-°    and  called  him  to  the  assembly  of  the  people  and  made  him  king  over  all 

boam     Israel.     None  remained  loyal  to  the  house  of  David  except   the  tribe  of 

Judah. 

The  ^'Now  when  Rehoboam  had  arrived  at  Jerusalem,  he  assembled  all  the  house  of 

divine  Judah  and  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  a  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  chosen  warriors, 
^P'  ^  ,  to  fight  against  the  house  of  Israel  in  order  to  restore  the  kingdom  to  Rehoboam  the 
of  The  ^^'^  °^  Solomon.  -^But  the  word  of  God  came  to  Shemaiah  the  man  of  God,  as  follows, 
act  ^^Speak  to  Rehoboam  the  son  of  Solomon  king  of  Judah,  and  to  all  the  house  of  Judah 

and  Benjamin,  and  to  the  rest  of  the  people,  saying,  -^ '  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  "  Ye  shall 

b  12G-15  The  secondary  Gk.  version  in  12  24q.  r  (Swete's  text)  is  briefer,  and  possibly  the 
original:  And  Rehoboam  said,  Bring  the  elders  in  to  me  that  I  may  take  counsel  with  them  as 
to  the  answer  I  should  give  the  people  on  the  third  day.  And  trhen  Rehoboam  told  them  the 
message  that  the  people  had  sent  to  him,  the  elders  of  the  people  replied.  So  have  the  people  said 
to  you.  But  Rehoboam  cast  their  counsel  to  the  winds,  for  it  pleased,  him  not.  Then  he  sent 
and  summoned  those  who  had  grown  up  with  him,  and  said  the  same  to  them,  These  terms  have 
the  people  sent  me. 

"=  12'^  Not  in  the  Gk.,  and  evidently  not  found  originally  in  the  present  context. 

204 


ELECTION   OF  JEROBOAM   AS   KING     [I  Kgs.  1224 

Jeroboam  History 

not  go  up  to  fight  against  your  kinsmen  the  Israelites;  go  back  home  all  of  j'ou,  for 
this  thing  has  come  to  pass  at  my  instigation."  '  So  they  listened  to  the  word  of  Jeho- 
vah, and  departed  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah."* 

^''Then  Jeroboatn  fortified  Shechein  in  the  hill  country  of  Ephraim,  and  Fortifi- 

dwelt  there.     Aften\-ards  he  went  out  from  there  and  fortiiSed  Penuel.  of  She- 

chem 

g  60.  Jeroboam's  Institution  of  the  Calf  Worship  at  Bethel  and  Dan, 

I  Kgs.  I'i-^-^'^ 

Jeroboam  History 

I  Kgs.   13  -*^Then  Jeroboam  said  to  himself.  Now  the  sovereignty  will  Estab- 
revert  to  the  house  of  David,     -"li  this  people  go  up  to  offer  sacrifices  in  Jjfe^t 
the  temple  of  Jehovah  at  Jerusalem,  then  will  the  heart  of  this  people  turn  "f 
again  to  their  lord,  even  to  Rehoboam  king  of  Judah;  and  they  will  kill  me,  and 
and  return  to  Rehoboam  king  of  Judah."    ^Sg^  ^J^g  J^j^^g  ^-q^j^  counsel  with  himself,  J^yai^ 
and  made  two  calves  of  gold,  and  said  to  the  people,^  You  have  gone  up  to  sanct- 
Jerusalem  long  enough.     Behold  your  gods,  O  Israel,  which  brought  you 
up  from  the  land  of  Egypt !     -^And  he  set  up  the  one  in  Bethel,  and  the 
other  in  Dan.     ^^And  this  thing  became  a  sin  to  Israel, ^  for  the  people 
went  to  worship  before  the  one,  even  unto  Dan. 

^'And  he  made  houses  of  high  places,  and  made  priests  from  among  all  Ap- 

the  people,  who  were  not  of  the  sons  of  Levi.     32\j^(^  Jeroboam  ordained  a  [j^ent' 

feast  in  the  eighth  month,  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  month,  like  the  feast  ofadis- 

that  is  in  Judah,  and  he  went  up  unto  the  altar;  so  he  did  in  Bethel,  sacri-  priest- 

ficing  to  the  calves  that  he  had  made;  and  he  placed  in  Bethel  the  priests  g°"i^ 

of  the  high  places  that  he  had  made.  feast- 

'■  clay 

§  61.  The  Prophecy  against  the  Altar  at  Bethel,  I  Kgs.  la^'-lS^* 
Very  Late  Popular  Prophetic  Story 

I  Kgs.  12  ^"^And  Jeroboam  went  up  to  the  altar  which  he  had  made  in  Jem- 
Bethel  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  eighth  month,^  which  he  had  arbitrarily  p'uiVl'ic^ 
■ — — ■ sacrifice 

d  12^1-24  According  to  the  early  source  quoted  in  145",  (/igj-e  was  constant  war  belveen 
Eehoboam  and  the  son  of  Rehoboam.  12'-'  seems  to  have  been  the  later  Judean  explanation 
of  why  Rehoboam  failed  to  compel  the  Northerners  to  submit  to  his  rule.  It  also  introduces 
the  motive  of  direct  divine  intervention  which  characterizes  the  later  narratives.  The  refer- 
ence to  Benjamin  in  -'  (cf.  -'")  confirms  this  conclusion. 

§  60  It  is  generally  helfl  that  the  material  in  this  passage  has  been  recast  by  a  later  editor, 
but  that  the  main  facts  are  from  an  older  source.  There  are,  however,  no  strong  grounds 
against  regarding  it  as  an  extract  from  the  Jcrol)oam  history.  In  the  days  of  Amos  (7'''^)  Bethel 
was  a  royal  sanctuary,  and  Dan  was  from  the  da.\s  of  the  judges  a  famous  shrine.  Jeroboam 
in  making  them  royal  sanctuaries  was  but  following  the  e.xample  of  (iideon  and  Havid.  Kven 
though  the  centralization  of  all  sacrificial  worship  in  Jerusalem  belongs  to  a  later  time,  the 
temi>le  of  Soloinon  with  its  glories  irnist  then  have  been  a  dangerous  rival  to  the  older  local 
sanctuaries.  It  is  also  significant  that  none  of  the  expressions  that  characterize  all  of  the  work 
of  the  late  prophetic  author  is  found  in  the  .section. 

e  122?  fsj^t  found  in  the  Ok.  and  probably  an  editorial  addition. 

'  12^"  So  Ok.     Owing  to  a  scribal  misreading  the  Ileb.  has,  to  them. 

z  jOM  Following  I.uc.  in  adding.  In  Israel. 

5  (\\  The  reference  in  W  to  the  iconocla.«tic  reformation  of  Josiah  recorded  in  11  Kgs.  2.3 
indicates  that  this  strange  story  is  very  late.  The  conception  of  the  prophet  as  a  womlcr-worker 
is  also  another  of  the  indices  of  its  late  origin.  Its  entire  atmosphere  is  that  of  pr)st-e\ilio 
Juflaism.  The  mission  of  .-Xmos  to  Northern  Israel  during  the  days  of  Jeroljoam  II  and  his 
forced  flciiarture  (Am.  7)  may  be  the  nucleus  of  fact  alif)ut  which  it  grew  up.  The  jHiint  of  view 
is  Judean,  the  date  possibly  after  the  days  of  Nehcmiah  and  llzra.  Cf.  the  post-exilic  concep- 
tion of  .Samaria  a.s  a  r>rovince,  •''■'.  ' 

''  12"  So  I.at.  The  Heb.  a<Ids  in  the  month.  The  eighth  month  wa.s  Oct. -Nov.,  while  in 
Judah  the  corresi>onding  fea-st  of  tabernacles  was  held  in  the  seventh  month.     Cf.  Lev.  2;P'. 

205 


I  Kgs.  1233]  FROM   JEROBOAM   TO   OIVIRI 

Veri/  Late  Popular  Prophetic  Story 

chosen;  and  he  ordained  a  feast  for  the  Israelites  and  went  up  to  the  altar 
to  offer  sacrifice. 
Mes-  13  ^At  that  time  a  man  of  God  came  from  Judah  at  the  command  of 

®^f       Jehovah  to  Bethel.     And  Jeroboam  was  standing  by  the  altar  to  offer  sacri- 
sign       gee      2'phen  [the  man  of  God]  cried  against  the  altar  at  the  command  of 
un-*"^    Jehovah  and  said,  O  altar,  altar,  thus  saith  Jehovah:  'Behold,  a  son  shall  be 
mTiT'^    born  to  the  house  of  David,  Josiah  by  name;  and  on  thee  shall  he  sacrifice 
of  God   the  priests  of  the  high  places  who  offer  sacrifices  on  thee,  and  he^  shall  burn 
men's  bones  on  thee.'     3\nd  he  gave  a  sign  the  same  day,  saying,  This  is  the 
sign  which  Jehovah  hath  spoken,  'Behold,  the  altar  shall  be  rent,  and  the 
ashes  that  are  upon  it  shall  be  poured  out.'     ^jsj^ow  when  the  king  heard  the 
saying  of  the  man  of  God,  which  he  cried  against  the  altar  in  Bethel,  Jero- 
boam put  forth  his  hand  from  the  altar,  saying.  Take  hold  of  him.     But 
his  hand,  which  he  put  forth  against  him,  dried  up,  so  that  he  could  not 
draw  it  back  again  to  himself.     ^The  altar  also  was  rent,  and  the  ashes 
poured  out  from  the  altar,  according  to  the  sign  which  the  man  of  God  had 
given  at  the  command  of  Jehovah.     ^And  the  king  answered  and  said  to 
the  man  of  God,  Now  intercede  with  Jehovah  thy  God,  and  pray  for  me, 
that  my  hand  may  be  restored  me  again.     So  the  man  of  God  interceded 
with  Jehovah,  and  the  king's  hand  was  restored  to  him  again  and  became 
as  it  was  before.     '^And  the  king  said  to  the  man  of  God,  Come  home  with 
me  and  refresh  yourself,  and  I  will  give  you  a  reward.     ^But  the  man  of 
God  said  to  the  king.  If  you  were  to  give  me  half  your  house,  I  would  not 
go  with  you,  nor  would  I  eat  bread  nor  drink  water  in  this  place;  ^for  it  was 
commanded  meJ  by  the  word  of  Jehovah,  saying,  'Thou  shalt  eat  no  bread 
nor  drink  water,  nor  return  by  the  way  that  thou  earnest.'     ^*^So  he  went  an- 
other way,  and  returned  not  by  the  way  that  he  came  to  Bethel. 
The  i^Xow  a  certain  old  prophet  dwelt  in  Bethel;  and  his  sons^  came  and 

wo?ds  told  him  all  the  deeds  that  the  man  of  God  had  done  that  day  in  Bethel; 
of  the  they  also  told  their  father  the  words  which  he  had  spoken  to  the  king.  ^2  \nd 
et™^f  "  their  father  said  to  them,  \^^lat  way  did  he  go  ?  Then  his  sons  showed^  him 
Bethel    ^^.}^jp]^  ^y^y  t^^e  j^^^^  of  Qo^j  ^.Jjq  came  from  Judah  had  gone.     I3\n(i  lie  said 

to  his  sons.  Saddle  for  me  an  ass.  So  they  saddled  for  him  the  ass,  and  he 
rode  on  it.  ^l\nd  he  went  after  the  man  of  God,  and  found  him  sitting  under 
an  oak;  and  he  said  to  him.  Are  you  the  man  of  God  who  came  from  Judah  ? 
And  he  said,  I  am.  iS'pijen  he  said.  Come  home  with  me  and  eat  bread. 
^^But  he  said,  I  may  not  return  with  you,  nor  go  in  with  you,°^  neither  will 
I  eat  bread  nor  drink  water  in  this  place ;°  ^''for  it  was  commanded  me  by 
the  word  of  Jehovah,  'Thou  shalt  eat  no  bread  nor  drink  water  there,  nor 


'  132  The  Heb.  has  the  plural,  but  Gk.,  Luc,  Lat.,  and  Syr.  presuppose  the  singular. 
Both  Gk.  and  Heb.,  however,  admit  of  the  rendering,  the  bones  of  men  shall  bum. 

'  139  An  impersonal  construction,  or  with  a  slight  change  in  Heb.,  /  was  commanded. 
Gk.,  he  commanded  me  by  the  word  of  Jehovah. 

^  13"  Heb.,  one  of  his  sons.     But  Gk.,  Luc,  Lat.,  Syr.,  and  "*>  support  the  plural. 

'  1312  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Lat.,  S>t.,  and  the  Heb.  after  a  slight  change  in  the  pointing. 

™  131^  Gk.  and  Luc.  omit,  nor  go  in  with  you;  Syr.,  and  enter  your  house — a  probable 
reading,  cf.  2^^. 

"  I316  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Lat.,  and  Sjt. 

206 


PROPHECY   AGAINST   BETHEL  [I  Kgs.  13i7 

Verij  Late  Popular  Prophetic  Story 

depart  by  the  way  that  thou  earnest.'  ^^And  he  said  to  him,  I  also  am  a 
prophet  as  you  are;  and  a  INIessenger  spoke  to  me  by  the  word  of  Jehovah, 
saying,  'Bring  him  back  with  thee  to  thy  house,  that  he  may  eat  bread  and 
drink  water  !'  (But  he  was  lying  to  him.)  ^^So  he  went  back  with  lum,o 
and  ate  bread  in  his  house  and  drank  water. 

20But  while  they  were  sitting  at  the  table,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  the  Death 
prophet  who  brought  him  back,  ^i  \jid  he  cried  to  the  man  of  God  who  "^J:^^ 
came  from  Judah,  saying.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  'Since  thou  hast  disobeyed  known 
the  word  of  Jehovah,  and  hast  not  kept  the  command p  which  Jehovah  thy  et  as  a 
God  commanded  thee,  22bvit  camest  back  and  hast  eaten  bread  and  drimk  nXT''' 
water  in  the  place  of  which  he  said  to  thee,  "Eat  no  bread,  and  drink  no  f;?'"  '"s 

fllSOOG'" 

water,"  thy  body  shall  not  come  unto  the  sepulchre  of  thy  fathers.'  -^^^j^j  dience 
after  he  had  eaten  bread  and  drunk  water,  he  saddled  for  him*!  the  ass,  and 
he  again  departed.  24j3,^j^  g^  ]Jqj^  jj^^^  }^Jj^^  \)y  jj^g  ^y^y  and  slew  him,  and  his 
body  was  cast  upon  the  highway,  and  the  ass  stood  by  it;  the  lion  also  stood 
by  the  body.  ^^And  just  then  men  passed  by  and  saw  the  body  cast  in  the 
highway,  and  the  lion  standing  by  the  body;  and  they  came  and  told  it  in 
the  city  where  the  old  prophet  dwelt. 

26 And  when  the  prophet  who  brought  him  back  from  the  way  heard  of  Burial 
it,  he  said.  It  is  the  man  of  God  who  disobeyed  the  word  of  Jehovah;  there-  „„.  ^ 
fore  Jehovah  hath  delivered  him  to  the  lion,  which  has  torn  him,  and  slain  known 
him,  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah,  which  he  spoke  to  him.     27^Ynd  he  et 
commanded  his  sons,  saying.  Saddle  for  me  the  ass.     And  they  saddled  it.'" 
2^So  he  went  and  found  his  body  thrown  down  in  the  highway,  and  the  ass 
and  the  lion  standing  by  the  body;  the  lion  had  not  eaten  the  body  nor 
torn  the  ass.     29'p']^pj^  ^]JQ  prophet  took  up  the  body  of  the  man  of  God  and 
laid  it  on  the  ass,  and  brought  it  back  to  the  city^  to  mourn  and  to  bury  him. 
^^And  he  laid  his  body  in  his  own  grave;  and  they  mourned  over  him,  saying, 
Alas,  my  brother!     ^^And  when  he  had  buried  him,  he  spoke  to  his  sons, 
saying,  When  I  die,  bury  me  in  the  sepulchre  in  which  the  man  of  God  is 
buried;  lay  my  bones  beside  his  bones:  ^-ior  the  saying  which  he  cried  by  the 
word  of  Jehovah  against  the  altar  in  Bethel,  and  against  all  the  temples  of  the 
high  places  which  are  in  the  cities  of  Samaria,  shall  surely  come  to  pass. 

■^•^ After  this  event  Jeroboam  did  not  turn  from  his  evil  way,  but  made  Jero- 
again  from  all  the  people  priests  of  the  high  places.     Whomsoever  he  would  baneful 
he  consecrated*  to  be  a  priest  of  the  high  places."     ^^  \nj  f^js  thing  became  reJ^'R- 
a  source  of  sin  to  the  house  of  Jeroboam,  even  to  cut  it  off  and  to  destroy  it  policy 
from  the  face  of  the  earth. 


°  13"  Gk.  and  Luc.  sueeest,  "o  he  caused  him  to  turn  back,  as  the  original.     Cf.  ^■^. 

P  1.3^'   Heb.,  rebelled  nqainM  the  mouth.     So  •*. 

q  1323b,  2Ja  So  Ok.  and  Luc.  Heb.,  for  the  prophets  who  had  hroupht  bnck.  "And  he  de- 
parted, which  i."!  unintelliRible.  The  sentence  is  wholl.v  or  in  part  the  result  of  the  in.sertion  of  a 
marginal  note.     This  is  suggested  by  Svr.,  for  the  prophet  of  God,  and  again  he  departed. 

r  i32fib,  27  xhe  Gk.  omits  this  sentence. 

•  1329  The  cumbersome  Heb.  is  corrected  on  the  basis  of  the  Gk.  and  Luc. 

'  n'a  Heb.,  he  would  fdl  his  hand.  „   ,  .  ,    ^  .  , 

"  1.3*^  So  Gk,,  Luc,  Lat.,  S.vr.  The  Heb.  is  impos.sible,  and  he  will  be  priests  of  hinii 
places.     The  above  rendering  results  from  a  .slight  change  in  the  Heb. 

207 


I  Kgs.  141]  FROM   JEROBOAM   TO   OMRI 

§  62.  Ahijah's  Prophecy  against  Jeroboam,  I  Kgs.  14' -^^ 

Late  Prophetic  Narrative 

The  I  Kgs.  14  ^At  that  time  Abijah  the  son  of  Jeroboam  fell  sick.    ^And  Jero- 

mission  Ijqjj^j^  gajj  ^^Q  ijjg  wife.  Arise,  1  pray  you,  and  disguise  yourself,  that  you  may 
jero-      not  be  known'^  to  be  the  wife  of  Jeroboam,  and  so  to  Shiloh.     There  is  Ahijah 
wife       the  prophet  who  predicted  that  I  should  become  king"^  over  this  people. 
Ahijah   ^And  take  with  you  ten  loaves  and  cakes  and  a  jar  of  honey,  and  go  to  him; 
he  will  tell  you  what  shall  become  of  the  child.     "^And  Jeroboam's  wife  did 
so;  arising,  she  went  to  Shiloh  and  came  to  the  house  of  Ahijah.    Now  Ahijah 
could  not  see,  for  his  eyes  had  become  dim  because  of  his  age.     ^But  Jehovah 
had  said  to  the  aged  Ahijah,  The  wife  of  Jeroboam  cometh  now  to  inquire 
of  thee^  concerning  her  son,  for  he  is  sick;  thus  and  thus  shalt  thou  say  to 
her.     And  when  she  came  in,y  she  pretended  to  be  another  woman. 
His  ^But  when  Ahijah  heard  the  sound  of  her  feet,  as  she  came  in  at  the  door, 

Uon'of  ^^^  said,  Come  in,  wife  of  Jeroboam;  why  do  you  pretend  to  be  another? 
the  seeing  that  I  am  sent  to  you  with  heavy  tidings.  "Go,  tell  Jeroboam,  'Thus 
throw  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel:  "Because  I  exalted  thee  from  among  the 
Jero-  people  and  made  thee  prince  over  my  people  Israel,  ^and  rent  the  kingdom 
boam's  away  from  the  house  of  David  and  gave  it  to  thee,  and  yet  thou  hast  not 
been  as  my  servant  David,  w^ho  kept  my  command  and  followed  me  with 
all  his  heart  to  do  that  only  which  was  right  in  mine  eyes,  %ut  hast  done 
evil  more  than  all  that  were  before  thee,  and  hast  gone  and  made  thee  other 
gods  and  molten  images  to  provoke  me  to  anger,  and  hast  cast  me  behind 
thy  back:  ^''therefore,  behold,  I  will  bring  evil  upon  the  house  of  Jeroboam, 
and  will  cut  off  from  Jeroboam  every  male  child — him  that  is  shut  up  and 
him  that  is  left  at  large^  in  Israel — and  will  utterly  sweep  away  the  house  of 
Jeroboam,  as  a  man  sweepeth  away  refuse,  until  it  is  gone.  i^Him  that 
dietli  of  Jeroboam  in  the  city  shall  the  dogs  eat,  and  him  that  dieth  in  the 
field  shall  the  birds  of  the  heavens  eat;  for  Jehovah  hath  spoken  it."  '  ^^Xow 
rise  up,  go  to  your  house;  and  when  your  feet  enter  the  city,  the  child  shall 
die.  i^And  all  Israel  shall  mourn  for  him  and  bury  him;  for  he  only  of  Jer- 
oboam shall  come  to  the  grave,  because  in  him  there  is  found  some  good 
thing  toward  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  in  the  house  of  Jeroboam.  ^^More- 
over  Jehovah  will  raise  up  for  himself  a  king  over  Israel,  who  shall  cut  off 
the  house  of  Jeroboam  that  day.  But  even  now^  ^^Jehovah  will  smite  Israel, 
and  they  shall  be  shaken^  as  a  reed  is  shaken  in  the  water,  and  he  will  root 

§  62  The  lanjjuage  and  point  of  view  of  this  story  is  that  of  the  late  prophetic  editor  of 
Kgs.  In  1=  the  exile  of  the  Northern  Israelites  is  preSieted.  The  data  in  i'-  '"■  ",  however, 
were  probably  drawn  by  the  editor  from  older  sources  to  which  he  had  access,  and  therefore  the 
narrative  probably  has  certain  historical  as  well  as  religious  value. 

^'  14-   Heb.,  th<it  they  shall  not  knoiv.  i.e.,  the  impersonal  verb  equivalent  to  a  passive. 

'^  14-  Following  a  pointing  suggested  by  the  versions.     Heb.,  he  spoke  of  me  for  king. 

^  14^  Heb.,  to  seek  an  oracle. 

y  14^  So  the  versions.  In  the  Heb.  the  words  are  spoken  by  Jehovah,  but  they  more  natu- 
rally come  from  the  narrator.     The  difference  in  the  Heb.  is  merely  one  of  pointing. 

^  14'"  I.e.,  everyone.  The  exact  application  of  the  phrase  is  in  doubt.  Under  and  over 
age,  botid  and  free,  or  married  and  celibate  have  been  suggested. 

*>  141^  The  Heb.  is  doubtful  and  the  versions  are  obscure.  The  above  rendering  preserves 
the  original  thought. 

•=  14'=  Moflern  commentators  generally  agree  that  Heb.  has  lost  a  clause  needed  as  the 
ground  of  comparison. 

208 


PROPHECY   AGAINST   JEROBOAM        [I  Kgs   Uis 

Late  Prophetic  Narrative 

up  Israel  out  of  this  good  land  which  he  gave  to  their  fathers,  and  will  scatter 
them  beyond  the  River  [Euphrates],  because  they  have  made  their  Ash- 
tartes,  provoking  Jehovah  to  anger.  ^^And  he  will  give  up  Israel  because 
of  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  which  he  has  committed,  and  with  which  he  has 
made  Israel  sin. 

^'Then  Jeroboam's  wife  arose  and  departed  and  came  to  Tirzah.     And  Death 
as  she  came  to  the  threshold  of  the  house,  the  child  died.     ^^And  all  Israel  jero- 
buried  him  and  mourned  for  him,  according;  to  the  word  of  Jehovah  which  hoam's 

SOU 

he  spoke  by  his  servant  Ahijah  the  prophet. 

§  63.  Death  of  Jeroboam  and  Reign  of  his  Son  Nadab,  I  Kgs.  14'«.  ^o,  is^s" 
Annals  of  Israel 

I  Kgs.  14    "Now  the  other  acts  of  Jeroboam,  how  he  carried  on  wars,  how  he  Jero- 
ruled,  they  are  already  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel.     ^And  the  bqam's 
time  during  which  Jeroboam  reigned  was  twenty-two  years.     Then  he  slept  with  his  ""^'sn 
fathers,  and  Nadab  his  son  became  king  in  his  place.  fleath 

15    "And  Nadab  the  son  of  Jeroboam  became  king  in  the  second  year  of  Asa  king  Na- 
of  Judah,  and  he  reigned  over  Israel  two  years.      -''And  he  did  that  which  displeased  'lab's 
Jehovah,  and  followed  in  the  way  of  his  father,  and  in  his  sin  whereby  he  made  Israel  sin.  """'^ 

-'And  Baasha  the  son  of  Ahijah,  of  the  house  of  Issachar,  cons{)ired  against  assas- 
him,  and  Baasha  smote  him  at  Gibbethon,  which  belonged  to  the  Philistines,  ^'^a*'OD 
while  Nadab  and  all  Israel  were  laying  siege  to  Gibbethon.     -^So  in  the  Baasha 
third  year  of  Asa  king  of  Judah  Baasha  slew  him,  and  became  king  in  his 
place.     -^But  as  soon  as  he  became  king,  he  smote  all  the  house  of  Jero- 
boam.    He  did  not  leave  of  Jeroboam's  house  a  single  .soul  which  he  did 

not  destrov.  According  to  the  word  of  Jehovah,  which  he  spoke  by  his  servant  Ahijah 
the  Shilonite,  ^"because  of  the  sins  which  Jeroboam  committed  and  by  which  he  made 
Israel  to  sin,  so  that  he  provoked  Jehovah,''  the  God  of  Israel,  to  anger,  ^ijvjow  the 
other  acts  of  Nadab  and  all  that  he  did,  are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of 
the  Kings  of  Israel? 

§  64.  Baasha's  Reign,  I  Kgs.  W^-W 
Late  Prophetic  Editorial  Summary 

I  Kgs.  15  "^^In  the  third  year  of  Asa  king  of  Judah  Baa.sha  the  son  of  jcho- 
Ahijah  became  king  over  e\\  Israel  in  Tirzah,  and  reigned  twenty-four  years.  ^1^,^ 
^-And  there  was  war  between  Asa  and  Baasha  king  of  Israel  all  their  davs.  provia 
^*.\nd  he  dis{)leased  Jehovah,  and  followed  in  the  way  of  Jeroboam  and  in  lia.a- 
his  sin  with  which  he  nuide  Israel  to  sin.      16  '.Vnd  the  following  word  of  p"|\gy 
Jehovah  came  to  Jehu  the  son  of  Ilanani  against  Baasha,  ^Forasmuch  as  I 
have  raised  thee  out  of  the  dust,  and  made  thee  prince  over  my  people  Israel, 

5  0.3  In  1.5^7 -29a  a  brief  extract  from  the  annals  is  found.  Otherwi.sc  the  record  is  cast  in  the 
familiar  languaKe  of  the  late  prophetic  editor. 

''  X')'*'  \  Ileb.  scribe  has  added  the  awkward  rIoss,  by  his  pmvora/ion. 

i  04  The  fact  that  .Ichii  pri)i)hcsie<l  aKaiii.st  Haa.slia  may  liavc-  Ix-cn  derived  from  an  onrlior 
source,  but  all  of  the  data  in  the  present  .section  is  cast  in  the  language  of  the  late  prophetic 
editor.     15*  is  clearly  out  of  its  logical  position,  which  is  after  **. 

209 


I  Kgs.  162]  FROM   JEROBOAM   TO   OMRI 

Late  Prophetic  Editorial  Summary 

and  thou  hast  walked  in  the  way  of  Jeroboam  and  hast  made  my  people 

Israel  to  sin,  so  that  they  have  provoked  me  to  anger  with  their  sins,  "^I  will 

utterly  sweep  away  Baasha  and  his  house,  and  I  will  make  thy  house  like  the 

house  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat.     "^Whoever  belonging  to  Baasha  dies 

in  the  city,  him  shall  the  dogs  eat,  and  whoever  of  his  dies  in  the  field,  him 

shall  the  birds  of  the  heavens  eat. 

His  ^Now  the  other  acts  of  Baasha,  and  what  he  did  and  his  mighty  deeds, 

denina-  ^^^  ^^^7  ^^^  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  ?     ^Moreover, 

tion        bj  t}ie  prophet  Jehu  the  son  of  ITanani  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  against 

death     Baasha  and  against  his  house,  both  because  of  the  evil  that  he  did  in  the 

sight  of  Jehovah,  to  provoke  him  to  anger  with  the  work  of  his  hands,  in  being 

like  the  house  of  Jeroboam,  and  also  because  he  smote  him.     ^And  Baasha 

slept  with  his  fathers  and  was  buried  in  Tirzah,  and  Elah  his  son  became 

king  in  his  place. 

§  65.  Elah's  Reign,  I  Kgs.  IG^-" 
An7ials  of  Israel 

Zimri's         I  KgS.  1 6  *In  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  Asa  king  of  Judah  Elah  the  son  of  Baasha 

sniracv    became  king  over  Israel  in  Tirzah,  and  reigned  two  j'cars.     ^And  his  servant  Zimri, 

against   commander  of  half  his  chariots,  conspired  against  him.     While  he  was  in 

and  his  Tirzali  drinking  himself  drunk  in  the  house  of  Arza,  the  royal  chamberlain 

house      jj^  Tirzah,  ^^Zimri  went  in  and  smote  and  killed  him,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year 

of  Asa  king  of  Judah,  and  became  king  in  his  place.      ^^But  as  soon   as   he  became 

king  and  had  seated  himself  on  the  throne,  he  smote  all  the  house  of  Baasha;  he 

left  him  not  a  single  male,  either  of  his  kinsfolks  or  of  his  friends,    ^^^hus  Zimri 

destroyed  all  the  house  of  Baasha,  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah,  which  he 
spoke  against  Baasha  by  Jehu  the  prophet,  ''for  all  the  sins  of  Baasha  and  the  sins  of 
his  son  Elah,  which  they  committed  and  with  which  they  made  Israel  sin,  to  provoke 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  to  anger  with  their  vanities.  '''Now  the  other  acts  of  Elah, 
and  all  that  he  did,  are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel? 

§  66.  Brief  Reign  of  Zimri,  I  Kgs.  IG'^-^o 
Annals  of  Israel 

Elec-  I   Kgs*    16   ''In  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  Asa  king  of  Judah,  Zimri   reigned 

Ornri°  seven  days  in  Tirzah.     Now  the  people  were  besieging  Gibbethon,  which  be- 

king  longed  to  the  Philistines.     ^^And  the  people  who  were  engaged  in  the  siege 

over-  heard  the  report,  Zimri  has  conspired  and  has  also  smitten  the  king;  therefore 

q{^°'"  all  Israel  made  Omri,  the  commander  of  the  army,  king  over  Israel  that  day 

Zimri  in  the  camp.     i"So  Omri  went  up  from  Gibbethon  and  all  Israel  with  him, 
and  they  besieged  Tirzah.     ^^When  Zimri  saw  that  the  city  was  taken,  he 

§  6.5  The  account  of  the  conspiracy  of  Zimri,  which  is  taken  from  a  primitive  source,  well 
illustrates  the  orientalism  of  the  age  and  the  civil  dissensions  which  during  this  epoch  wasted 
the  rich  resources  of  the  northern  kingdom. 

§  66  Although  Zimri  reigned  only  seven  days,  the  editor  of  Kgs.  pronounces  upon  him  the 
same  formal  condemnation  as  upon  all  the  kings  of  Israel.  Into  his  epitome  he  has  introducer 
a  brief  rjuotation  telling  of  the  overthrow  of  the  conspirator. 

210 


BRIEF   REIGN   OF   ZOIRI  [I  Kgs.  16i8 

Annals  of  Israel 

went  into  the  castle  of  the  royal  palace,  and  burnt  the  royal  palace  over  him. 
Thus  he  died  "for  his  sins  which  he  committed  in  doing  that  which  displeased  Jcliovah, 
in  following  in  the  way  of  Jeroboam  and  in  his  sin  whicli  he  did,  to  make  Israel  sin. 
^Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Zimri,  and  his  conspiracy  which  he  made,  are  they  not  re- 
corded in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel? 


II 

RULE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  OMRI  AND  THE  WORK  OF  ELIJAH 
I  Kgs.  1621-22^0,  51-53^  II  Kgg    1^  31-3 

§  67.  Omri's  Accession  and  Reign,  I  Kgs.  IG-'-^ 
Annals  of  Israel 

I  Kgs.  16  -'Then  the  people  of  Israel  were  divided.*^     Half  of  the  people  Omri's 
followed  Tibni  the  son  of  Ginath  and  made  him  king,  and  the  other  half  oveV"hT 
followed  Omri.     22^1^,^  ^j^^  people  with  Omri  were  stronger  than  the  people  ""iyal. 
with  Tibni  the  son  of  Ginath.     So  Tibni  and  his  brother  Joram  died,''  and 
Omri  became  king.      -^In  the  thirty-first  year  of  Asa  king  of  Judah  Omri  began  to 
reign  over  Israel,  and  reigned  twelve  years;  six  years  he  reigned  in  Tirzah. 

^'^Then  he  bought  the  hill  Samaria  from  Shemer  for  two  talents  of  silver;  Estab- 
and  he  built  on  the  hill  and  named  the  city  which  he  built  Samaria,  after  Jj^^g,'^  ^^f 
the  name  of  Shemer,  the  owner  of  the  hill.  Sama- 

^^And  Omri  did  that  which  displeased  Jehovah,  and  was  more  wacked  than  all  his  ult^ 
predecessors.     -Tor  he  followed  altogether  in  the  steps  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  capital 
and  in  that  with  which  he  made  Israel  to  sin,  so  that  by  their  heathen  practices''  they 
angered  Jehovah    the   God  of  Israel.      -"Now  the   rest  of  the   acts  of  Omri,  and  ail  His 
that   he   did    and  his  mighty  deeds,  are   they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  f}'^}  re- 
Kings  of  Israel?     -^So  Omri  slept  with  his  fathers  and  was  buried  in  Samaria.     And  hgious 
Aliab  his  son  became  king  in  liis  place.  l^oncj 

Rule  of  the  House  of  Omri  and  the  Work  of  Elijah  and  Elisha. — Five  primary  sources 
are  represented  in  the  subsequent  sections.  From  the  annals  of  Israel  the  editor  of  Kgs.  made 
a  few  brief  quotations.  The  longer  extracts  in  I  Kgs.  20,  22  he  apparently  drew  from  an  early 
Ahab  history,  and  in  II  Kgs.  9"-i0-"from  a  Jehu  history.  These  citations  he  sui>t>!emented  by 
the  long  and  valuable  extracts  from  the  early  Elijah  stories,  I  Kgs.  17-19,  21,  II  Kgs.  l'-";  •"" 
and  by  the  stories  taken  from  the  ijopular  F.lisha  cycles,  II  Kgs.  2'-9'3.  Excepting  a  few  notices 
regarding  Judah  in  I  Kgs.  22"-''<'  and  II  Kgs.  S^^--'\  the  attention  of  the  reader  is  entirely  fixed 
in  these  sixteen  chapters  upon  the  important  events  in  Northern  Israel. 

The  eijoch  is  cliielly  imi)ortant  because  ui  the  person  of  the  great  lUijah  the  prophets  began 
to  assume  an  active  and  conunanding  i)osition  in  the  social  and  religious  life  of  the  jiorioil,  and 
that  open  struggle  with  the  native  religions  of  Canaan  was  inaugurated  which  was  destined  to 
end  in  the  complete  separation  of  the  Israelitish  race  and  the  victory  of  the  exalted  ethical  con- 
ceptions of  Jehovah  and  his  demands,  which  were  so  courageously  advocated  by  his  prophets. 

§  67  The  references  to  the  conquest  of  Moab  by  Omri  in  the  Mesha  in.scription  (cf.  .Appen- 
dix IX),  and  the  fact  that  even  after  his  family  had  ceased  to  rule  over  Israel,  the  Assyrians 
referred  to  the  northern  kingdom  as  the  honse  of  Omri,  indicate  the  importance  of  the  man  and 
his  reign.  What  David  did  for  united  Israel,  Omri  appears  to  have  done  in  a  lesser  degree  for 
his  kingdom.  Instead  of  weakened  by  war  and  subject  to  the  .Arameans,  he  left  it  uniteil  and 
organized,  thus  i)rei)aring  the  wav  for  the  lirilliant  reign  of  .\hab. 

These  facts  were  either  not  recorded  in  tlie  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  or  did  not  seem 
important  to  the  editor;  for,  aside  from  two  brief  Ijut  significant  quotations,  he  simply  gives  hia 
usual  adverse  judgment  regarding  Omri  and  his  reign. 

"  HF'  So  (ik.  and  Luc.     The  Heh.  through  ditlography  a<lds,  into  two  jvirts. 

''  10'='  So  Ok.  an<i  Luc.  It  is  so  circumstantial  that  it  ai)pears  to  be  original,  although  not 
found  in  the  Ileb. 

'  !(>""'  ileb.,  vanities. 

211 


IKgs.  1629]  RULE  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  OINHII 

§  68.  Ahab's  Accession  and  Policy,  I  Kgs.  le^^-^* 

Annals  of  Israel 

Ahab's         I  Kgs.  16   ^"Now  in  the  thirty-eighth  year  of  Asa  king  of  Judah  Ahab  the  son  of 

^^'"'  Oinri  began  to  reign  over  Israel;    and  Aliab  the  son  of   Omri  reigned  over  Israel  in 

^\^Fu  Samaria  twenty-two  j-ears.     ^"And  Ahab  the  son  of  Omri  did  that  which  displeased"* 

Jezebel  Jehovah  more  than  all  his  predecessors.     ^^Furthermore,  as  if  it  had  been  a  sliglit  thing 

and  his  for  him  to  walk  in  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  he  took  as  wife  Jezebel  the 

sane-  daughter  of  Ethbaal  king  of  the  Sidonians,  and  turned  them  to  serve  Baal  and  wor- 

Baal-^  shipped  him.     ^2 ;^j^(j  |jg  erected  an  altar  for  Baal  in  the  temple  of  Baal,  which 

ism  he  had  built  in  Samaria.    ^3  \,^(j  Ahab  also  made  the  Asherah;®  and  Ahab  did  yet 
more  to  anger  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel  than  all  the  kings  of  Israel  who  preceded  him. 
Re-  ^^In  his  days  Hiel  the  Bethelite  built  Jericho.     He  laid  its  foundation 

ing  of  ^'ith  the  loss  of  Abiram  his  eldest,  and  set  up  the  gates  with  the  loss  of  his 

J^icho  youngest  son  Segub,  as  Jehovah  had  spoken  by  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun. 

§  69.  The  Drought  Announced  by  Elijah  the  Tishbite,  I  Kgs.  17 

Earb/  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

An-  I  Kgs.  17  ^Now  Elijah  the  Tishbite  of  Tishbe^  in  Gilead,  said  ~lo  Ahab, 

ment^of  ^^^  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  liveth,  whom  I  serv^e,  there  shall  be  neither 

the         (Jew  nor  rain  these  years, s  except  according  to  my  word.     .     .     . 

p,..  ,  ^Xhen  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  him,  saying,  ^Depart  from  here  and 

by  the    turn  eastward  and  hide  thyself  by  the  Brook  Cherith,  that  is  east  of  Jordan. 

Cherith  ^Then  thou  shaJt  drink  out  of  the  brook;  and  I  have  commanded  the  ravens 

to  feed  thee  there.     ^So  he  went  and  obeyed  the  command  of  Jehovah  and*^ 

dwelt  by  the  Brook  Cherith  that  is  east  of  Jordan.     ^And  the  ravens  brought 

him  bread  every'  morning  and  flesh'  every  evening,  and  he  used  to  drink  out 

of  the  brook.     ^But  after  a  while  the  brook  dried  up,  because  there  was  no 

rain  in  the  land. 


§  68  The  editor  introduces  the  history  of  Ahab  with  a  review  of  his  reign  and  two  extracts 
from  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel.     Cf.   .Josh.  G-"  for  the  prediction  referred  to  in  **. 

<*  16^"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  and  the  stereotyped  idiom  elsewhere.  A  word  has  by  mistake 
fallen  out  of  the  Heb.  ~ 

e  1Q33  Probably  a  more  elaborate  representation  of  the  deity  than  the  sacred  poles  referred 
to  in  14'^  and  frequently  elsewhere.  In  II  Kgs.  23^,  as  in  Judg.  3^  Asherah  seems  to  be  equiva- 
lent to  the  female  goddess  Asbtarte. 

§  69  The  characteristics  and  approximate  date  of  the  early  Elijah  stories  which  are  here 
introduced,  have  already  been  considered  in  the  Introd..  pp.  17,  18.  The  abruptness  with  which 
Elijah  is  ushered  into  the  history  in  Kgs.  is  in  perfect  keeping  with  his  character,  but  it  is 
doubtless  due  to  the  fact  that  we  have  here  only  a  torso.  The  complete  Elijah  biography 
probably  localized  the  opening  scene  (cf.  ^,  from  here)  and  told  of  the  persecution  of  the  prophets 
by  Jezebel,  which  is  merely  alluded  to  in  IS'^,  and  of  the  fulfilment  of  the  di\-ine  command  to 
anoint  Hazael  (19'''). 

No  critical  reader  of  these  stories  would  maintain  that  they  present  a  contemporary  por- 
trait of  the  great  prophet.  They  have  all  the  characteristic  marks  of  popular  stories.  It  would 
be  remarkable  if  oral  transmission  dtiring  seventy  or  eighty  years  had  not  obscured  certain  facts 
and  introduced  some  unhistorical  elements.  Even  the  latter,  however,  are  significant,  for  they 
are  the  concrete  testimony  of  later  generations  to  the  unquestioned  greatness  of  the  mau  and  his 
work.  Their  courageous,  uncompromising  spirit,  the  dramatic  incidents,  and  the  vi^^d,  forcible 
literary_style  place  these  stories  among  the  masterpieces  of  the  O.T. 

'  17'  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  Heb.,  of  the  sojourners  in,  is  clearly  due  to  a  slight  scribal 
error.  •  -^ 

e  171  Jo.sephus,  Ant.  VIII,  13-,  quotes  from  Meander  the  statement  that  this  famine  occurred 
during  the  reign  of  Ittobaal  of  Tyre  and  lasted  one  full  year. 

i'  17=  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  adds,  cnul  he  went,  but  this  is  probably  a  scribal  repetition  of  the 
preceding  expression. 

'  17«  So  Gk.  and  Luc. 

212 


DROUGHT  ANNOUNCED  BY  ELIJAH       [I  Kgs.  17^ 

Early  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

^Then  the  woM  of  Jehovah  came  to  him,  saying.  ^Arise,  go  to  Zarepl'iath,  Miracu- 
which  belongs  to  Sidon,  and  dwell  there.     Behold,  I  have  commanded  a  1°"! 
widow  there  to  provide  for  thee.     I'^'So  he  arose  and  went  to  Zarephath.     And  vision 
when  he  came  to  the  gate  of  the  city  a  widow  was  there  gathering  sticks;  at  Za- 
and  calling  to  her,  he  said.  Bring  me,  I  pray,  a  little  water  in  a  vessel,  that  ""^p*^^*^ 
J  may  drink.     ^^And  as  she  was  going  to  bring  it,  he  called  after  her,  Brino- 
also.  I  pray,  a  bit  of  bread  with  you.     ^-And  she  replied.  As  Jeho\  ah  your 
God  liveth,  I  have  nothingj  but  a  handful  of  meal  in  the  jar  and  a  little  oil 
in  the  cruse;  and  now  I  am  gathering  a  few^  sticks,  that  I  may  go  in  and 
prepare  it  for  myself  and  my  son,  that  we  may  eat  it  and  then  die.     ^-^But 
Elijah  said  to  her.  Fear  not;  go  and  do  as  you  have  said,  but  first  make  me 
from  it  a  little  cake,  and  then  make  for  yourself  and  your  son.     ^'*For  thus 
saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  'The  jar  of  meal  shall  not  be  used  up, 
neither  shall  the  cruse  of  oil  become  empty,  until  the  day  that  Jehovah  sendeth 
rain  upon  the  earth.'     ^^And  she  went  and  did  as  Elijah  directed.     So  she 
and  he  and  her  household  had  food  to  eat.'     ^^From  that  day  the  jar  of  meal 
was  not  used  up,  neither  did  the  cruse  of  oil  become  empty,  just  as  Jehovah 
had  said  by  Elijah. 

^'Now  after  this  the  son  of  the  mistress  of  the  house  fell  sick;  and  his  sick-  Re- 

ness  was  so  severe  that  there  was  no  breath  left  in  him.     ^^Then  she  said  to  th^^on 

Elijah.  What  have  I  to  do  with  you,"^  O  man  of  God  ?     You  have  come  to  me  "^.'^^^ 
\  '  widow 

to  remind  me  of  my  sin  by  slaying  my  son  !  ^^And  he  said  to  her.  Give  me 
your  son.  And  he  took  him  out  of  her  bosom  and  carried  him  up  into  the 
upper  chamber,  where  he  was  staying,  and  laid  him  u{)on  his  own  bed. 
^^And  he  cried  to  Jehovah,  and  said,  O  Jehovah,  my  God,  hast  thou  also 
brought  evil  upon  this  widow,  whose  guest  I  am,  by  slaying  her  son  ?  -^And 
he  stretched  himself  upon  the  child  three  times,  and  cried  to  Jehovah  and  said, 
O  Jehovah,  my  God,  I  j)ray  thee,  let  this  child's  life  come  back  to  him  again. 
^^And  Jehovah  hearkened  to  the  voice  of  Elijah;  and  the  life  of  the  child  came 
back  to  him  again,  so  that  he  revived.  ^^Then  Elijah  took  the  child  and  ^ 
brought  him  down  from  the  upper  chamber  into  the  house  and  gave  him  to 
his  mother.  And  Elijah  said.  See,  your  son  lives  !  -^And  the  woman  said 
to  Elijah,  Now  I  know  that  you  are  a  man  of  God,  and  that  the  word  of  Jeho- 
vah in  your  mouth  is  truth. 

§70.  Jehovah's  Vindication  on  Mount  Carmel,  I  Kgs.  18 

Early  Ephraimite  ElTjah  Stories  . 

I   Kgs.    18    'Now^  a  lone:  time  after  this  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  EH- 

^  •  1    inn  s 

Elijah,  in  the  third  year,  saying.  Go,  show  thyself  to  Ahab;  and  I  will  send  e„iito 
rain  upon  the  earth.     ^So  Elijah  went  to  show  himself  to  Ahab.  '''-■""° 

'  17'2  So  Syr.  and  Targ.,  supported  by  the  context.     The  lleb.  has  a  very  unusual  word 
possibly  meaning,  cake.     Ok.,  baked  tii  the  ashes. 

^  17'^  Heb.,  two,  the  •oiicrete  equivalent  of  a  fetr. 
'     '  17'''  So  Symmachus,  Theodotion,  and  Gk.A.    Heb.,  some  days,  joining  it  td  the  preceding 

S6Ilt/6ncC 

■"  17'8  I.e.,  What  have  you  to  do  with  mv  affairs?    Cf.  .3'-'.  Mt.  8-'».  .    ,,    . 

§  70  This  is  the  direct  continuation  of  the  i)nccedinK  section.     The  explanatory  notes  in  ■"'• 
are  probably  from  the  e>li((\>r  ami  are  ba.sed  on  '■'.     (Ilherwise  the  section  as  a  whole  was  appar- 
ently quoted  without  alteration  from  the  original  |)rophctic  .source. 

213 


I  Kgs.  182]  THE  WORK  OF  ELIJAH 

Early  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

Sever-        And  the  famine  was  severe  in  Samaria.     ^And  Abab  had  called  Obadiah, 
the°        the  prefect  of  the  palace.     Now  Obadiah  revered  Jehovah  greatly.     -Tor  when  Jeze- 
famine    bel  tried  to  exterminate  the  prophets  of  Jehovah  Obadiali  took  a  hundred  prophets, 
and  liJd  them  bj^  fifty  in  a  cave  and  fed  them  continually  with  bread  and  water. 
^And  Ahab  had  said  to  Obadiah,  Up !  let  us"  go  through  the  land  to  all 
the  springs  of  water  and  to  all  the  brooks;  perhaps  we  may  find  grass  so 
that  we  can  save  the  horses  and  mules  alive  and  not  lose  all  the  beasts.^ 
^So  they  divided  the  land  between  them  to  pass  through  it:  Ahab  went  in 
one  direction  by  himself  and  Obadiah  went  in  another  direction  by  himself, 
Elijah's      "And  while  Obadiah  was  on  the  way,  Elijah  met  him  suddenly.     When 
^!-g^y'     he  knew  him,  he  fell  on  his  face  and  said,  Is  it  you,  my  lord  Elijah  ?     ^And 
^it'i       he  answered  him,  It  is  I;  go,  tell  your  lord,  'Elijah  is  here.'     ^And  he  said, 
diah       Wherein  have  I  sinned,  that  you  would  deliver  your  serv^ant  into  the  hand 
of  Ahab,  to  slay  me  ?     ^^As  Jehovah  your  God  liveth,  there  is  no  nation  or 
kingdom,  whither  my  lord  has  not  sent  to  seek  you;  and  when  they  said 
'  He  is  not  here,'  he  took  an  oath  of  the  kingdom  and  nation,  that  no  one  had 
found  you.     ^^And  now  you  say,  'Go,  tell  your  lord,  "Elijah  is  here."' 
^^And  as  soon  as  I  am  gone  from  you  the  spirit  of  Jehovah  will  carry  you 
to  a  place  unknown  to  me,  and  so  when  I  come  and  tell  Ahab,  and  he  can- 
not find  you,  he  will  put  me  to  death,  although  I,  your  servant,  have  feared 
Jehovah  from  my  youth.     ^"^Was  it  not  told  my  lord  what  I  did  when  Jezebel 
slew  the  prophets  of  Jehovah,  how  I  hid  a  hundred  of  Jehovah's  prophets 
by  fifty  in  a  cave  and  fed  them  continually  with  bread  and  water  ?     I'^And 
now  you  say, '  Go,  tell  your  lord,  Elijah  is  here,'  that  he  may  put  me  to  death  ! 
i^But  Elijah  said,  .\s  Jehovah  of  hosts  liveth,  before  whom  I  stand,  I  will 
surely  show  myself  to  him  to-day. 
His  ^^So  Obadiah  went  to  meet  Ahab,  and  told  him,  and  Ahab  went  to  meet 

mMd     Elijah.     ^"And  as  soon  as  Ahab  saw  Elijah,  Ahab  said  to  him,  Is  it  you, 
to  Ahab  you  who  have  brought  misfortune  to  Israel  ?     ^^And  he  answered,  I  have 
not  brought  misfortune  to  Israel,  but  you  and  your  father's  house,  in  that 
you  have  forsaken  the  commands  of  Jehovah  and  have  run  after  the  Baals. 
^^Now  therefore  send  and  gather  to  me  all  Israel  to  Mount  Carmel,  together 
with  the  four  hundred  and  fifty  prophets   of  the  Baal  and  the  four  hundred 
prophets  of  the  Asherah,p  who  eat  at  Jezebel's  table. 
Elijah's      20gQ  Ahab  sent  to  all  the  Israelites  and  gathered  the  prophets  together 
To'thi"  to  Mount  Carmel.     -^Then  Elijah  came  near  to  all  the  people  and  said, 
people    How  long  are  you  going  to  limp  between  the  two  sides  ?^    If  Jehovah  be  God, 
follow  him,  but  if  the  Baal,  then  follow-  him.     But  the  people  gave  him  no 

"  18^  So  Gk.  and  the  implication  of  succeeding  context.     Heb.,  go  through. 

°  18^  The  context  demands  and  Luc.  supports  this  reading.     The  Heb.  is  obscure. 

p  igi9  Xhis  appears  to  be  a  later  insertion,  for  the  expression,  prophets  of  the  Asherah,  is  late, 
and  in  the  subsequent  context,  ^o.  w^  only  the  prophets  of  Baal  are  mentioned.  As  in  II  Kgs. 
23*,  Asherah  probably  stands  for,  Ashfarte. 

q  ig2i  xhe  word  occurs  only  here.  It  comes  from  a  root  meaning  to  divide,  and  the  phrase 
may  be  translated  lit.,  on  two  dii^isions,  i.e.,  on  two  legs  or  opinions,  as  unequal  as  faith  in  Jehovah 
and  faith  in  Baal.  Gk.  and  Luc,  knee-cavities.  Slightly  emending  the  text  the  passage  may 
also  be  read  leap  over  two  thresholds.  In  the  light  of  Zeph.  1'  and  the  common  Semitic  idioms 
this  would  be  equivalent  to  worship  in  two  sanctuaries,  i.e.,  of  Jehovah  and  Baal.  This  mean- 
ing would  perfectly  fit  the  context.  The  saying  was  evidently  a  popular  proverb  current  in 
Elijah's  day. 

214 


JEHOVAH'S  VINDICATION  ON  CAR^IEL    [I  Kgs.  1821 
Early  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

answer.  22f  j^^j^  Elijah  said  to  the  people,  I,  even  I  only,  am  left  as  a  prophet 
of  Jehovah,  but  the  Baal's  prophets  are  four  hundred  and  fifty  men.  ^^j^g^ 
them  therefore  give  us  two  bullocks,  and  let  them  choose  one  bullock  for 
themselves  and  cut  it  in  pieces  and  lay  it  on  the  wootl  without  putting  on 
any  fire,  and  I  will  dress  the  other  bullock  and  lay  it  on  wood  without  putting 
on  any  fire.  -^Then  you  call  on  your  god  and  I  will  call  on  Jehovah;  and 
the  God  who  answers  by  fire,  he  is  the  God.  And  all  the  people  answered 
and  said,  It  is  well  spoken. 

2° And  Elijah  said  to  the  prophets  of  the  Baal,  Choose  one  of  the  bullocks  for  Failure 
yourselves  and  dress  it  first,  for  you  are  many,  and  call  on  your  god,  without  ]\a.,r 
putting  on  any  fire.     -^So  they  took  the  bullock  he  gave  them  and  dressed  it,  I'mph- 
and  called  on  the  Baal  from  morning  even  until  noon,  saying,  O  Baal,  hear  us.  to  meet 
But  there  was  no  voice  nor  answer.     And  they  lim{)ed  about  the  altar  which  * '®  *^® 
they  had  erected.''     -"But  when  it  was  noon,  Elijah  mocked  them,  saying, 
Cry  aloud;  for  he  is  a  god;  either  he  is  musing,  or  he  has  gone  aside,  or  he  is 
on  a  journey,  or  perhaps  he  is  sleeping  and  must  be  awakened !     ^S'pj^gjj 
they  cried  aloud,  and  cut  themselves  after  their  manner  with  swords  and 
lances  until  the  blood  gushed  out  upon  them.     ^Q^j^j  ^hen  midday  was  ])ast, 
they  prophesied  until  the  time  of  the  offering  of  the  evening  oblation;  but 
there  was  neither  voice  nor  answer  nor  heed  paid  to  their  cry. 

^^Then  Elijah  said  to  all  the  people,  Come  near  to  me.     And  all  the  people  Elijah's 
came  near  to  him.     And  he  repaired  the  altar  of  Jehovah  which  had  been  rations 
thrown    down.      ^'And  Elijah  took  twelve  stones  corresponding  to  the  number  of  for  the 
tribes  of  the  sons  of  Jacob  to  whom  the  word  of  Jehovah  came,  saying,  Israel  shall  be 
thy  name.     '^And  with  the  stones  he  built  an  altar  in  the  name  of  Jehovah.'     Then 
he  made  a  trench  about  the  altar  of  about  the  capacity  of  two  seahs*^  of 
seed.     ^3 And  he  laid  the  pieces  of  wood  in  order,  cut  up  the  bullock,  and 
laid  it  on  pieces  of  the  wood.     And  he  said.  Fill  four  jars  with  water  and 
pour  it  on  the  burnt-offering  and  on  the  pieces  of  wood.     ^^And  he  said.  Do 
it  the  second  time;  and  they  did  it  the  second  time.     And  he  said.  Do  it  the 
third  time;  and  they  did  it  also  the  third  time,"  ^Sg^  tJiat  the  water  ran  round 
the  altar;  and  he  also  filled  the  trench  with  water. 

3*^But  when  it  was  time  to  ofter  the  evening  olilation,  Elijah  the  prophet  The 
came   near    and    said,    O    Jehovah,    God    of    Abraham,   of   Isaac,  and    of  from 
Israel,  let  it  be  known  this  day  that  thou  art  God  in  Israel  and  that  I  am  |;<;;iyen 
thy  servant,  and  that  I  have  done  all  these  things  at  thy  command.     •'^"Hear  <j',Y.".''nK 
me,  O  Jehovah,  hear  me,  that  this  pe()j)le  may  know   that  thou,  Jehovah,  words 
art  God,  and  that  thou  hast  turned  their  heart  back  again,     ^sxhen  the 
fire  of  Jehovah^  fell  and  consumed  the  burnt-oftering  and  the  wood,  the 


'IS*  So  Gk.,  Luc,  S>T.,  and  L.at.     Ileb.,  was  erected.  •      i  .i    t  31   32. 

•  igM.  32a  Vs.  32b  js  thc  natural  se<iucl  of  ■*".  Tlie  Gk.  translators  also  recoRnizeil  that  ^i.  ■«• 
were  awkward  after  m».  and  so  put  ™'  last.  The  reference  to  twelve  tribes,  when  only  the  north- 
ern tribes  were  represento-l,  and  thc  lanRuaKC  of  ^"s  which  redocis  the  priestly  passage,  C.en. 
3.5'",  confirm  the  conclusif)ii  that  lhe.se  verses  are  from  a  late  priestly  editor.  r       ,1 

I  18''  About  five  gallons.  Thc  ground  which  would  be  sown  with  one  and  one-louith 
bushels  of  seed,  is  perhaps  intended. 

"  lX"-<  So  Gk.     The  last  clause  is  lacking  in  thc  llcb. 

"  18'"  Gk.  and  I^uc.,  fire  from  God. 

215 


I  Kgs.  1838]  THE  WORK  OF  ELIJAH 

Earli/  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

stones  and  the  dust,  and  licked  up  the  water  that  was  in  the  trench.  ^^And 
when  all  the  people  saw  it,  they  fell  on  their  faces,  and  cried,  Jehovah,  he  is 
God;  Jehovah,  he  is  God.  '*'^But  Ehjah  commanded  them,  Take  the  prophets 
of  the  Baal ;  let  not  one  of  them  escape !  So  they  took  them  down  to  the 
Brook  Kishon  and  slew  them  there. 
Com-  ^^Then  Elijah  said  to  Ahab,  Go  up,  eat  and  drink;  for  there  is  the  sound 
the  rain  of  a  heavy  downpour  of  rain.  '^^So  Aliab  went  up  to  eat  and  drink.  But 
Elijah  went  up  to  the  top  of  Carmel,  and  crouched  down  upon  the  earth, 
with  his  face  between  his  knees.  '^^And  he  said  to  his  servant.  Go  up  now, 
look  toward  the  sea.  And  he  went  up,  and  looked  and  said,  There  is  nothing. 
And  he  said.  Now  go  again  seven  times.^  So  the  servant  went  back  seven 
times.-''  "^But  the  seventh  time  he  said,  There  is  a  cloud  arising  out  of 
the  sea  as  small  as  a  man's  hand.  And  he  said,  Go  up,  say  to  Ahab,  '  Make 
ready  your  chariot,  go  down,  that  the  rain  may  not  stop  you.'  '^^ And  the 
next  instant  the  heavens  grew  black  with  clouds  and  wind,  and  there  was  a 
great  rain.  And  Aliab  rode  toward  Jezreel.  "^^And  the  hand  of  Jehovah 
was  on  Elijah,  so  that  he  girded  up  his  loins  and  ran  before  Ahab  to  the  en- 
trance of  Jezreel. 

§  71.  Revelation  to  Elijah  at  Horeb,  I  Kgs.  W-^» 

Early  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

Elijah's  I  Kgs.  19  ^Now  when  Ahab  told  Jezebel  all  that  Elijah  had  done,  and 
Horeb  °  ^H  the  details  of  his  slaying  the  prophets  with  the  sword,  ^Jezebel  sent  a 
messenger  to  Elijah,  saying,  As  surely  as  you  are  Elijah  and  I  am  Jezebel,^ 
may  the  gods  do  to  me  what  they  will,  if  I  do  not  make  your  life  as  the  life 
of  one  of  them  by  to-morrow  about  this  time.  ^Xhen  he  was  afraid  and 
arose  and  went  for  his  life.  And  he  came  to  Beersheba,  which  belongs  to 
Judah;  and  there  he  left  his  servant.  ^But  he  himself  went  a  day's  journey 
into  the  wilderness,  and  came  and  sat  down  under  a  broom  tree,^  and  he 
asked  that  he  might  die,  saying.  It  is  enough;  now,  O  Jehovah,  take  my  life, 
for  I  am  not  better  than  my  fathers  \'^  ^Then  he  lay  down  and  slept  under 
the  broom  tree.  Thereupon  a  divine  Messenger  touched  him  and  said  to 
him,  Rise,  eat !  ^And  when  he  looked,  he  saw  there  at  his  head  a  cake, 
baked  on  hot  stones,  and  a  jar  of  water.     And  he  ate  and  drank  and  lay 

"  ]  8'''  Slightly  reconstructing  the  text  in  harmony  with  a  suggestion  in  the  Gk. 

^  18«  The  Gk.  adds  the  last  clause. 

§  71  The  passage  sb-H"  appears  to  be  a  later  expansion  of  the  story.  Vs.  i"  anticipates  ]* 
and  is  almost  word  for  word  the  same.  The  entire  account  of  the  revelation  in  sb-na  aigo  antici- 
pates and  weakens  the  impressiveness  of  the  vision  recorded  in  nb-H  Not  until  in  '^  is  Elijah 
represented  as  coming  forth  from  the  cave.  Otherwise  the  graphic  narrative  is  the  immediate 
sequel  of  the  preceding  story. 

The  Assyrian  inscriptions  record  a  victory  over  Hazael  of  Damascus  in  842  B.C.  This  was 
probably  soon  after  the  revolution  whereby  Hazael  attained  to  the  Aramean  throne.  The  in- 
scriptions also  state  that  in  the  same  year  Jehu  paid  tribute,  probably  to  establish  himself  on 
the  throne  of  Israel.     Cf.  Appendix  V. 

»  19^  Gk.  and  Luc.  have  preserved  the  characteristic  opening  words  of  Jezebel. 

*>  19<  The  Retama  roetam,  a  shrub  growing  from  eight  to  twelve  feet  hiigh  and  possessing  a 
dense  foliage. 

<=  19*  I.e.,  since  I  must  some  time  die,  let  it  be  now. 

216 


REVELATION  TO  ELIJAH  AT  HOREB       [I  Kgs.  19^ 

Early  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

down  again.  "But  the  Messenger  of  Jehovah  came  again  the  second  time 
and  touched  him  and  said,  Rise,  eat,  or  else  the  journey  will  be  too  long 
for  you.  ^So  he  arose  and  ate  and  drank  and  went  in  the  strength  of  that 
food  forty  days  and  forty  nights  to  Horeb  the  Mount  of  God.  '-'And  there 
he  came  to  a  cave  and  lodged  therein. 

Thereupon  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  him.    And  he  said  to  him,  What  doest  thou  His 
here,  Elijah?     '"And  he  said,  I  have  been  very  jealous  for  Jehovah,  the  God  of  hosts;  com- 
for  the  Israelites  have  forsaken  thee,"*  thrown  down  thine  altars,  and  slain  thy  prophets  pliiint 
with  the  sword;   and  I  only  am  left,  and  they  seek  to  take  mj^  life  from  me.      "Then 
he  said.  Go  forth  and  stand  on  the  mount  before  Jehovah. 

Thereupon  Jehovah  passed  by,  and  a  great  and  violent  wind  rent  the  Reve- 
mountain  and  broke  in  pieces  the  rocks  before  Jehovah ;  but  Jehovah  was  not  Jf/jp" 
in  the  wind.     And  after  the  wind  an  earthquake;  but  Jehovah  was  not  in  hovah's 
the  earthquake.     ^-And  after  the  earthriuake  a  fire;  but  Jehovah  was  not  charac- 
in  the  fire.     And  after  the  fire  the  sound  of  a  low,  soft*'  whisper.^     ^'^And  ^*"^ 
as  soon  as  Elijah  heard  it,  he  wrapped  his  face  in  his  mantle  and  went  out 
and  stood  at  the  entrance  of  the  cave.     And  then  there  came  a  voice  to  him 
and  said.  What  doest  thou  here,  Elijah  ?     ^'^And  he  said,  I  have  been  very 
jealous  for  Jehovah,  the  God  of  hosts,  for  the  Israelites  have  forsaken  thee, 
thrown  down  thine  altars,  and  slain  thy  prophets  with  the  sword,  and  I  only 
am  left,  and  they  seek  to  take  away  my  life  from  me. 

^^Then  Jehovah  said  to  him.  Go,  return  on  thy  way  to  the  Wilderness  of  Direc- 
Damascus,  and  when  thou  comest  anoint  Ilazael  to  be  king  over  Aram.  f','r"he 
^^And  Jehu  the  son  of  Niinshi  shalt  thou  anoint  to  be  king  over  Israel.     And  o,^^""- 

throw 

Elisha  the  son  of  Shaphat  of  x\bel-meholah  shalt  thou  anoint  to  be  prophet  of  Baal- 
in  thy  place.     ^''And  it  shall  be  that  whoever  escapes  the  sword  of  Hazael,  '^'" 
Jehu  shall  slay;  and  whoever  escapes  the  sword  of  Jehu,  Elisha  shall  slay. 
^^Yet  will  I  spare  seven  thousand  in  Israel — all  the  knees  which  have  not 
bowed  to  Baal  and  every  mouth  which  hath  not  kissed  him, 

§  72.  Call  of  Elisha,  I  Kgs.  19'»-2i 

Early  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

I  Kgs.   19  ^^Now  when  he  had  departed  from  there  he  found   Elisha  Selec- 
the  son  of  Shaphat,  as  he  was  plowing  with  twelve  yoke  of  oxen,  and  he  was  a  disci- 
with  the  twelfth.     And  Elijah  went  over  to  him  and  cast  his  mantle  upon  him.  p'e  and 
'^'^And  he  left  the  oxen  and  ran  after  Elijah  and  said.  Let  me,  I  pray  you,  sor 
kiss  my  father  and  my  mother  and  then  I  will  follow  you.     And  he  said  to 
him,  Go  back  again,  for  what  have  I  done  to  you  ?     ^i^o  he  turned  from 
following  him  and  took  the  yoke  of  oxen  and  slew  them  and  boiled  their 
flesh^  with  the  instruments  of  the  oxen  and  gave  to  the  people  to  eat.     Then 
he  arose  and  went  after  Elijah  and  entered  into  his  service. 

<•  19'"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Here  and  in  '■•  a  scribe  has  added,  covenant,  in  the  Heb. 

«  1912  Lit.,  thin,  fine. 

'  19'2  Cf.  Ps.  107^',  Job  4'",  a  gentle  breeze  or  a  low  murmur. 

5  72  OriKinally  '•*  was  probably  followed  hy  an  account  of  the  anoint inp;  of  Hiizaol,  ns  rom- 
mandeil  in  ''',  for  AV)el-nrieholah  is  not  on  the  liiKhway  from  Horeh  to  Darna.scus  and  the  anointiriK 
of  Ilazafl  was  to  precede  that  of  I'.lislia.  The  omission  appe;irs  to  he  ilue  In  the  fj^ict  that  it  is 
recouritfil  at  length  and  attiiliiitc-d  to  I'^lisha  in  the  hiter  narratives.      Cf.  II   l\Ks.  S"  "•. 

K  I'J'-'  Flesh,  wliich  i.s  omitted  in  Gk.  and  Luc,  may  be  a  scribal  addition  to  the  Hob. 


IKgs.  2li]  THE   WORK   OP  ELIJAH 

§  73.  Murder  of  Naboth  and  Elijah's  Condemnation  of  Ahab,  I  Kgs.  21 

Earlij  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 
Na-  I  Kgs.  31  ^Now^^  Naboth  the  Jezreelite  had  a  vineyard  beside  the  palace 

refusal    ^^  Ahab  king  of  Samaria.     2\nd  xVhab  spoke  to  Naboth,  saying,  Give  me 
to  sell     your  vineyard,  that  I  may  have  it  for  a  vegetable  garden,  because  it  is  near 
vine-      my  house,  and  I  will  give  you  a  better  vineyard  for  it;  or,  if  it  is  more  sat- 
Ahab*°  isfactory  to  you,  I  will  give  you  the  value  of  it  in  money.     ^But  Naboth 
answered   x\hab,  Jehovah  forbid  me,  that  I  should  give  to  you   the  inheri- 
tance of  my  fathers.     *And  Ahab  came  into  his  house  in  ill-humor'  because 
of  the  word  which  Naboth  the  Jezreelite  had  spoken  to   him;   for  he  had 
said,  I  will  not  give  to  you  the  inheritance  of  my  fathers.     And  he  lay  down 
on  his  bed  and  covered^  his  face  and  would  eat  no  food. 
Jeze-  ^But  Jezebel  his  wife  came  to  him  and  said  to  him.  Why  are  you  so  out 

meir--     *^f  humor  that  you  eat  no  food  ?     ^And  he  replied  to  her,  Because  I  made  a 
uresto    nroposi*^ion  to  Naboth  the  Jezreelite  and  said  to  him,  'Give  me  your  vine- 
Na-        vard  for  money;  or  else  if  it  is  more  satisfactory  to  you  I  will  give  you  an- 
death     other  vineyard  for  it';  and  he  answered,  'I  will  not  give  you  my  vineyard.' 
'^Then  Jezebel  his  wife  said  to  him,  Is  it  you  who  now  holds  sway  in  Israel? 
Arise,  eat,  and  let  your  heart  be  cheerful.     I  will  give  you  the  vineyard  of 
Naboth  the  Jezreelite.     ^So  she  wrote  letters  in   Ahab's   name  and   sealed 
them  with  his  seal,  and  sent  the  letters  to  the  elders  and  to  the  nobles  who 
were  in  his  city  who  presided  with  Naboth.     ^And  she  wrote  in  the  letters. 
Proclaim   a  fast  and  also  place  Naboth  in  a  prominent  place  among  the 
people.     ^''Then  place  two  base  men  before  him  and  let  them  bear  witness 
against   him,   saying,   'You   have  cursed**^   God  and  the  king.'     And  then 
carry  him  out  and  stone  him  to  death. 
Reali-         ^^And  the  men  of  his  city,  the  elders  and  the  nobles  who  presided  in  his 
of  he?    <^ity,  did  as  Jezebel  had  ordered  them.     As  it  was  prescribed  in  the  letters 
designs  which  she  had  sent  to  them,  ^^jhey  proclaimed  a  fast,  and  put  Naboth  in  a 
prominent  place  among  the  people.     ^^And  two  base  men  came  in  and  sat 
before  him,  and  the  scoundrels  bore  witness  against  him  (Naboth)  in  the 
presence  of  the  people,  saying,  Naboth  cursed  God  and  the  king.     Then 
they  carried  him  out  of  the  city  and  stoned  him  to  death  with  stones.'     ^^And 
they  sent  to  Jezebel,  saying,  Naboth  has  been  stoned  and  is  dead.     ^^And 
as  soon  as  Jezebel  heard  that  Naboth  had  been  stoned  and  was  dead,  Jezebel 
said  to  Ahab,  Arise,  take  possession  of  the  vineyard  of  Naboth  the  Jezreelite, 
which  he  refused  to  give  you  for  money;  for  Naboth  is  not  alive  but  dead. 
^''And  as  soon  as  Ahab  heard  that  Naboth  was  dead,  Ahab  rose  up  to  go 
down  to  the  vineyard  of  Naboth  the  Jezreelite,  to  take  possession  of  it. 

§  73  In  introducing  21  immediately  after  19  the  Gk.  has  undoubtedly  preserved  the  original 
order.  Not  only  is  the  literary  style  the  same  here,  as  in  19,  but  Elijah  occupies  the  same 
prominent  position,  while  Ahab  appears  in  a  much  less  favorable  light  than  in  20. 

h  211  So  Gk.  and  Lat.  A  later  scribe  has  endeavored  to  connect  this  story  with  the  inci- 
dents in  the  preceding  chapter  by  adding  the  introductory  phrase  now  it  came  to  pass  after 
these  things.     This  was  probably  copied  from  17'''. 

'  21''  Following  the  Gk.  in  reconstructing  the  Heb. 

J  21*  So  Gk.     Heb.,  turned  away. 

''  21'"  Lit.,  bles-ied.  The  word  is  apparently  used  euphemistically  with  the  implication 
that  Naboth  had  committed  an  unspeakable  crime,  probably  that  of  blasphemy. 

1  21'^  The  later  law  regarding  the  punishment  of  blasphemy  is  found  in  Lev.  24'''  i*. 

218 


ne 


ELIJAH'S   CONDEMNATION   OF   AHAB    [I  Kgs.  21i7 

Early  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

I'But  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Ehjah  the  Tishbite,  saying,  i^Arise,  Klijah'i 
go  down  to  meet  Ahab  the  king  of  Israel,  who  dwells  in  Samaria;  he  is  just  ™pe„f 
now  in  the  vineyard  of  Naboth,  whither  he  has  gone  down  to  take  possession  *''^'^>'" 
of  it.     I'-^And  thou  shalt  speak  to  him,  saying,  "Thus  saith  Jehovah.  "Hast  d"mi 
thou  killed  and  also  taken  possession  ?  " '     Moreover  thou  shalt  sjjeak  to  a  ""in^t 
him,  saying,  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  "  In  the  j)lace  where  the  dogs  licked  the  -'^'i^'^" 
blood  of  Naboth  will  the  dogs  lick  thy  blood  also.'"     20.^,jfj  j^^^^^^  ^^-^^  ^^  ^;j;|J^is 

Elijah,  Have  you  found  me,'"  O  mine  enemy  ?     And  he  answered,  I  have. 

Because"  thou  hast  sold  thyself  to  no  purpose,"  to  do  tliat  which  is  displeasing  to 
Jehovah,  -^I  will  bring  evil  upon  thee,  and  will  utterlv  sweep  tliee  away  and  willcut 
off  from  Ahab  every  male  and  him  that  is  shut  up  and  him  that  is  left  at  large  in  Israel. 
2-And  I  will  make  thy  house  like  the  house  of  Jeroboam  t])e  son  of  Nebat  and  like 
the  house  of  Baasha  the  son  of  Ahijah,  because  of  the  anger  which  thou  hast  aroused 
and  because  thou  hast  made  Israel  to  sin.  -"^And  of  Jezel)el  also  Jehovah  has 
spoken,  saying,  'The  dogs  shall  eat  Jezebel  in  the  district'^  of  Jezreel. 
^^Whoever  of  Ahab's  house  dieth  in  the  fields,  the  birds  of  the  heavens  shall  eat.' 

-"There  was  absolutely  none  who  sold  himself  to  do  that  which  was  displeasing  to  Ahab's 
Jehovah,  as  did  Ahab,  because  Jezebel   his  wife  incited  him.      -'Tor  he  beha\ed  most  guilt 
abominably  in  following  idols,  as  did  all  the  Amorites,  whom  Jehovah  hail  dri\en  out 
before  the  Israelites. 

2' Now  when  Ahab  heard  those  words  he  tore  his  clothes  and  })ut  sack-  His 
cloth  on  his  flesh  and  fasted,  he  also  slept  on  sackcloth  anfl  went  about  quietly,  ancl"*^' 
^*Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Elijah  the  Tishbite,  saying,  =^IIast   thou  seen 
how  Ahab  has  humbled  himself  before  me?     Because  he  has  lumihlod  himself  before 
me,  I  will  not  bring  the  evil  in  his  days;  but  in  his  son's  daj's  will  1  bring  the  evil  upon 
his  house.i 

§  74.  Deliverance  of  Samaria  from  the  Arameans,  I  Kgs.  20^-^*. 
Ahab  History 

I  Kgs.  30  ^Then  Ben-hadad""  the  king  of  Aram  gathered  all  his  host  Ren- 
together,  and  there  were  thirty-two  kings  with  him,  and  horses  and  chariots,  unrea-^ 
And  he  went  up  and  besieged  Samaria  and  fought  against  it.     --'.\nd  he  sent  ^""a- 
messengers  to  Ahab  king  of  Israel  into  the  city  and  said  to  him,  Thus  says  nuuuis 

■n  2120  I.e.,  some  act  to  be  condemned. 

n  2120b-22  -phg  original  words  of  Elijah  have  been  here  expanded  by  the  late  prophetic 
editor,  whose  language  and  ideas  are  readily  recognized.  The  oracle  in  M'"'  "  is  repeated 
almost  word  for  word.  Vs.  •■^,  however,  may  have  belonged  to  tlic  (original  speech.  If  not,  it 
was  probably  added  to  the  text  by  an  early  editor,  familiar  with  II  Kgs.  9*'. 

°  21-"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Ilel).  omits  the  pregnant  phra.'^o,  li>  ni>  purpose. 

p  2123  So  Syr.,  Lat.,  and  Targ.     The  Heb.  is  doubtful.     RV,  mmixirt.  but  cf.  11  Kgs.  O'"'  ^'  ". 

1  2128.  -'J  The.se  verses  assume,  not  the  older  prediction  in  '■',  but  tiie  broader  judgment  in 
the  secondary  passage,  21,  go  that  they  also  are  probably  secondary.  Moreover,  they  refer  to 
events  peculiar  to  the  later  Elisha  stories. 

§  74  That  the  incidents  recorded  in  this  chapter  and  its  natural  .sequel,  22'-^',  belong  to  the 
latter  years  of  .\haV)'s  reign  is  indicated  by  22'  and  by  the  fact  that  .\ramean  aggressions  became 
especially  active  at  this  time. 

The  evidence  that  these  were  not  taken  from  the  same  source  as  the  preceding  Elijah 
stories  is  conclusive.  Elijah  is  nowhere  mentioned,  but  instead  Micaiah  appears  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  true  prophets,  22^*  2ci;  Ahal>  is  viewed  in  a  mucli  more  favorable  light,  an<l  he  is 
here  called  the  kinq  of  Israel — not  prevailingly  by  his  given  name  as  in  the  ICIijah  stories,  or  as 
the  king  of  Saniarui.  The  narratives  also  deal  with  political  rather  than  social  and  religious 
questions.  The  vividness  and  fidelity  witli  which  .Vhab's  character  and  acts  are  portrayed  are 
only  paralleled  by  the  early  Saul  and  David  histories.  He  apjiears  as  a  brave  warrior,  a  wise, 
patriotic  ruler  and  a  gracious  conqueror  (20'''0.  Nothing  is  said  of  his  apostasy.  Instead  he  is 
a  ruler  who  listens  to  the  advice  of  the  prophets  of  Jehovah,  202228;  although  the  victim  of  Iho 

■•  20'  Ben-hadad  II,  whose  name  appears  on  the  Assyrian  inscrmtioiis  as  Dadda-idri.  The 
original  Heb.  transcription  was  ijrobably,  Uadader  or  lladadezcr.  Cf.  chronological  chart  after 
p.  I'jy. 


IKgs.  202]  RULE   OF  THE   HOUSE   OF   OMRI 

Ahab  History 

Ben-hadad,  ^Your  silver  and  your  gold  are  mine;  your  wives  also  and  your 
children,  ^  are  mine.  '*And  the  king  of  Israel  answered  and  said,  As  you  say, 
my  lord,  O  king:  I  am  yours  with  all  that  I  have.  ^And  the  messengers 
came  again  and  said,  Thus  says  Ben-hadad,  'I  sent  to  you,  saying,  "You 
shall  deliver  to  me  your  silver  and  your  gold  and  your  wives  and  your  chil- 
dren"; %ut  to-morrow  I  will  send  my  servants  about  this  time  and  they 
shall  search  your  house  and  the  houses  of  your  servants;  and  \vhatever  is 
attractive  to  them,*  they  shall  take  in  their  hands  and  bear  it  away.' 
Ahab's  "Then  the  king  of  Israel  called  all  the  elders  of  the  land  and  said,  Mark, 
to^"^m-  ^  P^^J'  ^^d  s^^  how  this  man  is  seeking  to  make  trouble,  for  he  sent  to  me 
ply  for  my  wives  and  my  children  and  for  my  silver  and  gold,  and  I  did  not 
refuse  him.  ^And  all  the  elders  and  all  the  people  said  to  him,  Do  not  hearken 
nor  consent !  ^Therefore  he  said  to  the  messengers  of  Ben-hadad,  Tell  my 
lord  the  king,  'All  that  you  demanded  of  your  servant  at  the  first  I  will  do, 
but  this  I  cannot  do.'  So  the  messengers  departed  and  brought  him  word 
again,  ^^xhen  Ben-hadad  sent  to  him  and  said.  Let  the  gods  do  to  me 
what  they  will,  if  the  dust  of  Samaria  shall  suffice  for  handfuls  for  all  the 
people  who  follow  me  !  ^^And  the  king  of  Israel  answered  and  said.  Tell 
him,  '  Let  not  him  who  is  girding  on  his  sword  boast  himself  as  he  who  is 
putting  it  off.'  ^^Now  when  Ben-hadad"  heard  this  message — he  was  drink- 
ing together  with  the  kings  in  the  pavilions — he  said  to  his  servants.  Set 
yourselves  in  array.  And  they  set  themselves  in  array  against  the  city. 
His  vie-  ^^But  just  then  a  prophet  came  near  to  Ahab  king  of  Israel  and  said, 
P°g^  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  '  Hast  thou  seen  all  this  great  multitude  ?  Behold,  I 
the  Ar-  will  deliver  it  into  thy  hand  to-day,  and  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  Jehovah.' 
^%nd  Ahab  said.  By  whom  ?  And  he  said.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  '  By  the 
young  men  under  the  provincial  commanders.'^  And  he  said,  Who  shall 
begin  the  battle?  And  he  answered,  Thou.^  ^^Then  he  mustered  the 
young  men  under  the  provincial  commanders,  and  they  were  two  hundred 
and  thirty-two.  And  after  them  he  mustered  all  the  people,  even  all  the 
Israelites'^ — seven  thousand.     I'^And  at  noon  they  made  the  attack,  while 

false  representatives  of  the  order,  22.  He  dies  fighting  bravely  for  his  people  and  is  buried  at 
Samaria,  22**'  ^>  37.  While  each  history  doubtless  presents  sides  of  Ahab's  character  and  policy 
not  inconsistent  with  each  other,  they  cannot  possibly  be  from  the  same  source.  Chaps.  20  and 
22  may  have  been  included  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  King.s  of  Israel,  but  they  were  probably 
taken  originally  from  an  independent  Ahab  history,  which  was  written  before  the  early  Elijah 
stories  and  therefore  between  850  and  800  b.c.  This  is  confirmed  by  the  presence  of  many 
linguistic  peculiarities  found  nowhere  else. 

The  historical  value  of  these  narratives  is  very  great.  They  reveal  the  political  problem 
of  Northern  Israel  during  one  of  its  most  important  epochs  and  throw  clear  light  upon  the 
character  and  work  of  Ahab. 

»  20^  So  Gk.     In  the  Heb.  a  scribe  has  awkwardly  added  after  children,  the  fairest. 

'  20"  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Lat.     Heb.,  your  eyes. 

"  2012  Heb.,  that  one. 

V  20"  I.e.,  not  the  soldiers  of  the  standing  army,  but  the  warriors  furnished  in  time  of  war 
by  the  local  feudal  lords.  A  similar  system  was  in  force  among  the  Babylonians  and  Assyrians. 
Cf.  Johns,  Bab.  and  Assyr.  Laws,  Contracts,  and  Letters,  pp.  76,  77,  200,  201. 

w  20'3,  14  These  verses  are  not  absolutely  required  by  the  context  and  may  have  been  added 
later — as  certain  scholars  have  urged — to  show  that  Ahab's  victories  as  well  as  disasters  were 
meted  out  directly  by  Jehovah;  but  the  role  assumed  by  the  prophet  here  is  the  same  as  in  the 
oldest  narratives  and  their  attitude  toward  Ahab  appears  to  have  been  favorable,  as  is  that  of 
the  author  of  the  section.     So  also  ^2. 

^  Gk.  and  Luc,  all  the  mighty  warriors.  The  reference  is  evidently  to  the  standing  army 
as  contrasted  with  the  militia. 

220 


hatlad's 
prep- 


DELBT:RANCE   of   SAMARIA  [IKgs.2016 

Ahab  History 

Ben-hadad  was  drinking  himself  drunk  in  the  pavilions,  together  with  the 
thirty-two  kings  who  had  come  to  help  him.  ^"And  the  young  men  under 
the  provincial  commanders  went  out  first.  And  Ben-hadad  sent  out  mes- 
sengers and  they  reported  to  him  saying,  Men  have  come  out  from  Samaria. 
^'^And  he  said,  Whether  they  have  come  out  with  peaceful  intent,  take  them 
alive;  or  whether  they  have  come  out  for  war,  take  them  alive.  ^^So  these 
(the  young  men  under  the  provincial  commanders)  went  out  of  the  city, 
and  the  army  which  followed  them.  -^"^And  they  slew  each  his  man,  .so  that 
the  Arameans  fled.  And  the  Israelites  pursued  them,  but  Ben-hadad,  the 
king  of  Aram,  escaped  on  a  horse  with  horsemen,  ^ifj^e^  jjjg  j^j^g  ^f  Israel 
went  out  and  captured ''^  horses  and  chariots,  and  slew  a  great  number  of 
the  Arameans. 

22And  the  prophet  came  near  to  the  king  of  Israel  and  said  to  him,  Go,  Ben 
strengthen  thyself,  and  mark  and  see  what  thou  wilt  do,  for  a  year  from 
now  the  king  of  Aram  will  come  up  against  thee.     -^And  the  servants  of  the  awa- 
king of  Aram  said  to  him,  Their  gods  are  hill-gods,  therefore  they  were  too  for  a 
strong  for  us;  but  let  us  fight  against  them  in  the  plain,  and  surely  we  shall  c^m"'^ 
be  stronger  than  they.     24;Yj^(J  ^Jq  this:  take  the  kings  away  each  from  his  pa'gn 
place,  and  put  commanders  in  their  place,  -'^and  assemble  an  army,  like  the 
army  that  you  have  lost,  horse  for  horse  and  chariot  for  chariot;  then  we  will 
fight  against  them  in  the  plain,  and  surely  we  shall  be  stronger  than  they. 
And  he  listened  to  their  advice  and  did  so. 

§  75.  Ahab's  Victory  over  the  Arameans  at  Aphek,  I  Kgs.  20^«-34 
Ahab  History 

I  Kgs.  20  26Now  when  the  year  had  come  around  Ben-hadad  mustered  Ahab's 
the  Arameans  and  went  up  to  Aphek  to  fight  against  Israel.     27\j,(j  ^j,^  ^^^"^""^ 
Israelites  were  mustered  and  provided  with  provisions,*^  and  went  against  victory 
them.     And  the  Israelites  encamped  before  them  hke  two  sniall  (locks  of 
goats,  while  the  Arameans  filled  the  country,     ^syj^^jj  ^  j^^n  of  God  came 
near  and  said  to  the  king  of  Israel,  Thus  saitli  Jehovah,  '  Because  the  Ara- 
means think,  "Jehovah  is  a  hill-god  but  not  a  god  of  the  valleys,"  therefore 
I  will  deliver  all  this  great  multitude  into  thy  hand,  that  ye  may  know  that  I 
am  Jehovah.'     ^ogo  t^gy  encamped  oppo.site  each  other  seven  days.     But 
on  the  seventh  day  the  battle  was  joined;  and  the  I.sraelites  .slew  of  the  .Vra- 
means  a  hundred  thou.sand  footmen  in  one  day.     -^"But  the  rest  fled  to  Aphek, 
into  the  city;  and  the  wall  fell  upon  twenty-seven  thousand  of  the  men  who 
were  left.     Ben-hadad  also  fled,  and  came  into  the  city,  into  an  innermost 
chamber. 


•  20^1  So  Gk.  and  I,uc.     The  Heb.  has  the  less  probable  readinR,  KlfiiK  .  ,     ., 

§  7.5  This  is  tiie  imme<iiate  seftuel  of  the  preoeilinR  narrative.  The  story  ha.<i  evulently 
grown  <hirin<?  transmission,  e.g.,  ^uh,  m,^  ijut  these  elements  may  well  be  from  the  author  who 
wrote  thfi  present  narrative.  ...         .  ■ 

^  20"  So  Gk.,  I.uc.,  Syr.,  Lat.,  and  Targ.     The  lleb.  word  is  otherwise  unknown. 

221 


I  Kgs.  2031]        RULE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   OMRI 

Ahab  History 
Liberal       ^1  \i^fl  his  servants  said  to  Mm,  Behold  now,  we  have  heard  that  the  kings 
Offered    of  the  housc  of  Israel  are  merciful  kings;  let  us  therefore  put  sackcloth  about 
to  Ben-  Qiij.  loins  and  ropes  about  our  heads  and  go  out  to  the  king  of  Israel;  perhaps 
by  ^      he  will  save  your  life.     "-So  they  girded  sackcloth  about  their  loins  and  put 
^"^^     ropes  about  their  heads,  and  came  to  the  king  of  Israel  and  said,  Your  ser- 
vant Ben-hadad  says,  'Let  me  live.'     And  he  replied,  Is  he  yet  aUve?     He 
is  my  brother.     33>yow  the  men  began  to  divine  his  thought  and  quickly 
caught  it  up  from  him''  and  said,  Ben-hadad  is  your  brother.     Then  he  said, 
Go,  bring  him !     And  when  Ben-hadad  came  out  to  him  he  took  him  up  to 
himself  in  the  chariot.     ^^And  Ben-hadad  said  to  him.  The  cities  which 
my  father  took  from  your  father,  I  will  restore,  and  you  may  establish  streets'^ 
for  yourself  in  Damascus  as  my  father  established  in  Samaria.     And  Ahab® 
said,  I  will  let  you  go  with  this  agreement.     So  he  made  an  agreement  with 
hitn  and  let  him  go. 

§76.  Messages  of  the  Unknown  Prophet,  I  Kgs.  20^5-43 

Very  Late  Popular  Prophetic  Story 

The  I  Kgs.  20  35Xow  a  certain  man  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets  at  the  com- 

^ro*^  h-    niand  of  Jehovah  said  to  his  fellow,  Smite  me,  I  pray.     But  the  man  refused 

ecy         to  smite  him.     36'j'hgj^  he  said  to  him.  Since  you  have  not  obeyed  the  voice 

appli-^    of  Jehovah,  as  soon  as  you  have  gone  away  from  me,  a  lion  shall  slay  you. 

cation    Accordingly,  as  soon  as  he  had  gone  away  from  him,  a  lion  found  him  and 

slew  him.     ^/'phen  he  found  another  man,  and  said.  Smite  me,  I  pray.     And 

the  man  smote  him  so  as  to  wound  him.     ^S'ph^j^  ^h^  prophet  departed  and 

waited  for  the  king  by  the  way  and  disguised  himself  with  a  covering  over 

his  eyes,     ^o^nd  as  the  king  was  passing  by,  he  cried  to  the  king  and  said. 

Your  servant  had  gone  out  into  the  midst  of  the  battle,  when  suddenly  a  man 

turned  aside,  and  brought  a  man  to  me  and   said,  'Watch  this  man;  if  by 

any  means  he  be  missing,  then  must  your  life  be  for  his  life,  or  else  you  must 

pay  a  talent  of  silver  ! '     '*^And  as  your  servant  was  looking  here  and  there,^ 

he  was  gone.     And  the  king  of  Israel  said  to  him.  Such  is  your  verdict:  you 

yourself  have  decided  it.     '^iThen  he  quickly  took  the  covering  away  from 

his  eyes,  and  the  king  of  Israel  recognized  that  he  was  one  of  the  prophets. 

<:  2033  The  Heb.  as  it  reads  is  untranslatable.  The  reading  above  is  based  on  the  text  re- 
constructed with  the  aid  of  the  Gk.  which  has,  and  they  took  up  the  icord  from  his  mouth. 

d  203-'  I.e.,  streets  with  bazaars  for  the  Israelitish  traders,  who  perhaps  were  under  the 
direct  protection  and  jurisdiction  of  their  native  government.  This  arrangement  corresponds 
to  the  commercial  clause  in  a  modern  treaty.  In  854  b.c.  Ahab  and  the  Aramean  king  fought 
against  Shalmanezer  II. 

"  2031  As  often  in  the  Heb.,  the  change  of  subject  is  probably  implied  by  the  context. 
Otherwise  it  is  necessary  radically  to  change  the  text  so  as  to  read.  You  may  let  me  go. 

§  76  The  language  and  atmosphere  of  this  strange  tale  are  entirely  different  from  the  sober 
narrative  to  which  it  is  attached.  It  is  closely  akin  to  the  very  late  tradition  in  1233-13^,  §  61. 
The  extraordinary  and  inexplicable  appear  alike  in  both.  In  each  a  lion  is  the  agent  of  divine 
judgment.  The  conception  of  the  prophets  is  that  of  a  very  late  and  unhistorical  period.  The 
real  point  of  the  story  is  obscure.  It  seems  to  be  a  condemnation  of  Ahab's  lenient  policy 
toward  his  beaten  foe.  Like  1233-1334,  it  may  have  been  added  after  the  late  prophetic  com- 
pilation of  Kgs.  had  been  made. 

f  20«  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Targ.  The  Heb.,  was  a  doer  of  hither  and  thither,  is  an  exceedingly 
awkward,  if  not  impossible  construction. 

222 


MESSAGES  OF  THE  UNKNOWN  PROPHET     [I  Kgs.  20^* 

Very  Late  Poimlar  Prophetic  Sforij 

"^-And  he  said  to  liim,  Thus  sailh  Jehovali,  'Because  thou  hast  let  go  out  of 
thy  hand  the  man  whom  I  had  condemned  to  destruction,  s  therefore  tliy 
hfe  shall  go  for  his  life  and  thy  people  for  his  people.'  ^"^And  the  king  of 
Israel  went  homeward  in  ill-humor  and  sullen,  and  came  to  Samaria. 

§  77.  Predictions  of  Micaiah  and  the  Four  Hundred  False  Prophets, 

I  Kgs.  221-28,  II  Chr.  18'" 

Ahah  Hisfori/ 

I  Kgs.  32  ^Then  for  three  years  they  remained  at  peace,  without  there  The 
being  war  between  Aram  and  Israel.     "But  in  the  third  year,  when  Jehosha-  ^^gg 
phat  the  king  of  Judah  had  come  down  to  the  king  of  Israel,  "^the  king  of  against 
Israel  said  to  his  servants.  Do  you  know  that  Ramoth  in  Gilead  belongs  to 
us,  yet  we  sit  still  instead  of  taking  it  from  the  king  of  Aram  ?''     "*And  he 
said  to  Jehoshaphat,  Will  you  go  with  me  to  fight  against  Ramoth  in  Gilead  ? 
And  Jehoshaphat  said  to  the  king  of  Israel,  I  am  as  you,  my  people  as  your 
people,  my  horses  as  your  horses. 

^Jehoshaphat  also  said  to  the  king  of  Israel,  Inquire  at  this  time,  I  pray,  En- 
for  the  word  of  Jehovah,     ^xhen  the  king  of  Israel  gathered  the  prophets  fng""^^" 
together,  about  four  hundred  men,  and  asked  them.  Shall  I  go  to  fight  against  "'es- 
Ramoth  in  Gilead  or  shall  I  forbear.?     And  they  said.  Go  up;  for  Jehovah'  tiieof- 
will  dehver  it  into  the  hand  of  the  king.     ^But  Jehoshaphat  said.  Is  there  proph- 
no  other  prophetJ  of  Jehovah,  that  we  may  inquire  of  him  ?       ^And  the  king  ets 
of  Israel  said,  There  is  another  by  whom  we  may  inquire  of  Jehovah,  Micaiah 
the  son  of  Imlah,  but  I  hate  him;  for  he  prophesies  for  me  nothing  good, 
but  only  evil.     And  Jehoshaphat  said.  Let  not  the  king  say  so. 

^Then  the  king  of  Israel  called  an  eunuch  and  said,  Bring  quickly  Micaiah  Their 
the  son  of  Imlah.     ^"Now  while  the  king  of  Israel  and  Jch<)shai)hat  the  king  phatic 
of  Judah  were  sitting  each  on  his  throne,  clad  in  his  robes  of  state  at  the  {^ons*'" 
entrance*^  of  the  gate  of  Samaria,  and  all  the  proj^hets  were  prophesying  of  vie- 
before  them,  i^Zedekiah  the  son  of  Chenaanah  made  for  himself  horns  of 
iron  and  said.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  '  With  these  shalt  thou  ])ush  the  Ara- 
means  until  you  have  destroyed  them  ! '     i-And  all  the  prophets  ])r()phesied 
the  same  saying.  Go  up  to  Ramoth  in  Gilead;  for  Jehovah  will  deliver  it 
into  the  hand  of  the  king. 


"  20'^  TIeb.,  the  man  of  my  ban.  ,  , 

§  77  Tliis  is  the  immefiiate  sequel  of  the  victory  over  the  Arameans  recorded  in  20™-*'..  J  he 
portrait  which  it  sives  of  the  early  prophets,  and  especially  those  associated  tofiether  in  the 
prophetic  guilds  and  probably  in  part  supported  from  the  royal  treasury,  is  nio.st  viilua No  and 
explains  the  indignant  declaration  of  Amos  that  he  was  no  son  of  a  prophet,  T".  It  also  first 
introduces  the  idea  of  a  lying  spirit  which  perhaps  later  developed  into  the  Jewish  behef  in 
Satan,  the  Adversary.  ,      ,  .      ■       i       j 

>'  22^  The  parallel  in  II  Chr.  18^  TC:i<h.  ami  Ah<ib  Hlled  sheep  ami  o.rcu  for  him  in  abrnidance, 
and  for  the  people  who  were  with  him,  and  influenced  him  to  no  up  to  Uamoth  m  Gilead. 

'22«  So  certain  codices.     Cf.  "• '2.     A  scribe  haa  in  the  received  lleb.  text  substituted, 

f  /n*/7 

i  22'  Ok.,  Luc.  Syr.,  and  T-at.,  /«  there  not  here  a  prophet  of  Jehovahf     This  implies  that 
the  four  hunrlred  were  not  .lehov.ah  i)rophots.      Hut  cf.  "•  ". 
k  22'*'  .Making  a  necessary  correction  in  the  lleb. 

223 


IKgs.  2213]         RULE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF   OMRI 

Ahab  History 

Mica-         I3^\nd  the  messenger  who  went  to  call  Micaiah  said  to  him,  See,  now  the 
^^edic-   prophets  have  with  one  consent  promised  good  fortune'  for  the  king;  there- 
tion  of    fore  speak  the  same  as  they  all  do  and  prophesy  good  fortune.     ^^But  Micaiah 
^  ^^^    said,  As  Jehovah  liveth,  I  will  speak  what  Jehovah  saith  to  me.     ^^And 
when  he  came  to  the  king,  the  king  said  to  him,  INIicaiah,  shall  we  go  to 
Ramoth  in  Gilead  to  fight  or  shall  we  forbear  ?     And  he  answered  him,  Go 
up  and  prosper;  and  Jehovah  will  dehver  it  into  the  hand  of  the  king !    i*^But 
the  king  said  to  him,  How  many  times  shall  I  adjure  you  that  you  speak 
to  me  nothing  but  the  truth  in  the  name  of  Jehovah  ?     ^'^And  he  said,  I 
saw  all  Israel  scattered  upon  the  mountains,  as  sheep  that  have  no  shepherd. 
And   Jehovah  said,  '  These  have  no  master;  let  each  of  them  go  home  in 
peace ! ' 
The  i^And  the  king  of  Israel  said  to  Jehoshaphat,  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  he 

smrU      ■«ould  prophesy  no  good  concerning  me,  but  evil  ?     ^^And  Micaiah  said, 
within    Therefore  hear  the  word  of  Jehovah:  I  saw  Jehovah  sitting  on  his  throne 
official    and  all  the  host  of  heaven  standing  by  him  on  his  right  hand  and  on  his  left. 
proph-   20\nd  Jehovah  said,  '  Who  shall  delude  Ahab  so  that  he  will  go  up  and  fall 
at  Ramoth  in  Gilead  ? '    And  one  proposed  one  thing  and  another  another, 
^^until  there  came  forth  a  spirit  and  stood  before  Jehovah  and  said,  '  I  will 
delude   him.'     22  \j^(j  Jehovah    said  to   him,  '  By  what  means  ? '     And  he 
said, '  I  will  go  forth  and  become  a  lying  spirit  in  the  mouth  of  all  his  prophets.' 
Thereupon  he  said,  '  Thou  shalt  delud'e  him  and  shalt  succeed  also !     Go 
forth,  and  do  so.'     ^sg^  behold,  Jehovah  hath  now  put  a  lying  spirit  in  the 
mouth  of  all  these  your  prophets,  since  Jehovah  hath  determined  to  bring 
evil  upon  you. 
Mica-         24'phen  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Chenaanah  came  near  and  struck  Micaiah 
im-^      on  the  cheek  and  said,  Which  way  did  the  spirit  of  Jehovah  go  from  me 
prison-  to  speak  to  you.'^™     25  ^^d  Micaiah  said.  Indeed,  you  shall  see  on  that  day, 
when  you  shall  go  from  one  chamber  to  another  to  hide  yourseK.     ^CThen 
the  king  of  Israel  said.  Take  Micaiah  and  carry  him  back  to  .:\jnon  the  gov- 
ernor of  the  city  and  to  Joash  the  king's  son,  ^"and  say, '  Thus  the  king  com- 
mands, "  Put  this  fellow  in  prison  and  feed  him  with  a  scanty  fare  of  bread 
and  water °  until  I  return  in  peace." '     28^\n(j  Micaiah  said.  If  you  indeed 
return  in  peace,  Jehovah  hath  not  spoken  by  me.° 

'  22'^  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  the  words  of  the  prophets  are  good. 

m  222^  The  Gk.,  partially  supported  by  Luc,  has  a  smoother  reading,  where  is  the  spirit  of 
Jehovah  that  speaks  in  you? 

n  222'  Heb.,  bread-affliction  and  water-affliction.  As  in  Is.  SO^",  this  is  the  idiomatic  desig- 
nation of  prison  fare. 

o  2228  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  In  the  Heb.,  a  scribe  has  added  from  Mi.  12,  and  he  said,  Hear 
O  people,  all  of  you,  mistakenly  identifying  the  present  prophet  with  a  contemporary  of  Isaiah. 


224 


DEATH   OF   AHAB  [I  Kgs.  2229 

§  78.  Death  of  Ahab  at  Ramoth  in  Gilead,  I  Kgs.  Q2-^-^°,  II  Chr.  IS-*-^* 
Ahab  History 

I  Kgs.  23  29Then  the  king  of  Israel  and  Jehoslia])]iat  tlie  king  of  Judah  Ahab's 
went  up  to  Ramoth  in  Gilead.     ^'^And  the  king  of  Israel  said  to  Jehoshaphat,  '^'^•g 
I  will  disguise  myself  and  go  into  the  battle,  but  you  can  put  on  your  robes.  an<f 
So  the  king  of  Israel  disguised  himself  and  went  into  the  battle.     ^^Now  the  aphal's 
king  of  Aram  had  given  orders  to  the  thirty-two  commanders  of  his  char-  ''^'^'^ 
iots,  saying.  Fight  with  neither  small  nor  great,  except  only  with  the  king 
of  Israel.     32^p(,Qj.jj„„]y  ^yji^n  tj^g  commanders  of  the  chariots  saw  Jehosh- 
aphat, they  said,  Surely  it  is  the  king  of  Israel,  and  they  surrounded  him 
to  fight  against  him,''  but  Jehoshaphat  cried  out.     ^^Xherefore,  as  soon  as 
the  commanders  of  the  chariots  saw  that  it  was  not  the  king  of  Israel,  they 
turned  back  from  pursuing  him. 

^^But  a  certain  man  drew  at  a  venture  and  smote  the  kine:  of  Israel  be-  Ahab's 

tween  the  attachments  and  the  coat  of  mail.     Therefore  he  said  to  the  driver  wound 

of  his  chariot.  Turn  about  and  carry  me  out  of  the  army;  for  I  am  severely 

wounded.     ^^And  the  battle  increased  that  day,  and  the  king  was  propped 

up  in  his  chariot  against  the  x\rameans  until  evening,^  and  the  blood  ran 

out  of  the  wound  into  the  bottom  of  the  chariot.     But  at  evening  he  died. 

^''And  toward  sunset  the  cry  went  throughout  the  army,  Each  to  his  city 

and   each  to   his   land,  ^^for  the   king  is   dead!""  so  they^  came  to   Samaria 

and  buried  the  king  in  Samaria.  ^^And  when  they  washed  the  chariot  by  the 
pool  of  Samaria,  the  dogs  hcked  up  his  blood,  and  tlic  harlots  washetl  themselves  in  it,* 
just  as  Jehovah  had  declared. 

^^Now  the  other  acts  of  Ahab,  and  all  that  he  did  and  the  ivorj^  house  which  he  R^sumS 
built  and  all  the  cities  that  he  built,  are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  of  his 
Kings  of  Israel?     ^"So  Ahab  slept  with  liis  fathers  and  Ahaziah  liis  son  became  king  r^ign 
in  his  place. 

§  79.  Ahaziah 's  Reign  and  Fatal  Illness,  I  Kgs.  2251-53^  jj  j^gg.  i 

Early  Ephraimitc  Elijah  i^torics 

I  Kgs.  22    5'Aliaziah  the  son  of  Ahab  liecamc  king  over  Israel  in  Samaria  in  the  -^1"^: 
seventeenth  j'ear  of  .lohoshaphat  king  of  Judah,  and  lie  reigned  two  years  ox'er  Israel.  '^  |.'  f^ 
'-And  he  did  that  wliicii  displeasetl  Jehovah,  antl  walked  in  the  way  of  his  father  and  ^ 

in  the  way  of  his  mother  and  in  the  way  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  wiio  iuul  led 
Israel  into  sin.  '^■^And  he  served  Haal  and  worsliipi)od  him,  anil  provoked  to  anger 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  just  as  his  father  had  done. 

§  78  This  section  contains  the  conclusion  of  the  Ahab  history.  To  the  end  of  the  quotation 
from  the  Ahab  history  some  editor  has  added  the  note  in  •*,  which  reflects  .on  entirely  ditTcrent 
r-oiiception  of  the  kinK-  It  is  evidently  haseil  on  the  prediction  in  the  i:iijah  stories,  2 1''',_  al- 
though it  overlooks  the  fact  that  iNaljoth's  vineyard  was  not  in  Samaria  but  in  Jezrcel.  The 
conclu<ling  verses  contain  a  resume  oi  Ahab's  reign  in  the  familiar  terms  of  the  late  prophetic 
editor. 

p  2232  go  Qk    j^uc,  anfl  the  parallel  in  II  Chr.     ITeb.,  Then  turned  aside  anainst  him. 

1  22M  So  Gk.  and  Luc,  supported  by  II  Chr.  18'".  In  the  lleb.  a  .scribe  l)y  mistake  has  in- 
troduceil  here  the  phrase,  the  king  died,  instead  of  in  its  loRical  place  at  the  end  of  the  ver.se. 

'  22''"  So  C!k.  and  Luc.     Tlie  Hel).  connects  this  first  clause  with  the  followinn. 

"22"  So  C;k.  and  Luc.      Hob.,  he  came. 

•22''8  Gk.  and  Luc,  in  his  hlond. 

§  79  In  addition  to  his  familiar  ju'lgment  upon  the  roiKii  of  Ahiiziah,  the  editor  has  mtro- 
duced  in  II  Kgs.  1'  (cf.  I  Krs.  22'^')  a  reference  to  the  rel)eHion  of  Mesha,  which  is  well  aiitlienti- 
cated  by  the  contemporary  inscription  of  that  king  liimself.  Cf.  .\|)peiiilix  IV.  In  the  older 
source — probably  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel — from  which  the  editor  takes  his  data 

225 


II  Kgs.  li]  RULE    OF   THE    HOUSE    OF    OIVIRI 


Moab's 
rebel- 
lion 
Aha- 
ziah's 
embas- 
sy to 
Ekron 

Elijah's 
mes- 
sage 


Report 
of  the 
embas- 
sy 


De- 
struc- 
tion of 
the  la- 
ter em- 
bassies 
and  re- 
itera- 
tion of 
the 
doom 


Death 
of 

Aha- 
ziah 


Earhj  Ephraimite  Elijah  Stories 

II   Kgs.    1  ^And  after  the  death  of  Ahab  Moab  rebelled  against  Israel. 

^Now  Ahaziah  fell  out  through  the  lattice  in  his  upper  apartment  in 
Samaria,  and  lay  sick.  Then  he  sent  messengers  and  commanded  them, 
Go,  inquire  of  Baal-Zebub,  the  god  of  Ekron,  whether  or  not  I  shall  recover 
of  this  sickness. 

^But  the  messenger  of  Jehovah  said  to  Elijah  the  Tishbite,  Arise,  go  up 
to  meet  the  messengers  of  the  king  of  Samaria  and  say  to  them,  '  Is  it  because 
there  is  no  God  in  Israel,  that  ye  go  to  inquire  of  Baal-Zebub,  the  god  of 
Ekron?'  '*Now  therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah,  'Thou  shalt  not  come  down 
from  the  bed  whither  thou  hast  gone  up,  but  thou  shalt  surely  die.'  Then 
Elijah  went  away. 

^And  when  the  messengers  came  back  to  him,  he  said  to  them.  Why  have 

you  returned  ?     ^And  they  said  to  him,  A  man  came  up  to  meet  us  and  said 

to  us, '  Go  back  again  to  the  king  who  sent  you  and  say  to  him,  "Thus  saith 

Jehovah :  Is  it  because  there  is  no  God  in  Israel  that  thou  sendest  to  inquire 

of  Baal-Zebub  the  god  of  Ekron  ?    Therefore  thou  shalt  not   come  down 

from  the  bed  whither  thou  hast  gone  up,  but  shalt  surely  die."'     "And  he 

said  to  them.  What  kind  of  man  was  he  who  told  you  these  things  ?    ^And 

they  answered  him,  A  man  clad  in  a  skin  and  girt  with  a  leather  girdle  about 

his  loins.     Then  he  said,  It  is  Elijah  the  Tishbite ! 

^Thereupon  he  sent  against  him  a  commander  of  fifty  with  his  fifty.  And  when  he 
went  up  to  him — for  lie  was  sitting  on  the  top  of  the  hill — he  said  to  him,  O  man  of  God, 
the  king  said,  '  Come  down.'  i°And  Ehjah  answered  and  said  to  the  commander  of 
fifty,  If  I  be  a  man  of  God,  let  fire  conae  do'mi  from  heaven  and  consume  you  and  your 
fifty.  Then  there  fell  fire  from  heaven  and  consumed  him  and  his  fifty.  "And  again 
he  sent  to  him  another  commander  of  fift^^  with  his  &hy.  And  he  answered  and  said 
to  him,  O  man  of  God,  thus  has  the  king  said,  'Come  down  quickly.'  i-And  Ehjah 
answered  and  said  to  them.  If  I  be  a  man  of  God,  let  fire  come  do%\Ti  from  heaven  and 
consume  you  and  your  fifty.  And  the  fire  of  God  fell  from  heaven  and  consumed  him 
and  his  fifty.  ^^And  again  he  sent  a  third  commander  of  fifty  with  his  fifty.  But 
when  the  third  commander  of  fifty  went  up,  he  came  and  fell  on  his  knees  before  Elijah 
and  besought  him,  saying  to  him,  O  man  of  God,  I  praj^  you  spare  my  hfe  and  the  Ufe 
of  these  fifty  your  servants.  '^Already  fire  has  come  down  from  heaven  and  consumed 
the  two  former  commanders  of  fifty  -uith  their  fifties;  but  now  spare  my  life.  '"And 
the  Messenger  of  Jehovah  said  to  Elijah,  Go  down  with  him;  do  not  be  afraid  of  him. 
So  he  arose  and  went  down  with  him  to  the  king.  '^And  he  said  to  him,  Thus  saith 
Jehovah, '  Because  thou  hast  sent  messengers  to  inquire  of  Baal-Zebub,  the  god  of  Ekron 
— is  it  because  there  is  no  God  in  Israel  to  inquire  of  his  word?" — therefore  thou  shalt 
not  come  down  from  the  bed  whither  thou  art  gone  up,  but  shalt  surely  die.' 

^'So  he  died  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah  which  Elijah  had  spoken. 
And  in  the  second  year  of  Jehoram  the  son  of  Jehoshaphat  king  of  Judah,  Jehoram 
his  brother  became  king  in  his  place,  because  he  had  no  son.  '^Now  the  other  acts 
which  Ahaziah  did,  are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel? 

there  may  have  followed  a  further  account  of  the  rebellion.  3^  reiterates  the  fact  and  the  sub- 
sequent verses  contain  a  popular  tradition  of  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  reconquer  Moab. 

The  chief  quotation  regarding  Ahaziah  appears  to  come  from  the  early  Elijah  stories.  As  in 
I  Kgs.  17^  'Iiy,  the  prophet  is  introduced  as  Elijah,  the  Tishbite,  3.  s.  The  forms  of  the  divine 
address  to  Elijah  in  3.  i  recall  the  corresponding  expressions  in  I  Kgs.  21''' ■  '9.  The  Messenger 
of  Jehovah  in  3  appears  elsewhere  in  these  chapters  only  in  the  Elijah  stories  of  I  Kgs.  19".  Above 
all  the  Elijah,  who  in  l'-^  suddenly  arises  to  rebuke  Ahaziah,  is  the  same  as  he  who  figures  in 
I  KgS;  17-19,  21,  and  his  words  reveal  the  same  passionate  zeal  for  Jehovah. 

Vss.  5-'^  are  little  more  than  repetitions  of  the  preceding.  Cf.  ^^^.  The  literary  style  and 
spirit  are  radically  different.  No  ethical  motive  is  evident  for  the  wanton  destruction  of  the 
two  companies  of  fifty.  The  story  strongly  recalls  the  fate  of  the  messengers  of  Saul  in  Samuel's 
presence,  I  Sam.  19'*--*.  If  not  modelled  after  that  late  tale,  this  insertion  is  closely  related  to 
It.  It  cannot  be  earlier  than  the  popular  Elisha  stories  (cf.  especially  2-^-''),  and  does  not  reflect 
the  older  and  nobler  conception  of  the  prophet.     Cf.  Introd.,  p.  18. 

"  1"  The  interjected  question  is  lacking  in  the  Gk.  and  Luc. 

226 


JEHOTIAM'S   REIGN  [U  Kgs.  31 

§  80.  Jehoram's  Reign,  11  Kgs.  S'-^ 

Late  Prophetic  Sxtmmary 

II  Kgs.   3  ^Xow  Jehoram  the  son  of  Ahab  became  king  over  Israel  in  Jeho- 
Samaria  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  Jehoshaphat  king  of  Judali,  and  he  reigned  reiig! 
twelve  years.     ^Xnd  he  displeased  Jehovah,  but  not  as  did  lus  father  and  ious 
mother,  for  he  put  away  the  pillar  of  Baal  that  his  father  had  made,     ^jjo^y.  p°  "^ 
ever  he  clung  to  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat  with  which  he  made 
Israel  sin  and  he  did  not  depart  from  them. 


ni 

POi»ULAR  TRADITIONS  ABOUT  ELISHA,  II  Kgs.  2i-8i5,  1314-27 

§  81.  Translation  of  Elijah  and  Consecration  of  Elisha,  II  Kgs.  2 
Gilgal  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

II  Kgs.  2  ^Now  at  the  time  when  JehoA-ah  was  about  to  cause  Elijah  to  Eli- 
go  up  by  a  whirlwind  to  heaven,  Elijah  was  going  with  Elisha  from  Gilgal.  persist- 
^And  Elijah  said  to  Elisha,  Remain  here,  I  pray,  for  Jehovah  hath  sent  me  ^"^^  ^J^ 
as  far  as  Bethel.     And  Elisha  said.  As  Jehovah  liveth  and  as  you  live,  I  ing 
will  not  leave  you.     So  they  went  down  to  Bethel.     ^And  the  sons  of  the  ^"J'*'* 
prophets  who  were  at  Bethel  came  out  to  Elisha  and  said  to  him.  Do  you 
know  that  to-day  Jehovah  will  take  away  your  master  from  being  over  you  ? 
And  he  said,  Yes,  I  know  it;  only  keep  silent.     ^And  Elijah  said  to  him, 
Elisha,  tarry  here,  I  pray,  for  Jehovah  hath  sent  me  to  Jericho.     And  he 
said,  As  Jehovah  hveth  and  as  you  live,  I  will  not  leave  you.     So  they  came 

§  80  This  editorial  summary  of  Jehoram's  reign  naturally  follows  immediately  after  1, 
and  finds  its  direct  continuation  in  8"'".  Into  this  editorial  framework  has  been  fitted  the 
large  group  of  Elisha  stories,  which  are  written  from  an  entirely  different  point  of  view  and  can 
best  be  studied  as  a  unit.     Cf.  §§  81-92. 

Popular  Traditions  about  Elislia. — The  origin  and  history  of  this  group  of  stories  have 
already  been  considered  in  the  Introd.,  pp.  18-20.  That  they  were  great  favorites  with  the 
common  people  is  demonstrated  by  their  general  character.  They  illustrate  that  personal  and 
pastoral  side  of  the  prophetic  activity  which  is  often  overlooked.  All  the  traditions  which 
gathered  about  Klisha  represent  him  as  a  benignant  prophet,  in  close  touch  with  court  and  peo- 
ple. Their  number  and  striking  character  testify  to  the  greatness  of  his  |)ersonality  and  work, 
for  there  is  never  smoke  without  some  fire.  Even  though  popular  tradition  associates  with 
Elisha  stories  which  appear  originally  in  connection  with  lOIijah,  they  contain  so  many  original 
and  realistic  elements  that  it  is  impossible  to  regard  their  hero  as  a  mere  product  of  the  imagina- 
tion. Unfortunately  he  liveil  just  before  the  beginning  of  Israel's  great  literary  age,  so  that  his 
words  and  acts  were  first  recorded  only  in  the  popular  memory,  but  back  of  the  stories  stands 
the  man,  identified  by  birth  and  training  with  the  agricultur.al  civilization  of  Northern  Israel 
and  tlius  fitted  personally  to  direct  the  life  and  thought  of  his  peopk",  and  to  realize  in  the  his- 
tory of  his  race  the  principles  and  ideals  proclaimed  by  his  master  lllijaii.  Ditleriiig  radically 
in  character  and  method  from  his  great  predecessor,  he  appears  to  have  been  the  (irst  of  that 
new  type  of  prophets,  represented  by  .-Vmos,  Isaiah  and  their  successors,  who  stood  not  apart 
from  but  in  the  midst  of  the  peofde  whom  they  addressed. 

§  81  This  story  fittingly  introduces  those  which  follow.  While  it  records  the  close  of 
Elijah's  life,  its  real  purpose  is  to  indicate  the  source  of  Elisha's  supernatural  nowor.  His  per- 
si.stency  in  following  F.lijah,  his  words,  and  the  wonder-working  mantle,  which  foil  down  upon 
his  shoulders,  are  more  prominent  than  (he  great  jirophet  of  Gilead  himself,  (iilgal  is  con- 
ceived of  as  Elisha's  home.  The  description  of  tiie  journey  from  (Iilgal  by  Hethol  ( Own  to  the 
Jordan  indicates  that  the  town  in  question  was  iicjl  tiie  more  famoua  one  near  Jericho,  but  the 
(iilgal  a  little  southwest  of  Shiloh,  which  appears  to  have  early  inlierilod  tiio  triulitions  of  that 
ancient  .sanctuary.  Cf.  Introd.,  pp.  18,  19.  The  prominence  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets  alBO 
indicates  that  this  story  is  from  tno  Gilgal  cycle. 

227 


n  Kgs.  24]  POPULAR  ELISHA  TRADITIONS 

Gilgal  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

to  Jericho.     ^Then  the  sons  of  the  prophets  who  were  at  Jericho  came  near 

to  EHsha  and  said  to  him,  Do  you  know  that  to-day  Jehovah  will  take  your 

master  from  being  over  you  ?     x\nd  he  answered.  Yes,  I  know  it;  only  keep 

silent.     S^nd  Elijah  said  to  him.  Remain  here,  I  pray,  for  Jehovah  hath 

sent  me  to  the  Jordan.     And  he  said.  As  Jehovah  liveth  and  as  you  live,  I 

will  not  leave  you.     So  they  two  went  on. 

Elisha's      ^And  fifty  men  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets  went  and  stood  opposite  them 

\f^^^^  at  a  distance,  while  they  stood  by  the  Jordan.     ^Then  Elijah  took  his  mantle 

Elijah's  a,^(j  rolled  it  up  and  smote  the  waters;  thereupon  they  were  divided  on 

phetic     both  sides  so  that  they  two  could  go  over  on  dry  ground.     ^And  when  they 

might     had  gone  over,  Elijah  said  to  Elisha,  Ask  what  I  shall  do  for  you  before  I 

rest  ill     ani  taken  from  you.     And  Elisha  said,  I  pray,  let  a  double  portion  of  your 

meas-     Spirit  be  upon  me.^     i^And  he  said,  You  have  asked  a  hard  thing;  neverthe- 

hitn""     '^ss,  if  you  see  me  when  I  am  taken  from  you,  so  shall  it  be  with  you;  but 

if  not,  it  shall  not  be  so. 

De-  ^^Now  as  they  were  still  going  on  their  way  conversing,  a  chariot  of  fire 

EHjah°s  with  horses  of  fire  suddenly  came  and  separated  the  two;  and  Elijah  went 

mantle   up  by  a  whirlwind  to  heaven,     ^^^nd  when  Elisha  saw  it,  he  cried.  My  fa- 

Elisha    ther,  my  father!*^  the  chariots  of  Israel  and  its  horsemen !     And  he  saw  him 

no   more,  but   he  took  hold  of  his  own  robes  and  tore  them  in  two  pieces. 

i^Then  he  took  up  the  mantle  of  Elijah  that  had  fallen  from  him,  and  went 

back  and  stood  by  the  bank  of  the  Jordan.     ^4^\^nd  he  took  the  mantle  of 

Elijah  that  had  fallen  from  him  and  smote  the  waters,  and  said,  Where  now 

is  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Elijah  ?     And  when  he  had  smitten  the  waters,  tliey 

were  divided  on  both  sides,  so  that  Elisha  could  go  over. 

Fruit-         ^^And    when    the   sons   of   the   prophets   who   were   at  Jericho"   opposite 

search    ^^^^  ^^^  him,  they  said,  The  spirit  of  Elijah  rests  on  Elisha.     And  they 

fo":.  ,      came  to  meet  him  and  bowed  to  the  j^round  before  him,  ^''and  said  to  him, 

Behold  now,  there  are  with  your  servants  fifty  strong  men ;  let  them  go,  we 

pray,  and  seek  your  master,  lest  the  spirit  of  Jehovah  has  taken  him  up  and 

cast  him  on  some  mountain  or  into  some  valley.     And  he  said.  Do  not  send.*^ 

^'^But  when  they  urged  him  until  he  was  ashamed,  he  said.  Send.     They 

accordingly  sent  fifty  men;  and  they  sought  three  days,  but  did  not  find 

him.     ^^And  when  they  came  back  to  him,  while  he  was  still  at  Jericho,  he 

said  to  them,  Did  I  not  say  to  you,  '  Do  not  go '  ? 

Elisha's       ^^And  the  men  of  the  city  said  to  Elisha,  See,  the  situation  of  this  city 

cation     i^  pleasant,  as  my  lord  observes;  but  the  water  is  bad,  and  the  people  of  the 

of  the     land*^  have  untimely  births.     20\jjfj  \^^^  said.  Bring  me  a  new  flask,  and  put 

spring  ,      ,  -^  '  o  '1 

at.Ieri-   salt  in  it.     And  thev  brought  it  to  him.     -^And  he  went  out  to  the  source  of 

oho  . ^ 

*  23  Lit.,  let  there  be  a  share  of  two  of  your  spirit  upon  me,  i.e.,  the  especial  rights  of  a  first- 
born son. 

^  212  Q{  J3i4_  Father  was  probably  the  term  by  which  the  sons  of  the  prophets  addressed 
the  prophet  whom  they  recognized  as  their  leader.      It  is  equivalent  to  master  in  3.  5. 

"  2'^  The  preceding  context  suggests  that  they  were  not  at  Jericho,  but  near  the  Jordan. 
The  words,  at  Jericho,  were  probably  addeil  from  ^^  ^. 

d  2W  Gk.  adds,  to  the  Jordan. 

"  2' J  Lit.,  the  land  casts  her  younq.  But  in  ^i  the  spring  is  the  cause  of  this  trouble.  The 
only  satisfactory  explanation  is  that  land,  as  in  I  Sam.  142',  17*  and  often,  is  equivalent  to  the 
inhabitants. 

228 


CONSECRATION  OF  EIJSHA  [11  Kgs.  221 

Gilgal  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

the  waters  and  cast  salt  into  it  and  said,  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  'I  have  made 
these  waters  wholesome;  death  shall  no  longer  come  from  them  nor  un- 
timely births.'  --So  the  waters  were  made  wholesome  to  this  day,  just  as 
Elisha  had  said. 

2^ And  he  went  up  from  there  to  Bethel.     And  while  he  was  going  up  by  Fate  of 
the  way,  young  lads  came  out  of  the  city  and  mocked  him  with  the  cry.  Go  boys  of 
up,  you  baldhead.     -^And  he  looked  behind  him.  and  when  he  saw  them,  Bethel 
he  cursed  them  in  the  name  of  Jehovah.     And  tliere  came  forth  two  she- 
bears  out  of  the  wood  and  tore  forty-two  of  the  lads.     -^And  he  went  from 
there  to  Mount  Carmel  and  from  there  returned  to  Samaria. 

I  8^2.  The  Widow's  Oil,  II  Kgs.  4'-' 

Gilgal  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

II  Kgs.  4  ^Now  one  of  the  wives  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets  cried  to  Klisha'a 
Elisha,  saving.  Your  servant  my  husband  is  dead;  and  you  know  that  your  J/ons 
servant  feared  Jehovah ;  but  now  the  creditor  is  come  to  take  my  two  children 
to  be  his  slaves.  -And  Elisha  said  to  her.  What  shall  I  do  for  you  ?  Tell 
me;  what  have  you  in  the  house?  And  she  said.  Your  maid-servant  has 
nothing  in  the  house  except  a  flask  of  oil.^  ^Then  he  said.  Go,  borrow  ves- 
sels abroad  of  all  your  neighbors,  even  empty  vessels,  '^and  you  shall  go  in, 
shut  the  door  upon  yourself  and  your  sons,  and  pour  out  into  all  the  vessels, 
and  when  one  is  full,  you  shall  set  it  aside. 

^So  she  went  from  him  and  shut  the  door  upon  herself  and  her  .sons;  and  The 
while  they  brought  the  vessels  to  her,  she  poured  out.     ^When  the  vessels  u|"„s' 
were  full,  she  said  to  her  son.  Give  still  another.     But  he  said  to  her.  There  flow  of 
is  not  another  vessel!    Then  she  ceased.     "When  she  came  and  told  the  man 
of  God,  he  said.  Go,  sell  the  oil,  and  pay  your  debts,  and  from  what  remains 
you,  with  your  sons,  can  live. 

§  83.  Miraculous  Provision  of  Food  for  the  Sons  of  the  Prophets, 

II  Kgs.  4^8-" 

Gilgal  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

II  Kgs.  4  38Xow  Elisha  came  again  to  Gilgal  while  there  was  a  famine  -Death 
in  the  land.     And  when  the  sons  of  the  prophets  were  sitting  before  him.  he  jJJ,*"^ 
said  to  his  servants.  Set  on  the  great  pot  and  boil  i)ottage  for  the  sons  of  the 
prophets.     ^Qxhen  one  went  out  into  the  field  to  gather  herbs  and  found  a 
wild  vine  and  gathered  from  it  his  lap  full  of  wild  gourds  and  came  and  cut 
them  up  into  the  dish  of  pottage,  for  he^  did  not  know  what  they  were.     '^^So 


§  82  The  prominence  of  the  sons  of  the  prophot<.  .Ih-  Hppanni  .l.|..-ndence  of  this  story 
on  the  earlier  Klijah  narrative  in  I  Krs.  17.  an.l  the  fact  lliul  it  relates  not  <.  i;"l"c  but  to 
private  events,  strongly  suRgest  that  it  was  taken  from  the  CilRal  cycle.     (.  t.  Introd.,  p.  i». 

'  42  Or,  enough  oil  for  nnointinn.  .   ,  , .,  ,    .  ,  „  „i„„, 

§  83  The  reference  to  GilEal  in  's  an.l  the  prominence  of  the  .wns  of  the  pronhets  make  clear 
the  classification  of  this  story.  The  picture  which  it  gives  of  a  proi.hetic  guil.l  is  certainl.\  one 
of  the  most  distinct  in  the  O.T. 

«  43^  So  Luc,  Syr.,  ami  Targ.     Heb.,  they. 

^229 


IIKgs.  4^0]  POPULAR   ELISHA  TRADITIONS 

Gilgal  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

they  poured  out  for  the  men  to  eat.     But  as  they  were  eating  of  the  pottage, 

they  cried  out  and  said,  O  man  of  God,  there  is  death  in  the  pot.     And  they 

could  not  eat  of  it.     ^ixhen  he  said,  Bring  meal.     And  he  east  it  into  the 

pot  and  said.  Pour  out  for  the  people,  that  they  may  eat.     And  there  was  no 

harm  in  the  pot. 

Miracle       ^-And  there  came  a  man  from  Baal-shalishah  and  brought  the  man  of 

bread     Grod  bread  of  the  first-fruits,  twenty  loaves  of  barley,  and  garden  fruit'^  in 

P4        his  sack.     And   he   said.  Give   the  people   something  to   eat.      '^^And   his 

servant  said.  What,  should  I  set  this  before  a  hundred  men  ?     But  he  said, 

Give  the  people  that  they  may  eat;  for  thus  saith  Jehovah,  They  shall  eat 

and  shall  leave  some  over.     "^^So  he  set  it  before  them,  and  they  ate  and  left 

some  over  just  as  Jehovah  had  said. 

§  84.  Recovery  of  the  Lost  Axe,  II  Kgs.  6'-^ 
Gilgal  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

The  II  Kgs.  6  ^Now  the  sons  of  the  prophets  said  to  Elisha,  See  now,  the 

ii^g  place  where  we  dwell  before  you  is  too  contracted  for  us.  ^L,ei  us  go,  we 
"■°°  pra}',  to  the  Jordan  and  each  take  from  there  a  beam  and  let  us  make  a 
place  for  ourselves  there,  where  we  may  dwell.  And  he  answered,  Go.  ^And 
some  one  said,  Consent,  I  pray,  to  go  with  your  servants.  And  he  an- 
swered, I  will  go.  ^So  he  went  with  them.  And  when  they  came  to  the 
Jordan,  they  cut  down  wood.  ^But  as  one  was  felling  a  beam,  the  axe- 
head  fell  into  the  water.  Then  he  cried,  and  said,  Alas,  my  master !  for  it 
was  borrowed.  ^And  the  man  of  God  said,  Where  did  it  fall  ?  And  when 
he  showed  him  the  place,  he  cut  down  a  stick,  and  threw  it  in,  and  made 
the  iron  swim.  ^Then  he  said.  Take  it  up.  So  he  reached  out  his  hand  and 
took  it. 

§85.  Restoration  of  the  Shunammite's  Son,  II  Kgs.  4'-" 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

The  II  Kgs.  4  ^Now  one  dav  Elisha  went  over  to  Shunem,  where  dwelt  a  rich 

nam-  woman;  and  she  constrained  him  to  eat  food.     And  afterward,  whenever  he 

mite's  passed  by,  he  turned  in  there  to  eat  food.     ^And  she  said  to  her  husband, 

tality  Behold,  now  I  perceive  that  this  is  a  holy  man  of  God  who  is  continually 

sha  '  passing  by  us.     ^°Let  us  make  a  little  walled-in  roof-chamber,  and  let  us 

•>  4^  Lat.,  Syr.,  and  Targ.,  followed  by  RV,  fresh  ears  of  corn. 

§  84  The  same  geographical  setting  aad  point  of  view  appear  in  this,  as  in  the  immediately 
preceding  stories. 

§  85  The  probable  influence  ^\'hich  the  early  Elijah  stories  in  17  exerted  upon  this  story 
have  already  been  noted.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  19.  The  dependence  upon  the  same  early  source  is 
also  suggested  by  similarity  in  language,  cf.  3i  and  I  Kgs.  18-°'  -'^-  *•.  35  and  I  Kgs.  18^.  Several 
phrases  found  in  2  here  recur:  cf.,  e.g.,  3" and  2--  *■  '^,  indicating  possibly  that  this  belongs  to  the 
Gilgal  cycle.  Not  Gilgal.  however,  but  Mount  Carmel  apj^ears  to  be  the  home  of  the  prophet.  ^. 
The  story  and  its  sequel  in  8'-^  may  be  from  still  a  third  Mount  Carmel  cycle,  but  the  familiar 
references  to  the  king  in  i3  and  8^-^  and  the  prominence  of  Gehazi  suggest  that  they  probably 
came  from  the  Samaria  cycle. 

The  story  throws  much  light  upon  social  and  domestic  life  in  Northern  Israel  and  justly 
merits  the  popularity  which  it  has  always  enjoyed. 

230 


THE   SHUNAMMITE'S  SON  [II  Kgs.  410 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

place  for  him  there  a  bed,  a  table,  a  seat,  and  a  candlestick,  so  that,  when- 
ever he  comes  to  us,  he  can  turn  in. 

^^Now  one  day  he  came  there  and  turned  into  the  chamber  and  lav  there.  His 
^-And  he  said  to  Gehazi  his  servant.  Call  this  Shunammite.     And  when  he  {^^"t'hat 
had  called  her,  she  stood  before  him.     ^^And  he  said  to  him.  Say  now^  to  her,  she 
'See,  you  have  been  so  anxious  to  care  for  us;  what  is  to  be  done  for  you?  have  a 
Might  we  commend  you  to  the  favor  of  the  king'  or  to  the  commander  of  ®°° 
the  army  ?'     And  she  answered,  I  dwell  in  the  midst  of  my  own  clan.J   ^"^And 
he  said.  What  then  is  to  be  done  for  her  ?     And  Gehazi  answered.  Verily 
she  has  no  son,  and  her  husband  is  old.     ^^And  he  said.  Call  her.     And 
when  he  had  called  her,  she  stood  in  the  door.     ^''And  he  said.  At  this  time 
a  year  hence  you  shall  embrace  a  son.     And  she  said.  No,  my  lord,  O  man 
of  God,  do  not  deceive  your  maid-servant. 

^"But  the  woman  conceived  and  bore  a  son  about  the  same  time  the  next  Death 
year"^  as  Elisha  had  said  to  her.  ^^And  when  the  child  was  grown,  he  went  ^^^  ® 
out  one  day  to  his  father  to  the  reapers.  ^^And  he  called  to  his  father.  My 
head,  my  head !  And  [liis  father]  said  to  his  servant.  Carry  him  to  his 
mother.  20\jj(j  ^hen  he  had  taken  and  brought  him  to  his  mother,  he  sat 
on  her  lap  until  noon,  and  then  died.  2i^\n(l  she  went  up  and  laid  him 
on  the  bed  of  the  man  of  God,  and  shut  the  door  upon  him  and  went  out. 

22Then  she  called  to  her  husband  and  said.  Send  me,  I  pray,  one  of  the  The 
ser\'ants  and  one  of  the  asses,  that  I  may  go  quickly  to  the  man  of  God  and  ^^?g 
come  again.     -'^And  he  said.  Why  w'ill  you  go  to  him  to-day  since  it  is  neither  |°"^J^®y 
new  moon  nor  sabbath  ?     And  she  said.  It  is  well.     24'pijgj^  gjjg  saddled  an  sha 
ass  and  said  to  her  servant,  Drive  on  fast,  do  not  .stop  my  riding,  until  I 
bid  you.     ^^So  she  went  and  came  to  the  man  of  God  on  Mount  Carmel. 
But  when  the  man  of  God  saw^  her  at  a  distance,  he  said  to  Gehazi  his  ser- 
vant. See,  there  is  the  Shunammite!     ^ej^^n  now  to  meet  her  and  say  to 
her,  Is  it  well  with  you  ?     Is  it  well  with  your  husband  ?     Is  it  well  with  the 
child  ?     And  she  answered.  It  is  well,     ^rgyt  when  she  came  to  the  man  of 
God  to  the  mountain,  she  caught  hold  of  his  feet.     And  when  Gehazi  came 
near  to  thrust  her  away,  the  man  of  God  said.  Let  her  alone,  for  she  is  deeply 
troubled  and  Jehovah  hath  hidden  it  from  me  and  hath  not  told  me.    -^Then 
she  said.  Did  I  desire  a  son  of  my  lord  ?     Did  I  not  say,  Do  not  deceive  me? 

29Then  he  said  to  Gehazi,  Gird  up  your  loins,  take  my  staff  in  your  hand,  Geha- 
and  go !     If  you  meet  anyone,  do  not  salute  him,  and  if  any  salute  you  do  fruit- 
not  answer  him,  and  lay  my  staff  on  the  face  of  the  child,     ^qjut  the  mother  J^?|,i^„ 
of  the  child  said.  As  Jehovah  liveth  and  as  you  live,  I  will  not  leave.     So  he  to  the 
arose  and  went  with  her.     ^^And  Gehazi  had  gone  on  before  them  and  had    °^ 
laid  the  staff  upon  the  face  of  the  child,  but  there  was  neither  sound  nor 
sign.     Therefore  he  returned  to  meet  him  and  told  him,  saying.  The  child 
has  not  awakened. 


'  4*3  Heb.,  la  it  to  speak  for  you  to  the  kingf 

i  4'3  HavinK  the  support  of  a  powerful  clan,  she  had  no  need  of  royal  patronage. 

k  4">.  "  Cf.  the  close  parallel  in  Gen.  18'-". 

231 


IIKcxS.  43-^]  POPULAR   ELISHA  TRADITIONS 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

Resto-  32 And  when  Elisha  came  into  the  house,  there  was  the  child  lying  dead  on 
of  the  ^^is  bed.  ^Hie  went  in,  therefore,  and  shut  the  door  behind  them  two,  and 
boy  to  prayed  to  Jehovah.  34^Ynd  he  went  up  and  lay  upon  the  child  and  put  his 
mouth  upon  his  mouth,  and  his  eyes  upon  his  eyes,  and  his  hands  upon  his 
hands,  and,  as  he  lay  upon^  him,  the  flesh  of  the  child  became  warm.  ^S'pjjgj^ 
he  returned  and  walked  backward  and  forward  in  the  house,  and  went  up 
and  lay  upon  him,  and  the  child  sneezed  seven  times;  thereupon  the  child 
opened  his  eyes,  ^o^j^fj  }jg  called  Gehazi,  and  said.  Call  this  Shunam- 
mite.  So  he  called  her.  And  when  she  came  in  to  him,  he  said.  Take  up 
your  son.  37^]^pj^  gj^g  went  in,  fell  at  his  feet,  and  bowed  to  the  ground, 
after  that  she  took  up  her  son  and  went  out. 

§  86.  Restoration  of  the  Shunammite's  Land,  II  Kgs.  8'" 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

The  II  Kgs.  8  ^Now  Elisha  spoke  to  the  woman,  whose  son  he  had  restored 

nam-  to  life.  Saying,  Arise,  go  forth  with  your  household,  and  sojourn  wherever 
mite's  you  can,  for  Jehovah  hath  ordered  a  famine;  and  moreover,  it  shall  come 
dence  upon  the  land  seven  years.  ^So  the  woman  arose  and  acted  according  to 
foreign  tlie  advice  of  the  man  of  God:  and  she  went  with  her  household  and  so- 
yy}]  ^*  journed  in  the  land  of  the  Phihstines  seven  years,  ^^nd  at  the  end  of  seven 
advice    years  the  woman  returned  from  the  land  of  the  Philistines;  and  she  went 

forth  to  petition  the  king  for  her  house  and  her  land. 

Resto-        *Now  the  king  happened  to  be  saying  to  Gehazi  the  servant  of  the  man 

of  he"     of  God,  Tell  me,  I  pray,  all  the  wonderful  things  that  Elisha  has  done.     ^And 

fei'ted      '"^'^^  ^^  ^^  ^^^  telling  the   king  how  he  had   restored  to  life  the  dead,  the 

lands       ivoraan,  whose  son  he  had  restored  to  life,  petitioned  the  king  for  her  house 

and  for  her  land.     And  Gehazi  said,  My  lord,  O  king,  this  is  the  woman 

and  this  is  her  son,  whom  Elisha  restored  to  life.     ^And  when  the  king  asked 

the  woman,  she  told  him.     So  the  king  appointed  for  her  a  court-official,"" 

saying,  Restore  all  that  was  hers,  together  with  the  produce  of  the  fields 

since  the  day  that  she  left  the  land  until  now. 

§  87.  Healing  of  Naaman  the  Leper,  II  Kgs.  5 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

De-  II   Kgs.    5  ^Now  Naaman  the  commander  of  the  army  of  the  king  of 

^  the  Aram  was  a  man  prosperous  and  highly  esteemed  by  his  master,  because  by 
Arim^   him  Jehovah  had  given  victory  to  Aram;"  but  the  man  was  a  leper.     2\n(j 


'  4^  Lit.,  crouched.  The  Heb.  verb  means  not  stretched,  as  in  the  current  translations,  but 
rather  that  he  drew  up  his  limbs  to  correspond  to  the  shorter  limbs  of  the  child. 

§  86  Cf.  note  §  85. 

™  8^  Heb.,  eunuch. 

§  87  Here  Elisha  is  the  prophet  of  Samaria,  ',  is  in  close  touch  with  the  court  and  is  at- 
tended not  by  the  sons  of  the  prophets  but  by  Gehazi.  The  identification  of  the  story  with  the 
Samaria  cycle  is  assured.  As  in  the  case  of  most  of  these  popular  stories,  it  is  impossible  to 
determine  unrler  whose  reigns  the  events  took  place. 

°  5\  So  Luc.  Into  the  Heb.  has  crept  the  marginal  note,  o  7nan  of  ability,  intended  probably 
to  e.xplain  the  preceding  descriptive  adjective. 

232 


HEALING   OF  NA.\^L\N  THE   LEPER        [H  Kgs.  52 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

the  Arameans  had  gone  forth  in  marauding  bands  and  had  brought  away 
captive  out  of  the  land  of  Israel  a  little  maiden,  who  became  the  servant  of 
Naaman's  wife.  ^And  she  said  to  her  mistress,  Would  that  my  lord  were 
with  the  prophet  that  is  in  Samaria !  Then  he  would  relieve  him  of  his  lep- 
rosy. *And  one  went  in  and  told  his  lord,  saying,  Thus  and  thus  said  the 
maiden  from  the  land  of  Israel.  ^And  the  king  of  Aram  said.  Go  now,  and 
I  will  send  a  letter  to  the  king  of  Israel.  So  he  departed  and  took  with  him 
ten  talents  of  silver  and  six  thousand  shekels  of  gold  and  ten  festal  ear- 
ments.  °And  he  brought  to  the  king  of  Israel  the  letter  which  ran:  Now 
when  this  letter  comes  to  you,  be  informed  that  I  have  sent  Naaman  my 
ser\'ant  to  you,  that  you  may  relieve  him  of  his  leprosy.  "When,  however, 
the  king  of  Israel  read  the  letter,  he  tore  his  clothes  and  said.  Am  I  a  god 
who  can  kill  and  make  alive,  that  this  man  sends  to  me  to  relieve  a  man  of 
his  leprosy  ?     But  consider  and  see  how  he  is  seeking  a  quarrel  with  me ! 

^But  when  Elisha,  the  man  of  God,  heard  that  the  king  of  Israel  had  torn  Elisha's 
his  clothes,  he  sent  to  the  king,  saying.  Why  have  you  torn  your  clothes  ?  t'/^ng" 
Let  him  come  now  to  me  and  he  shall  know  that  there  is  a  prophet  in  Israel  I  ^V*^ 
^So  Naaman  came  with  his  horses  and  with  his  chariots  and  stood  at  the  man's 
door  of  Elisha's  house.     ^''And  Elisha  sent  a  messenger  to  him,  saying.  Go  and  '^^^^ 
wash  in  the  Jordan  seven  times,  and  your  flesh  shall  again  be  well  and  clean. 
^^But  Naaman  w-ent  away  in  a  rage  and  said,  I  expected  that  he  would  come 
out  to  me  and  stand  and  call  on  the  name  of  Jehovah  his  God,  and  wave 
his  hand  over  the   place,  and  relieve  the  leper.     ^-Are  not  Amana"  and 
Pharpar,  the  rivers  of  Damascus,  better  than  all  the  waters  of  Israel  ?    Could 
I  not  wash  in  them  and  be  clean.''     So  he  turned  and  went  away  in  a  rage. 
^^But  his  sers'ants  came  near  and  spoke  to  him  and  said,  If'^  the  prophet  had 
bidden  you  do  some  great  thing,  would  you  not  have  done  it  ?     IIow  nnich 
rather  then,  when  he  says  to  you,  'Wash  and  be  clean!'     ^^hen  he  went 
down  and  dipped  himself  seven  times  in  the  Jordan,  according  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  man  of  God,  and  his  flesh  became  again  like  the  flesh  of  a  little 
child,  and  he  was  clean. 

^^And  he  returned  to  the  man  of  God,  together  with  all  his  retinue.     And  Naa- 
when  he  arrived,  he  stood  before  him  and  said,  Behold  now,  I  know  that  gr?i',\f 
there  is  no  God  in  all  the  earth,  but  in  Israel;  therefore,  I  pray,  take  a  present  ♦"'.'p  ♦" 
from  your  servant.     ^^But  he  said.  As  Jehovah  liveth,  before  whom  I  stand,  and  his 
I  will  take  nothing.     And  although  he  urged  him  to  take  it,  he  refused. 
^''Then  Naaman  said.  If  not,  at  least  let  there  be  given  to  your  servant  a 
load  of  earth,  what  two  mules  can  draw,  for  your  seryant  will  hereafter  offer 
neither  burnt-offering  nor  sacrifice  to  other  gods,  but  to  Jehovah.     ''^In  this 
thing  may  Jehovah  pardon  your  servant,  when  my  master  goes  into  the  temple 
of  Riinmon  to  worship  there,  leaning  on  my  arm,  and  I  bow  myself*'  in  the 
temple  of  llimmon,  when  he  bows  himself  in  the  temple  of  Rimmon— may 

°  5"^  So  Syr.,  Tare.,  and  marKinal  reading  of  Heb.  ,       •        , 

p. 5''  The  present  Heb.,  my  jalhcr.  is  in  all  i)ri)l);il)ility  a  corruption  of,  ?'/,  for  the  singular 
does  not  fit  the  context  ami  m.v  jiUlicr  is  mnitteil  in  the  Gk. 
">  5"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     lleb.,  when  I  bow. 

233 


IIKgs.518]  popular  ELISHA  TRADITIONS 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stones 

Jehovah  pardon  your  servant  in  this  thing.     ^^And  he  said  to  him,  Go  in 

peace. 

Geha-         But  when  he  had  gone  from  him  a  Httle  way,  -^Gehazi,  the  servant  of 

f^ilg       EHsha  the  man  of  God,  thought  to  himself.  There  my  master  has  spared 

repre-     this  Naaman  the  Aramean  without  accepting  from  him  what  he  brought !    As 

tions'    Jehovah  Hveth,  I  will  run  after  him  and  take  something  from  him.     ^igQ 

Gehazi   followed   after   Naaman.     And   when   Naaman   saw   one   running 

after  him,  he  alighted  from  the  chariot  to  meet  him  and  said.  Is  all  well  ? 

22And  he  said.  All  is  well.     My  master  has  sent  me,  saying,  'Just  now  two 

young  men  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets  have  come  to  me  from  the  hill-country 

of  Ephraim.     Give  them,  I  pray,  a  talent  of  silver  and  two  festal  garments.' 

23And  Naaman  said.  Consent  to  take  two  talents.     And  he  urged  him,  and 

bound  two  talents  of  silver  in  two  bags,  with  two  festal  garments,  and  laid 

them  on  two  of  his  servants,  and  they  bore  them  before  him.     24g^t  when 

he  came  to  the  hill,  he  took  them  from  their  hand  and  stored  them  in  the 

house  and  let  the  men  go  on  their  way. 

His  25'phg^  hg  went  in.     But  when  he  stood  by  his  master,  Elisha  said  to  him, 

demna-  Where  do  you  come  from,  Gehazi  ?     And  he  said,  Your  servant  has  not  been 

tio"       anywhere  at  all.     ^^And  he  said  to  him.  Was  I  not  in  spirit  with  you  when 

punish-  the  man  turned  from  his  chariot  to  meet  you  ?     Is  it  a  time  to  receive  money 

™^"       and  to  receive  garments,''  and  oliveyards  and  vineyards,  and  sheep  and  oxen, 

and  men-servants  and  maid-servants  ?     ^y'p'jje  leprosy  therefore  of  Naaman 

shall  cleave  to  you  and  to  your  descendants  forever.     Then  he  went  from 

his  presence  a  leper,  as  white  as  snow. 

§  88.  The  War  with  Moab,  U  Kgs.  3^",  of.  II  Chr.  gQi-^o 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

Mesha's  II  Kgs.  3  ^Now  Mesha  king  of  Moab  was  a  sheepmaster;^  and  he  ren- 
lioiT       dered  regularly  to  the  king  of  Israel  a  tribute  of  a  hundred  thousand  lambs 

and  the  wool  of  a  hundred  thousand  rams.     ^But  after  Ahab  died,  the  king 

of  Moab  rebelled  against  the  king  of  Israel. 
Per-  ^And  King  Jehoram  went  out  of  Samaria  at  that  time  and  mustered  all 

otthe^  Israel.  ''Then  he  proceeded  at  once  to  send  to  Jehoshaphat  the  king  of 
invad-  Judali,  saying.  The  king  of  Moab  has  rebelled  against  me;  will  you  go  with 
kings      me  to  fight  against  Moab  ?     And  he  replied,  I  will  come  up ;  I  am  as  you, 

'  5^6  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Lat.  suggest  as  possibly  original  the  reading,  And  now  you  have  taken 
the  money  and  you  may  take  the  garments. 

§  88  The  preceding  stories  illustrate  Elisha's  activity  in  private  life.  These  which  follow 
were  intended  to  present  his  public  services.  The  later  Ephraimite  conception  of  the  authority 
and  role  of  the  prophets,  which  appears  in  certain  stories  regarding  Moses  (Vol.  I,  §§  82,  83)  and 
especially  in  the  closely  related  Samuel  stories  (§§  6-8)  is  again  prominent.  Elisha's  authority 
completely  overshadows  that  of  the  king.  By  supernatural  means  he  delivers  the  nation 
from  its  great  crisis  and  calls  to  the  kingship,  not  only  Jehu,  but  also  the  heathen  usurper 
Hazael.  Many  of  the  elements  which  characterize  the  Elijah  stories  reappear,  indicating  that 
they  are  not  from  the  same  writer  but  from  a  later  age  and  school,  strongly  influenced  by  the 
older  prophetic  traditions  and  probably  also  acquainted  with  the  Ahab  history. 

The  present  story  is  doubtless  based  on  an  older  historical  source  from  which  *-^  may  have 

»  3*  I.e.,  breeder  of  a  kind  of  small  sheep,  highly  esteemed  for  their  wool.     Cf.  Am.  1'. 

234 


THE   WAR   WITH   MOAB  [H  Kgs.  3^ 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

my  people  as  your  people,  my  horses  as  your  horses.  ^And  he  incjuired, 
Which  way  shall  we  go  up  ?  And  he  answered,  By  the  way  of  the  Wilderness 
of  Edom.  ^So  the  king  of  Israel  went  with  the  king  of  Judah  and  the  king 
of  Edom.  And  when  they  made  a  circuit  of  seven  days'  journev,  the  army 
and  the  beasts  that  followed  them  had  no  water.  i*^And  the  kin<>-  of  Israel 
said,  Alas  !  for  Jehovah  hath  called  these  three  kings  together  to  deliver 
them  into  the  hand  of  Moab !  ^^But  Jehoshaphat  said,  Is  tliere  no  ])rophet 
of  Jehovah  here  that  through  him  we  may  inciuire  of  Jehovah  ?  And  one 
of  the  king  of  Israel's  servants  answered  and  said,  Elisha  the  son  of  Shaphat 
is  here,  who  poured  water  on  the  hands  of  Elijah.  ^-And  Jehoshaphat  said, 
The  word  of  Jehovah  is  with  him.  So  the  Idng  of  Israel  and  Jehoshaphat 
and  tlie  king  of  Edom  went  down  to  him. 

i^And  Elisha  said  to  the  king  of  Israel,  What  have  I  to  do  with  you  ?     Go  Eiisha's 
to  the  prophets  of  your  father  and  to  the  prophets  of  your  mother  !     But  'Ytfn  "'' 
the  king  of  Israel  said  to  him.  No;  for  Jehovah  hath  called  these  three  kings  audits 
together  to  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of  Moab.     ^^And   Elisha  said,  As  zaiion 
surely  as  Jehovah  of  hosts  liveth,  whose  servant  I  am,  were  it  not  that  I  have 
regard  for  the  presence  of  Jehoshaphat  the  king  of  Judah,  I  would  pav  no 
attention  to  you.*    ^^But  now  bring  me  a  minstrel.    And  whenever  the  minstrel 
played,  the  power"  of  Jehovah  came  upon  him.     ^^And  he  said,  Thus  .sailh 
Jehovah,  'I  will  make  this  torrent-bed  full  of  cisterns.'^'  ^"For  thus  saith  Je- 
hovah, '  Ye  shall  not  see  wind  neither  shall  ye  see  rain ;  yet  this  torrent-bed  shall 
be  filled  with  water,  so  that  ye  yourselves  together  with  your  army"  and  your 
beasts  shall  drink.     ^^But  since  this  is  only  a  slight  thing  in  the  sight  of  Jeho- 
vah, he  also  will  deliver  the  Moabites  into  your  hand.     ^^And  ye  shall  smite 
every  fortified  city^  and  fell  all  the  good  trees  and  stoji  up  all  the  springs  of 
water  and  destroy  with  stones  all  the  good  cultivated  land.'     -'^Accordingly  in 
the  morning,  about  the  time  when  the  offering  is  presented,  water  came  sud- 
denly from  the  direction  of  Edom,  so  that  the  country  was  filled  with  water. 

21X0W  when  all  the  Moabites  had  heard  that  the  kings  had  come  up  to  The 
fight  against  them,  they  gathered  together  all  who  were  able  to  bear  arm.s  o^^r'"^^ 
and  upward,  and  stood  on  the  border.     '^~^\xi  in  the  morning  early,  when  jj^^^u 
the  sun  had  risen  on  the  water,  the  Moabites  saw  the  water  opposite  them  ites 

been  quoted  verbatim.  The  probability  that  it  embodies  reliable  historical  data  is  strengthened 
by  the  testimony  of  the  Moabite  stone.  Cf.  Appendix  IV.  By  many  scholars  it  is  assigned  to 
the  Ahab  history  represented  in  I  Kgs.  20,  22,  but  the  evidence  is  very  strong  that  it  comes 
from  the  Samaria  cycle  of  the  i:iisha  stories,  in  the  midst  of  which  it  is  found.  The  dependence 
:'pon  I  Kgs.  22  is  marked,  cf.  '"  and  I  Kgs.  22'-'.  The  attitude  of  Elisha  the  one  true  prophet, 
in",  is  very  similar  to  that  of  Micaiah  in  I  Kgs.  22i'-'o.  The  reference  in"  to  Elisha  as  the 
disciijle  of  Elijah  and  in  "  to  the  Baal  cult  introducetl  by  .lezebel,  fmthermore  indicates  depemi- 
ence  ur)on  the  IClijah  stories.  Above  all,  while  in  I  Kgs.  22  the  chief  interest  is  in  Ahab  and 
political  events,  here  the  house  of  Ahab  is  viewed  with  dis|ileasure  and  the  central  (igiire  is 
Elisha  the  prophet.  Also  instead  of  being  a  natural  historical  record,  the  inar\  cllous  element 
is  very  prominent,  as  in  the  other  popular  Elisha  stories.  In  II  Chr.  20  what_  appears  to  have 
originally  been  the  same  story  has  undergone  still  further  transformation.     Cf.  §  110. 

'  ,'i'*   Heb.,  /  would  not  look  lowurrl  i/oii  nor  sec  j/ou. 

"  3'^  Heb.,  hand,  u.«ed  here  as  fretiuently  for  power  imparted.  Luc.  ad<ls.  ntid  they  look  a 
minstrel  for  him.  Possibly  part  of  the  te.\t  has  here  fallen  out  through  a  scribal  error,  llie 
meaning,  however,  is  clear.  .        ,  ... 

/.3";  I.e..  every  hollow  in  this  dry  wady  shall  be  filled  with  water.  Another  possible 
reading  is,  make  thin  lorrent-hed  full  of  trenches. 

"3''   So  Liic.     The  Heb.,  cattle,  is  a  .scribal  variant.     Of.  «'•. 

"S'"  So  (;k.  and  I-uc.     The  Heb.  adds,  and  every  choice  city. 

235 


iikgs.322]       popular  elisha  traditions 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

as  red  as  blood.  23And  they  said,  This  is  blood !  The  kings  have  surely 
fought  together^  and  they  have  smitten  one  another.  Now  therefore,  Moab, 
to  the  spoil!  24^nd  when  they  came  to  the  camp  of  Israel,  the  Israehtes 
rose  up  and  smote  the  Moabites,  so  that  they  fled  before  them;  and  they 
went  forward  smiting  the  Moabites  as  they  went.^  25  ^^d  they  kept  on  de- 
stroying the  cities;  on  all  the  good  cultivated  land  they  cast  each  his  stone, 
until  they  filled  it;  all  the  springs  of  water  they  stopped  up,  and  felled  all 
the  good  trees,  and  they  harried  Moab  until  her  sons  were  left  in  Kir-har- 
eseth,'=  and  the  slingers  surrounded  and  smote  it. 
The  26j5ut  vvhen  the  king  of  INIoab  saw  that  the  battle  was  too  fierce  for  him, 

desper-  j^^  ^^^j^  ^j^j^  ^jjjj  ggven  hundred  men,  armed  with  swords,  to  break  through 


straits    against  the  king  of  Edom,  but  they  could  not.     27xhen  he  took  his  eldest 
king  of   son,  who  was  to  reign  in  his  place,  and  offered  him  for  a  burnt-offering  upon 
^°*^     the  wall.     And  there  came  great  wrath  against  Israel,  so  that  they  departed 
from  him  and  returned  to  their  own  land. 

§  89.  The  Deception  of  the  Arameans,  II  Kgs.  6^"^^ 
Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

Elisha's      II  Kgs.  6  *Once  while  the  king  of  Aram  was  at  war  with  Israel,  he  took 

skill  as    counsel  with  his  servants,  saying.  In  such  and  such  a  place  shall  we  lie  in 

ambush.'^     9\,^(j  the  man  of  God  sent  to  the  king  of  Israel,  saying,  Beware 

that  you  do  not  pass  that  place,  for  there  the  Arameans  are  concealed.®    ^*^So 

the  king  of  Israel  .sent  to  the  place  of  which  the  man  of  God  had  told  him. 

Thus  he  used  to  warn  him,  so  that  he  could  there  be  on  his  guard,  not  once 

merely  nor  twice. 

Resent-       ^^4nd  the  mind  of  the  king  of  Aram  was  greatly  disturbed  by  this.     And 

^®tfjg     he  called  his  servants  and  said  to  them,  Will  you  not  show  me  who  has  be- 

kingof   trayed  us  to  the  king  of  Israel  ?f      i^'ph^n  one  of  his  servants  said.  No,  my 

'  ^^"^     lord,  O  king  !  but  Elisha,  the  prophet  in  Israel,  tells  the  king  of  Israel  the 

words  that  you  speak  in  your  bedchamber.     ^^And  he  said.  Go  and  see 

where  he  is,  that  I  may  send  and  get  him.     And  it  was  told  hun,  saying. 

Behold  he  is  in  Dothan. 

Elisha's      ^^'pherefoj.g  ]^q  gent  there  horses  and  chariots  and  a  great  army:  and  they 

Sous'    came  by  night,  and  surrounded  the  city.     I'^And  when  the  man  of  God^  on 

capt-      the  next  day  rose  early  in  the  morning  and  went  forth,  there  was  an  army 

the  Ar-    — "^"^  ' 

amean.  a  323  gg  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Targ.,  and  a  possible  rendering  of  the  present  Heb. 

army  b324  go  Gk.  and  Luc.  and  corrected  Heb.  text. 

<:  325  Reconstructing  the  Heb.,  with  the  aid  of  Luc.  The  present  Heb.  reads,  until  in 
Kir-hareseth  they  left  its  stones. 

§  89  This  story  bears  on  its  face  the  evidence  that  it  is  a  popular  tale  intended  to  illustrate 
Elisha's  miraculous  power.  Details,  such  as  the  name  of  the  kings  of  Lsrael  and  Aram  and  the 
exact  place  and  nature  of  the  war,  are  conspicuously  lacking.  The  prophet  by  his  potent 
prayer  leads  an  army  helplessly  captive  and  dictates  to  the  king  of  Israel,  as  to  a  servant,  what 
shall  be  done  with  the  captives.  Again  the  story  centres  about  Samaria,  so  that  its  classifica- 
tion is  reasonably  certain.  It  was,  however,  probably  at  first  current  in  a  somewhat  different 
circle  from  the  succeeding  tradition. 

d  6^  Reconstructing  the  doubtful  Heb.,  with  the  aid  of  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Lat. 

"  6'  So  Gk.  and  the  corrected  Heb. 

'  6"  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Old  Lat.     Present  Heb.,  who  oj  ours  is  for  the  king  of  Israel. 

E  6"  Restoring  the  confused  Heb.  text. 

236 


DECEPTION  OF   THE   ARAMEANS         [II  Kgs.  G^s 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Eli^ha  Stories 

with  horses  and  chariots  about  the  city,  so  that  his  servant  said  to  him,  Alas, 
my  master!  What  shall  we  do?  ^^^And  he  answered,  Fear  not;  for  they 
who  are  with  us  are  more  than  they  who  are  with  them.  ^"And  Elisha 
prayed  and  said,  Jehovah  open  his  eyes,  that  he  may  see.  Then  Jehovah 
opened  the  eyes  of  the  young  man,  and  he  saw  how  the  mountain  around 
about  Elislia  was  full  of  horses  and  chariots  of  fire.  is^\^j^j  ^yj^^j^  ^j^^y  came 
down  to  him,  Elisha  besought  Jeho\ah,  saying,  Smite  this  jic-oplc,  I  pray, 
with  blindness;  And  he  smote  them  with  blindness  according  to  Elisha's 
petition,  ^^^nd  Elisha  said  to  them,  This  is  not  the  way  nor  the  city.  Fol- 
low me,  and  I  will  bring  you  to  the  man  whom  you  seek !  So  he  led  them 
to  Samaria. 

20But  as  soon  as  they  came  to  Samaria,  Elisha  said,  Jehovah,  open  the  Mag- 
eyes  of  these  men,  that  they  may  see.     And  Jehovah  opened  their  eyes,  so  JJf"J' 
that  they  saw,  and  there  they  were  in  the  midst  of  Samaria,     ^i  \n(}  \\^^  libera- 
king  of  Israel  said  to  Elisha,  when  he  saw  them,  INIy  father,  shall  I  smite  thecap- 
them  .'  shall  I  smite  them  P^     --But  he  answered.  You  shall  not  smite  them;  "^^^ 
would  you  smite  those  whom  you  have  not'  taken  captive  with  your  sword 
and  with  your  bow  ?     Set  bread  and  water  before  them,  that  they  may  eat 
and  drink  and  go  to  their  master.     ^Sg^  |^g  prepared  a  great  feast  for  them. 
And  when  they  had  eaten  and  drunk,  he  sent  them  back  to  their  master. 
And  the  marauding  bands  of  Aram  came  no  more  into  the  land  of  Israel. 

§  90.  The  Siege  and  Deliverance  of  Samaria,  II  Kgs.  6^^-7^" 
Samaria  Cycle  of  Eliisha  Stories 

II  Kgs.  6  24>Jow  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  Ben-hadad  king  of  Aram  Hor- 
assembled  all  his  army  and  went  up  and  besieged  Samaria.     "^^Then  there  [j]g®°^ 
was  a  great  famine  in  Samaria,  while  they  were  besieging  it,  until  an  ass's  faniipe 
head  was  sold  for  eighty  shekels  of  silver,  and  a  pinfj  of  dove's  dung*'  for  the 
five  shekels  of  silver.     ^^And  as  the  king  of  Israel  was  once  passing  by  ujjon  *^''^ 

*■  6^'  Or  interpreting  the  Heb.,  according  to  Gk.,  and  Syr.,  shall  I  completely  cut  them 
down? 

'  fl-2  So  Luc.,  who  inserts  the  negative  demanded  by  the  context. 

§  90  The  overshadowing  importance  of  Elisha  in  this  story  which  records  national  events, 
leaves  little  doubt  that  it  belongs  to  the  groiii>  of  pro])hotic  stories  in  which  it  is  embedded. 
It  also  centres  in  .Samaria.  The  statement  in  G-'  that  the  maramling  liaiuls  of  tlio  Arameans 
came  no  more  into  the  l;ind  of  Israel  is  h.anll*-  consistent  with  the  i)resent  story,  but  this  fact 
simply  indicates  that  these  stories  have  little  real  connection  with  each  other  and  are  topically 
ratiier  than  chronologically  arranged.  As  with  the  other  traditions,  however,  there  are  no 
clear  data  from  which  to  determine  the  exact  date  of  the  events  recorded.  The  Hen-hadad 
mentioned  in  fr^  may  either  have  been  the  second  or  the  third  .\rainean  ruler  bearing  that  name. 
The  name  of  the  king  of  Israel  also  is  not  given,  except  by  implication,  since  the  story  is  found  in 
a  group  which  the  editor  evidently  assigned  to  the  reign  of  .Jehoram.     The  mention  of  a  famine, 

Ferhaps,  connects  it  with  the  one  referred  to  in  4''**  and  8'  ".  .Vt  tlie  close  of  .lehoram's  reign  the 
sraelites  and  Arameans  were  at  war,  9"-  ''.  but  hostilities  appear  to  have  been  conlincd  to  the 
east  of  .Jordan.  The  two  periods,  wlien  the  .Vrameans  completely'  ovorran  Israel,  were  during 
the  earlier  years  of  Ahab  and  during  the  years  following  the  revolutidu  of  .leliu.  If  historical, 
the  incident,  therefore,  probably  belongs  to  the  reign  of  Hen-hadad  111  and  .Ichoahaz  or  .Joa,sh 
of  Israel.  Or  possiblv — .xs  ha.s  been  strongly  urged  —the  tradition  ha.s  combined  the  poi>ular 
version  of  the  famine  in  the  days  of  Elijah  (I  Kgs.  17)  with  that  of  the  defeat  of  the  .Vrameans 
in  the  days  of  Ahab  M  Kgs.  20),  and  a,Msociated  both  with  Ii^lisha. 
'  6^^  Heb.,  the  fourth  part  of  a  kah,  about  a  pint. 
■■  &"  Various  emendations  have  been  suggested:  carob  pods,  or,  sour  ivitic. 

237 


IIKgs.  626]  POPULAR   ELISHA   TRADITIONS 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

the  wall,  a  woman  cried  to  him,  saying,  Help,  my  lord,  O  king.  ^^And  he 
said,  li  Jehovah  does  not  help  you,  whence  can  I  help  you  ?  Out  of  the 
threshing-floor  or  out  of  the  winepress  ?  ^SjjQ^gygj.^  Ijjg  king  said  to  her, 
What  is  the  trouble  with  you  ?  And  she  answered,  This  woman  said  to  me, 
'  Give  your  son,  that  we  may  eat  him  to-day,  and  we  will  eat  my  son  to-mor- 
row! '  29go  ^yg  })oiled  my  son,  and  ate  him.  And  I  said  to  her  on  the  next 
day,  '  Give  your  son,  that  we  may  eat  him; '  but  she  has  hidden  her  son. 
The  2°And  when  the  king  heard  the  words  of  the  woman,  he  tore  his  clothes — 

resolve   ^^^  ^^  he  was  passing  by  upon  the  wall,  the  people  looked  and  saw  that  he 
tokiu     wore  sackcloth  within  on  his  naked  flesh— ^^and  he  said,  may  God  do  to  me 
whatever  he  will,  if  to-day  the  head  of  Elisha  the  son  of  Shaphat  remains 
on  his  shoulders ! 
Elisha's      ^-Now  Elisha  was  sitting  in  his  house  with  the  elders  beside  him.     And 
tionof"   the  king  sent  a  man  from  before  him.     But  before  the  messenger  came  to 
plenty    him,  he  said  to  the  elders,  See  how  this  murderous  villain  has  sent  to  take 
off  my  head.     Look  !  when  the  messenger  comes,  shut  the  door  and  hold  the 
door  fast  against  him ;  is  not  the  sound  of  his  master's  feet  behind  him  .'* 
^^And  while  he  was  .still  talking  with  them,  the  king^  came  down  to  him 
and  said,  See,  this  is  the  evil  that  comes  from  Jehovah !     Why  should  I  wait 
for  Jehovah  any  longer?     7  ^But  Elisha  said.  Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah; 
thus  saith  Jehovah, '  To-morrow  about  this  time  shall  a  peck™  of  fine  meal  be 
sold  for  a  shekel  and  two  pecks  of  barley  for  a  shekel  in  the  gate  of  Samaria.' 
^Then  the  captain  on  whose  hand  the  king  leaned  answered  the  man  of  God 
and  said,  Behold,  if  Jehovah  himself  should  make  windows  in  heaven,  could 
this  thing  be  ?    And  he  said.  You  yourself  shall  see  it  with  your  own  eyes, 
but  shall  not  eat  of  it. 
The  ^Now  there  were  four  leprous  men  at  the  entrance  of  the  gate;  and  they 

discov-   ^^^^  °^^  t^  another.  Why  do  we  sit  here  until  we  die  ?     '*If  we  say,  '  We  will 
ery         enter  into  the  city,'  then  famine  is  in  the  city,  and  we  shall  die  there;  but  if 
besieg-   we  sit  still  here,  we  die  also.     Now  therefore  come  and  let  us  go  over  to  the 
means^'  ^^^Y  of  the  Arameans.     If  they  save  us  alive,  we  shall  live;  and  if  they  kill 
had        us,  we  shall  but  die.     ^So  they  rose  up  at  twilight  to  go  over  to  the  camp  of 
the  Arameans.     And  when  they  came  to  the  outermost  part  of  the  camp  of 
the  Arameans,  there  was  no  man  there,  ^for  the  Lord  had  made  the  army 
of  the  Arameans  hear  a  noise  of  chariots  and  of  horses  and  of  a  great  army, 
so  they  said  to  one  another.  Surely  the  king  of  Israel  has  hired  against  us 
the  kings  of  the  Hittites  and  the  kings  of  Mu^ri^  to  come  upon  us.     "There- 
fore they  arose  and  fled  in  the  twilight  and  left  their  tents,  and  their  horses 
and  their  asses,  even  the  camp  as  it  was,  and  fled  for  their  life.     *And  when 
these  lepers  came  to  the  outermost  part  of  the  camp,  they  went  into  one  tent, 
and  ate  and  drank  and  carried  away  silver  and  gold  and  clothing  and  went 

1533  Translating  according  to  the  demands  of  the  context.  A  scribe  has  mistaken  the 
original  for  the  very  similar  Heb.  word,  messenger. 

™  71  Heb.,  seah. 

°  7*  A  later  scribe  has  read  for  MuQri  the  more  familiar  MiQraim  (Egypt).  The  people  of 
Mu^ri,  however,  were  near  neightjors  of  the  Hittites  in  Northern  Syria,  while  the  Egyptians 
were  too  distant  for  practical  alliance. 

238 


THE   DELIVERANCE    OF   SAMARIA  [II  Kgs.  7S 

Sarnaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

and  hid  it.     Then  they  came  back  and  entered  into  another  tent,  and  car- 
ried away  its  contents  al§o  and  went  and  hid  it. 

^Then  they  said  to  one  another.  We  are  not  doing  right;  this  day  is  a  day  incre- 
of  good  news,  wliile  we  are  keeping  still.     If  we  wait  until  morning  light,  oUhe 
punishment  will  overtake  us.     Now  therefore  come,  let  us  go  and  inform  king 
the  palace.     ^^So  they  came  and  called  the  watchmen°  at  the  city  gate  and 
told  them,  saying.  We  came  to  the  camp  of  the  Arameans,  and  behold  there 
was  no  one  there  and  no  voice  of  man,  but  the  horses  had  been  tied  and 
asses  were  tied  and  theirP  tents  were  as  they  had  been.     ^^And  the  watch- 
men at  the  city  gate'i  called  and  announced  it  to  the  palace  within.     ^-And 
the  king  arose  in  the  night,  and  said  to  his  servants,  I  will  now  tell  you  what 
the  Arameans  have  done  to  us.     They  know  that  we  are  hungry;  therefore 
they  have  gone  out  of  the  camp  to  hide  themselves  in  the  field,  thinking, 
'  When  they  come  out  of  the  city  we  shall  take  them  alive  and  get  into  the 
city.' 

^^But  one  of  his  servants  spoke  and  said.  Let  some  men  take  five  of  the  Confir- 
remaining  horses  which  survive  in  the  city;  if  they  live,  they  are  as  all  the  Cnhe° 
multitude  of  Israel  that  survive  here;  if  they  perish,  they  are  as  all  the  mul-  report 
titude  of  Israel  that  are  consumed. ""     Therefore  let  us  send  and  see.     ^'^So 
they  took  two  mounted  men,^  and  the  king  sent  them  after  the  army  of  the 
Arameans,  saying.  Go  and  see.     ^^And  they  went  after  them  to  the  Jordan, 
and  behold  all  the  way  was  full  of  garments  and  vessels  which  the  Arameans 
had  cast  away  in  their  haste.     And  the  messengers  returned  and  told  the 
king. 

^^And  the  people  went  out  and  plundered  the  camp  of  the  Arameans.  Reali- 
So  a  peck  of  fine  meal  was  sold  for  a  shekel,  and  two  pecks  of  barley  for  a  ^f  iVJi. 
shekel,  just  as  Jehovah  had  said.     ^''And  the  king  appointed  the  captain  ^^H'^-^^. 
on  whose  hand  he  leaned  to  take  charge  of  the  gate;  but  the  peo{)le  trod  tion 
upon  him  in  the  gate  so  that  he  died,  just  as  the  man  of  God  had  said,  when 
the  king  came  down  to  him.    i^Also  it  came  to  pass  as  the  man  of  God  had  spoken 
to  the  king,  saying,  Two  pecks  of  barley  will  be  sold  for  a  shekel  and  a  peck  of  fine 
meal  for  a  sliekel,  to-morrow  about  this  time  at  the  gate  of  Samaria;  "and  the  captain 
answered  the  man  of  God,  and  said,   Now,  behold,  if  Jehovah  himself  should  make 
windows  in  heaven,  could  this  thing  be?  and  he  said,  You  yourself  shall  see  it  with 
your  own  eyes,  but  shall  not  eat  of  it.     -°So  it  came  to  pass  to  him ;  for  the  people  trod 
upon  him  at  the  gate  so  that  he  died.* 


»  7'"  Heb.,  watchman,  but  the  plural  is  dem.anded  by  the  subsequent  context. 

p  7'"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heh.  has  simply,  the. 

1  7"  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Svr.,  and  Targ.     Ileb.,  he  called. 

'  7'''  The  construction  is  broken  and  the  sense  very  obscure.  The  above  reconstruction 
at  lea.st  brings  out  the  i)rol)able  meaning  of  the  i)assace. 

"7"  Restoring  the  original  text.     The  present  Heb.  is  tautological. 

t  718-20  The  original  narrative  evidently  ends  with  ''.  Vss.  '*<■-'"  are  later  editorial  additions. 
"•  ''■•  repeating  in  expanded  form  what  has  already  been  stated  in  '<>,  and  ^^  being  but  a  repetition 
of  i'". 


2S9 


IIKgs.87]  popular   ELISIL\   TRADITIONS 

§  91.  Elisha  and  Hazael,  II  Kgs.  8"-'* 
Sumaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

Elisha's      II  Kgs.  8  ^Now  Elisha  came  to  Damascus.     And  Ben-hadad"  the  king 
™®^'       of  Aram  was  sick.     And  when  it  was  told  him,  saying,  The  man  of  God 
to'feen-  has  come  here,  ^the  king  said  to  Hazael,  take  a  present  in  your  hand  and 
and^      go  to  meet  the  man  of  God  and  inquire  of  Jehovah  through  him  whether  or 
Hazael   ^^^  j  shall  recover  of  this  sickness  ?     ^So  Hazael  went  to  meet  him  and  took 
a  present  with  him,  all  kinds  of  precious  things  from  Damascus,  forty  camel 
loads.     When  he  came  he  stood  before  him  and  said.  Your  son  Ben-hadad 
king  of  Aram  has  sent  me  to  you  to  inquire,  '  Shall  I  recover  of  this  sick- 
ness ? '     ^^And  Elisha  said  to  him,  Go,  say  to  him,  '  You  shall  surely  re- 
cover!' but  Jehovah  hath  showed  me  that  he  will  nevertheless  die.     ^^And 
he  looked  intently  at  him,  until  he  was  ashamed;^  and  the  man  of  God  wept. 
^^And  Hazael  said.  Why  does  my  lord  weep  ?     And  he  answered.  Because 
I  know  the  evil  that  you  will  do  to  the  Israelites:  their  strongholds  will  you 
set  on  fire,  their  young  men  will  you  slay  with  the  sword,  their  little  ones 
will  you  dash  in  pieces,  and  their  women  with  child  will  you  rip  up.     ^^And 
Hazael  said,  But  what  is  your  servant,  the  dog,  that  he  should  do  this  great 
thing  ?     And  Elisha  answered,  Jehovah  hath  showed  me  that  you  shall  be- 
come king  over  Aram. 
Assas-        ^'^And  when  he  departed  from  Elisha  and  came  to  his  master,  he  asked, 
of"Ben-°  ^^'hat  did  Elisha  say  to  you  ?     And  he  answered.  He  told  me  that  you  would 
hadad     recover.     ^^But  the  next  day  he  took  the  coverlet,  dipped  it  in  water,  and 
zael        spread  it  over  his  face,  so  that  he  died.     And  Hazael  became  king  in  his 
place. 


§  92.  Elisha's  Farewell  Blessing  and  Death,  U  Kgs.  13i*-2i 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stories 

Elisha's  II  KgS.  13  ^^Now  when  Elisha  fell  sick  of  the  sickness  of  which  he  was 
predfc-  *°  ^^^'  Joash  the  king  of  Israel  came  down  to  him,  wept  over  him  and  said, 
tion  of  My  father,  my  father !  the  chariots  of  Israel  and  its  horsemen  !  ^^And  Elisha 
victo-  said  to  him,  take  bow  and  arrows;  and  he  took  bow  and  arrows.  ^^And  he 
"®®  said  to  the  king  of  Israel,  Lay  your  hand  upon  the  bow.  And  when  he  had 
laid  on  his  hand,  Elisha  laid  his  hands  upon  the  king's  hands.     ^'And  he 

§  91  Elisha  figures  here  in  the  same  commanding  role  as  in  the  preceding  stories.  He  is 
represented  as  in  fact,  although  not  in  the  letter,  carrying  out  the  divine  command  to  Elijah, 
recorded  in  I  Kgs.  19.  Cf.  note  §  71.  Like  all  the  Elisha  stories  this  tradition  has  no  real  con- 
nection with  those  which  precede  and  follow,  and  it  leaves  out  many  details  which  an  historian 
would  deem  important,  as  for  example,  a  more  detailed  description  of  Hazael  and  the  events 
preceding  this  incident. 

"  8"  Ben-hadad  II.    Cf.  chronological  chart  after  p.  199. 

^'  8''  Heb.,  And  he  steadied  his  countenance  mid  set  (it)  until  he  icas  ashamed.  The  mean- 
ing apparently  is  that  he  stared  Hazael  out  of  countenance.  Otherwise  it  may  be  translated, 
And  he  stared  immovably  before  him  and  became  horrified  in  the  extreme.  In  this  case  the  refer- 
ence would  be  to  the  prophet's  ecstasy. 

§  92  This  section  has  no  real  connection  with  its  immediate  context  in  II  Kgs.,  for  it  is 
inserted  after  the  death  of  Joash  (who  figures  in  it)  has  been  recorded.  It  is  evidently  a  passage 
taken  by  the  editor  from  the  Samaria  cycle  of  Elisha  stories,  and  placed  in  13  because  of  its 
reference  to  Joash.  Originally  it  doubtless  stood  at  the  end  of  the  group  of  stories  in  2^-8'°,  of 
which  it  is  the  natural  conclusion. 

240 


ELISHA'S   DEATH  [II  Kgs.  13i7 

Samaria  Cycle  of  Elisha  Stones 

said,  Open  the  window  toward  the  east.  And  when  he  opened  it,  EHsha 
said.  Shoot;  and  he  shot.  And  he  said,  Jehovah's  arrow  of  victory,  even 
the  arrow  of  victory  over  Aram;  for  you  should  have  smitten  the  Arameans 
in  Aphek  until  you  had  destroyed  them.  ^^Thereupon  he  said.  Take  arrows. 
And  when  he  had  taken  them,  he  said  to  the  king  of  Israel,  Smite  on  the 
ground;  and  he  smote  three  times  and  then  ceased.  ^^And  the  man  of  God 
was  angry  with  him  and  said.  You  should  have  smitten  five  or  six  times; 
then  you  would  have  smitten  Aram  until  you  had  destroyed  it,  but  as  it  is 
you  will  smite  Aram  but  three  times. 

20And  when  Elisha  died  they  buried  him.     Now  the  bands  of  the  Moabites  The  po 
were  wont  to  invade  the  land  each  year.     ^^And  while  they  were  burying  a  qNi^s 
man,  they  suddenly  spied  a  marauding  band.     And  they  cast  the  man  into  healing 
the  sepulchre  of  Elisha  and  went  on  their  way,^'  but  as  soon  as  the  man 
touched  the  bones  of  EHsha,  he  revived  and  stood  on  his  feet. 


IV 
FROM  JEHU  TO  THE  FALL  OF   SAMARIA,  II  Kgs.  9,  10,  13213, 

22-25,    148-29^    158-81^    I7 

§  93.  The  Prophetic  Revolution  Led  by  Jehu,  II  Kgs.  9'-10" 

Prophetic  Jehu  History 

II  Kgs.  9  ^Now  Elisha  the  prophet  called  one  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets  Anoint- 
and  said  to  him.  Gird  up  your  loins,  take  this  flask  of  oil  in  your  hand  and  jehuat 
go  to  Ramoth  in  Gilead.     ^^nd  when  you  arrive  there  look  for  Jehu**  the  Eiisha's 
son  of  Jehoshaphat,  the  son  of  Nimshi,  and  go  in  and  make  him  rise  up  from  mand 
among  his  kinsmen  and  bring  him  into  an  inner  chamber,     -^^rhen  take  the 
flask  of  oil  and  pour  it  on  his  head  and  say, '  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  "  I  have 


"  13-1  Making  a  slight  correction  demanded  by  the  text.  ,  •      , 

From  Jehu  to  the  Fall  of  Samaria.— As  far  as  II  Kgs.  17  the  larger  northern  kingdom 
receives  the  greater  attention.  The  narrative,  however,  is  disjomtcil  and  fragmentary.  No 
one  source  except  the  .Jehu  historv  is  quoted  at  length.  For  the  majority  of  the  reigns  the 
eilitor  only  epitomizes  the  data  which  he  drew  from  his  older  source,  occasionally  e.xpaniling 
or  supplementing  his  summaries  with  quotations  from  the  state  annals,  which  probably  were 
known  to  him  only  through  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  to  which  he  constantly  refers 
his  readers  for  further  information,     ('f.   Introd.,   pp-  10,  17.  ,.       •         c  iu        ■     ■ 

The  period  is  significant  because  it  witnessed  the  grimly  pr.actieal  application  ot  the  princi- 
ples laifl  down  by  Elijah,  the  appearance  of  the  new  school  <>(  the  prophets  reprcsenteil  by  .Vmoa 
and  Hosea,  the  final  ilownfall  of  the  proud  northern  kingdom,  and  the  amalgamation  ol  those 
diverse  racial  elements  which  later  reai)peareil  a.s  the  Samaritans.  •,       11    j-a- 

$  93  Regarding  the  classification  of  this  imi)ortant  narrative  there  is  considerable  cliHerence 
of  opinion.  9'-'3  may  come  from  the  Elisha  stories  and  const  itute  a  companion  i)icce  t  o  the  account 
of  Eiisha's  interview  with  Hazael,  §  91  ;  but  the  subsequent  record  of  Jehu's  revolutionary  mea-s- 
ures  implies  that  he  was  supported  by  the  proi)hets  of  .lehovali,  ami  .lohu's  wortis  in  '  "  hrul  tlicir 
natural  preface  in  '-'3.  It  is  also  characterize.l  by  a  dirocliicss  and  cxpiicitneHS  regarding  <lotiul.s 
which  are  lacking  in  the  lOlisha  .stories.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are  many  points  of  contact 
between  these  chapters  and  the  lOlijah  stories.     The  kings  are  designated  in  both,  not  by  their 

•  92  The  Jaua  son  of  Ilumri,  twice  mentioned  on  the  inscriptions  of  Shalmane.scr  II  among 
the  Palestinian  rulers  who  brought  tribute  to  the  .\ssyrians.  Cf.  for  the  Assyrian  record.  Appen- 
dix V. 

241 


II  Kgs.  93]    FROM  JEHU  TO  THE  FALL  OF  SAMARL\ 

Prophetic  Jehu  History 

anointed  thee  king  over  Israel." '     Then  open  the  door  and  flee  without  delay. 

^So  the  young  man  (the  servant  of  the  prophet)t>  went  to  Ramoth  in   Gilead. 

^And  just  as  he  arrived,  the  commanders  of  the  army  were  sitting  together. 

And  he  said,  I  have  a  word  for  you,  O  commander.     And  Jehu  said,  To 

which  of  us  all  .^     And  he  said,  To  you,  O  commander.    ^Then  he  arose 

and  went  into  the  house.     And  [the  young  man]  poured  the  oil  on  his  head 

and  said  to  him,  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  '  I  have  anointed 

thee  king  over  Jehovah's  people  Israel.     ^And  thou  shalt  cut  off-^  the  house  of 

Ahab  th}^  master,  that  I  may  avenge  the  blood  of  my  servants  the  prophets  and  the 

blood  of  all  the  servants  of  Jehovah  upon  Jezebel.     *For  the  whole  house  of  Ahab 

must  perish ;   and  I  will  cut  off  from  Ahab  every  male,  and  him  who  is  kept  in  and 

him  who  is  at  large  in  Israel.      'And  I  will  make  the  house  of  Ahab  like  the  house  of 

Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat  and  like  the  house  of  Baasha  the  son  of  Ahijah.     ^^And 

the  dogs  shall  eat  Jezebel  in  the  field  of  Jezreel  and  none  shall  bury  her.'"*     Then  he 

opened  the  door  and  fled. 

Proc-         i^Vhen  Jehu  came  out  to  the  servants  of  his  lord,  they  asked^  him,  Is  all 

tton^of    ^'^11  "^     Why  did  this  insane  fellow  come  to  you  ?     And  he  said  to  them, 

Jehu  as  You  know  the  man  and  his  talk.     ^^  \nd  they  said,  It  is  false !     Tell  us  now. 

And  he  said,  Thus  and  thus  he  spoke  to  me,  saying,  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah, 

"  I  have  anointed  thee  king  over  Israel."'    ^^Then  they  quickly  took  each  his 

garment^  laid  it  at  his  feet  and  on  the  bare  stairs,^  and  blew  the  trumpet, 

crying,  Jehu  is  king  ! 

His  ^*So  Jehu  the  son  of  Jehoshaphat,  the  son  of  Nimshi,  conspired  against 

^/ay  *°   Joram.     Now  Jehu,^   together  with   all   Israel,  was  defending  Ramoth   in 

Jeho-      Gilead  against  Hazael  king  of  Aram,  ^-^but  King  Jehoram  had  returned  to 

be  healed  in  Jezreel  of  the  Avounds  which  the  Arameans  had  given  him,  when 

he  fought  with  Hazael  king  of  Aram.'^     And  Jehu  said,  If  it  be  in  your  mind,^ 

then  let  none  escape  from  the  city  to  go  to  tell  it  in  Jezreel.     ^^Then  Jehu 


titles,  as  in  the  Ahab  history,  but  by  their  names.  The  persecutions  instigated  by  Jezebel,  the 
prevalence  of  Baalism,  and  the  predicted  fate  of  the  house  of  Ahab  are  alone  referred  to  in  the 
Elijah  stories.     The  events  recorded  in  this  section  are  the  natural  sequel  to  I  Kgs.  18  and  21. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  interest  in  II  Kgs.  9,  10,  is  primarily  political.  Ahab  and  his 
house  are  not  viewed  as  adversely  as  in  I  Kgs.  17-19,  21.  While  there  is  a  prophetic  flavor 
to  the  present  narrative,  its  point  of  view  resembles  most  clearly  that  of  the  Ahab  history  in 
I  Kgs.  20  and  22.  They  also  share  certain  peculiar  idioms  in  common.  For  these  reasons  9'-10-' 
are  by  many  classified  with  I  Kgs.  20  and  22.  Their  many  variations,  as  well  as  their  close 
relation  with  the  Elijah  stories,  point,  however,  to  an  originally  independent  source,  which  may 
be  designated,  the  prophetic  Jehu  history.  The  author  appears  to  have  been  acquainted, 
either  in  oral  or  written  form,  with  both  the  Ahab  history  and  the  Elijah  stories.  Being  a 
prophet  he  is  in  general  in  sympathy  with  the  movement  inaugurated  by  Jehu,  but  to  all  the 
usurper's  bloody  acts  he  does  not  give  his  full  approval.  The  revolution  proved  an  important 
turning-point  in  Israel's  history,  for  it  brought  not  only  the  overthrow  of  Baalism,  but  a  series 
of  political  rlisasters  which  nearly  proved  the  ruin  of  the  northern  kingdom. 

*>  9*  Evidently  an  explanatory  scribal  note. 

<=  9'  So  Gk.  and  Luc.      Heb.,  smite. 

d  gs-ioa  xhe  characteristic  idioms  (cf.  I  Kgs.  2P'"'-22)  and  the  variations  from  the  explicit 
command  in  ^  indicate  that  this  expansion  of  the  original  brief  oracle  is  from  the  late  prophetic 
editor. 

"  9"  So  aU  the  versions  except  the  Heb.,  which  has  a  singular  verb. 

'9'3  Cf.  Mt.  21'.  The  apparent  meaning  is  that  Jehu  was  standing  upon  the  stairs  which 
probably  led  to  the  inner  chamber. 

K  9'''  Heb.,  Joram,  probably  a  scribal  error  for,  Jehu. 

h  QHa.  15b  xjje  contents  of  this  explanatory  note  are  again  inserted  very  awkwardly  in 
g28.  29  Xhe  present  context  appears  to  contain  the  original  quotation  from  what  was  probably 
a  stUI  older  source,  as  is  shown  by  the  name  Jehoram  instead  of  Joram. 

'  9'-''  I .e.,  to  make  me  king,  as  the  anointing  by  a  prophet  and  their  act  in  acclaiming 
him  king  implied. 

242 


ram 


JEHU'S   REVOLUTIOX  [II  Kgs.  QIG 

Prophetic  Jehu  History 

mounted  his  chariot  and  went  to  Jezreel,  for  Joram  lay  there.     And  Aliaziah 
king  of  Judah  had  come  down  to  see  Joram. 

^'Xow  the  watchman  was  standing  on  the  tower  of  Jezreel,  when  he  saw  Hisap- 
the  cloud  of  dustJ  about  Jehu,  as  he  came,  antl  said,  I  see  a  cloud  of  dust,  fo  Jez- 
And  Joram  said.  Take  a  horseman  and  send  him  to  meet  them  that  he  mav  ""p^I 
inquire  whether  all   is  well  f^     ^^So  one  went  on  horseback  to  meet  him 
and  said.  Thus  saith  the  king,  '  Is  all  well  ?'     And  Jehu  replied,  ^Yhat  have 
you  to  do  with  welfare  ?     Turn  about  and  follow  me.     So  the  watchman  re- 
ported. The  messenger  came  to  them,  but  comes  not  back.     ^^Then  he 
sent  out  a  second  horseman  who  came  to  them  and  said,  Thus  saith  the 
king, '  Is  all  well  ? '    And  Jehu  answered.  What  have  you  to  do  with  welfare  ? 
Turn  about  and  follow  me.     ^OgQ  tJie  watchman  reported.  He  also  came  to 
them  but  comes  not  back;  however,  the  driving  is  like  the  driving  of  Jehu 
the  son  of  Nimshi,  for  he  is  wont  to  drive  furiously. 

2iThen  Joram  said,  jNIake  ready.     And  as  soon  as  they  had  made  ready  joram-a 
his  chariot,  Joram  king  of  Israel  and  Ahaziah  king  of  Judah  set  out,  eacli  {J^.^/he 
in  his  chariot,  and  they  went  to  meet  Jehu  and  found  him  in  the  field  of  ha"''  "^ 
Naboth  the  Jezreehte.    22  \nj  when  Joram  saw  Jehu,  he  said.  Is  all  well  Jehu.'^ 
And  he  answered,  How  can  all  be  well,  as  long  as  the  whoredoms  of  your 
mother  Jezebel  and  her  witchcrafts  are  so  many  ?    -"^Then  Joram  turned 
about  to  flee  and  said  to  Ahaziah,  Treachery,  Ahaziah  ?     24j}y|^  Jehu,  being 
already  armed,  shot  his  bow  and  struck  Joram  between  his  shoulders,  so 
that  the  arrow  went  through  his  heart  and  he  sank  down  in  his  chariot. 
2°Then  Jehu  said  to  Bidkar  his  captain,  Take  him  up  and  cast  him  in  the 
field  of  Naboth  the  Jezreclite;  for  I  remember  how  that,  when  I  and  you 
rode  together  after  Ahab  his  father,  Jehovah  pronounced  this  judgment  upon 
him:  ^6 'Surely  I  saw  yesterday  the  blood  of  Naboth  and  his  sons,'  saith 
Jehovah;  '  and  I  will  requite  thee  in  this  plot,'  saith  Jehovah.     Now  there- 
fore take  and  cast  him  into  this  plot,  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah. 

2^But  when  Ahaziah  the  kins  «f  Judah  saw  this,  he  fled  in  the  direction  Aha- 
of  Beth-gannin.     And  Jehu  followed  after  him,  with  the  command,  Him  deVth 
also  !     Smite  him    in  the  chariot !     And  they  smote'  him  at  the  ascent  of 
Gur,  which  is  by  Ibleam.     But  he  fled  to  ]\Iegiddo  and  died  there.     -'^And 
his  servants  carried  him  in  a  chariot  to  Jerusalem,  and  buried  liim  in  his 
sepulchre  with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of  David.™ 

^^Then  Jehu  came  to  Jezreel.     And  as  soon  as  Jezebel  heard  of  it,  she  .Icze- 
painted  her  eyes,"  attired  her  head,  and  looked  out  at  the  window.     -^'And  as  f!|t/ 
Jehu  came  in  at  the  gate,  she  said,  Is  all  well,  you  Zimri,  your   master's 
murderer?     ^^jj^t  he  looked  up  to  the  window  and  saiil.  Who  is  on  my 
side?  who?     And  two  or  three  eunuchs  looked  at  him.     •^'^And  he  said. 
Throw  her  down.     And  they  threw  her  down  so  that  some  of  her  blood 

i  9"  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  is  doubtful.     The  current  translation  is,  company  or  muUitude. 

k  Q"  Heb.,  whether  it  is  peace;  but  this  was  the  ordinary  Semitic  salutation.  Cf.  4'"  ana 
Johns,  Bab.  and  Asuyr.  Laws,  Conlracls,  and  Letters,  p.  309.  ^     ,  ,.     ,     » 

1  9"  So  Syr.     In  the  Heb.  the  words.  And  then  smote  him,  have  fallen  out  of  the  text. 

■"O^s  The  editor  here  inserts,  '^^,  the  synclironisrn  of  Aha/.iah's  siiccfs.sion. 

"  9W  /.e.,  priinted  hore.vela.Mhes  and  brows  to  beautify  herself,  as  do  modern  .\rnb  women 
with  a  pulverized  bulphide  tif  antimony,  mixed  with  oil. 

243 


II  Kgs.  933]    FROM  JEHU  TO  THE  FALL  OF  SAMARIA 

Prophetic  Jehu  HistQnj 

was  spattered  on  the  wall  and  on  the  horses,  and  he°  trod  her  under  foot. 

34Then  he  went  in  and  ate  and  drank.     Thereupon  he  gave  the  command, 

See  now  to  this  cursed  woman  and  bury  her,  for  she  is  a  king's  daughter. 

35But  when  they  went  to  bury  her,  they  found  no  more  of  her  than  the  skull, 

the  feet,  and  the  hands.     36'yyr}^(.ij^  therefore,  they  came  back  and  told  him, 

he  said,  This  is  the  word  of  Jehovah,  which  he  spoke  by  his  servant  Elijah 

the  Tishbite,  saying,  '  In  the  plot  of  Jezreel  shall  the  dogs  eat  Jezebel's  flesh, 

37 and  the  body  of  Jezebel  shall  be  as  dung  on  the  face  of  the  field  in  the  plot 

of  Jezreel,  so  that  they  cannot  say,  "  This  is  Jezebel."' 

Jehu's         10  ^Now  Ahab  had  seventy  descendants'^  in  Samaria.     And  Jehu  wrote 

sti-uc-     letters  and  sent  to  Samaria,'!  to  the  rulers  of  the  city,  to  the  elders,  and  those 

tions      vvho  had  charge  of  the  descendants  of  Ahab,  saying,  ^Now  as  soon  as  this 

ing         letter  comes  to  you,  since  you  have  with  you  your  master's  sons,  and  chariots 

Ahabs    g^j^j  horses,  fortified  cities'"  and  arms;  3choose  the  best  and  mo.st  capable  of 

scend-    your  master's  sons,  and  set  him  on  his  father's  throne  and  fight  for  your 

master's  house.     *But  they  were  exceedingly  afraid  and  said.  Behold,  the 

two  kings  could  not  stand  before  him,  how  then  shall  we  stand  ?     ^And  he 

who  was  over  the  household  and  he  who  was  over  the  city,  together  with  the 

elders  and  the  guardians,  sent  to  Jehu,  saying.  We  are  your  servants  and 

we  will  do  all  that  you  bid  us;  we  will  not  make  any  one  king;  do  what  you 

please.     ''Then  he  wrote  a  second  letter  to  them,  saying.  If  you  are  on  my 

side  and  if  you  wish  to  obey  me,  then  take  each  of  you  the  head  of  your 

master's  son^    [entrusted  to   you],  and   meet   me   at   Jezreel   to-morrow   at 

this  time.     Now  the  king's  sons,  seventy  in  all,  were  with  the  great  men  of 

the  city,  who  brought  them  up. 

Slaugh-       ''And  as  soon  as  the  letter  came  to  them,  they  took  the  king's  sons  and 

alfthe     s'*^w  them,  seventy  in  all,  and  put  their  heads  in  baskets  and  sent  them  to 

de-         him  to  Jezreel.     ^And  when  the  messenger  came  and  told  him,  saying,  They 

ants       have  brought  the  heads  of  the  king's  sons,  he  said.  Lay  them  in  two  heaps 

friends    ^t  the  entrance  of  the  gate  until  the  morning  !     ^And  in  the  morning  he  went 

of  Ahab  out  and  stood  and  said  to  all  the  people,  You  are  fair-minded:  to  be  sure  I 

conspired  against  my  master  and  slew  him,  but  who  smote  all  these  ?     ^^Know 

now  that  of  the  word  of  Jehovah,  which  Jehovah  spoke  against  the  house  of 

Ahab  by  liis  servant  Elijah,  nothing  shall  fail  of  fulfilment.     ^^Thereupon  Jehu 

smote  all  who  remained  of  the  house  of  Ahab  in  Jezreel,  together  with  all  his 

great  men  and  his  kinsmen*  and  his  priests,  until  he  left  him  none  remaining. 

Slaugh-       ^-Then  Jehu  set  out  on  the  way  to  Samaria.     And  as  he  was  at  Beth-eked" 

the  Ju-   of  the  shepherds  on  the  way,  ^3Jehu  met  with  the  kinsmen  of  Ahaziah  king  of 

dean      Judah,  and  said.  Who  are  you  ?     And  they  answered.  We  are  the  kinsmen 

of  Ahaziah,  and  we  have  come  to  visit  the  children  of  the  king  and  the  chil- 

"  9^  So  Heb.,  but  the  other  versions  read,  they. 

p  10'  Heb.,  sons.     Vss.  -■  ^  imply  that  they  were  sons  of  Jehoram.     Ahab  is  mentioned 
because  the  revolution  was  directed  against  practices  instituted  by  him. 
1  10'  So  Luc.  and  Lat.     Heb.,  Jezreel. 
'  10-  So  all  versions  except  the  Heb.,  which  has,  city. 
'  10'  Slightly  reconstructing  the  text  by  the  aid  of  Luc. 
'  10"  So  Luc.     Heb.,   familiar  friends. 
"  10'^  Following  a  slightly  corrected  text. 

244 


JEHU'S  REVOLUTION  [II  Kgs.  1013 

Prophetic  Jehu  History 

dren  of  the  queen-mother.  ^^And  he  said,  Take  them  ahve.  And  they 
took  them  alive  and  slew  them  at  the  pit  of  Beth-eked,  forty-two  men,  so  that 
not  one  of  them  was  left. 

i^And  when  he  had  departed  from  there  he  found  Jehonadab  the  son  of  Com- 
Rechab  coming  to  meet  him.     And  he  saluted  him  and  said  to  him.  Is  your  ^^^J',* 
heart  in  sincere  sympathy  with  my  heart, ^'  as  mine  is  with  yours.'     And  J^"''""^- 
Jehonadab  answered.  It  is.     Then  Jehu  said.  If  it  be,  give  me  your  hand,  ifecha-^ 
And  he  gave  him  his  hand;  and  he  took  him  up  to  him  into  the  chariot.  ^"'^ 
^^And  he  said.  Come  w  ith  me,  and  see  my  zeal  for  Jehovah.     So  he^'  made 
him  ride  in  his  chariot. 

^'And  when  he  came  to  Samaria,  he  smote  all  who  remained  to  Ahab  Dc-' 
in  Samaria,  until  he  had  destroyed  all,  according  to  the  word  of  Jeliovah  tlon'of 
which  he  spoke  to  Elijah.     ^^Then  Jehu  gathered  all  the  people  together  '''^ 
and  said  to  them,  Ahab  served  Baal  a  little;  but  Jehu  will  .serve  him  much,  ship- 
^^Now  therefore  call  all  the  prophets  of  Baal,  all  his  worshippers^  and  all  a^j 
his  priests;  let  none  remain  behind;  for  I  will  make  a  great  sacrifice  to  Baal;  '^",P!^, 
whoever  shall  remain  behind  shall  not  live.     But  Jehu  did  it  with  the  secret 
purpose  of  destroying  the  worshippers  of  Baal.     -"'I'lien  Jehu  said.  Pro- 
claim a  solemn  assembly  for  Baal.     And  they  proclaimed  it.     -^And  Jehu 
sent  through  all  Israel,  and  all  the  worshippers  of  Baal  came,  so  that  there 
was  not  a  man  left  who  did  not  come.     And  when  they  had  come  into  the 
temple  of  Baal,  so  that  the  temple  of  Baal  was  filled  from  one  end  to  the 
other,  2-he  said  to  the  one  who  was  in  charge  of  the  wardrobe.  Bring  out 
garments  for  all  the  worshippers  of  Baal.     And  he  brought  out  garments 
for  them.     23'p}jgj^  Jehu,  with  Jehonadab  the  son  of  Rcchab,  went  into  the 
temple  of  Baal  and  said  to  the  worshippers  of  Baal,  Search,  and  look  that 
there  may  not  be  here  with  you  any  of  the  servants  of  Jehovah,  but  only 
worshippers  of  Baal.     ^^Thereupon  he^  went  in  to  offer  sacrifices  and  burnt- 
offerings.      Now  Jehu  had  appointed  eighty  men  outside  with  the  command. 
The  man  who  allows  any  of  the  men,  whom  I  entrust  into  your  hands,  to 
e.scape,  his  life  shall  be  fcjr  the  life  of  him.    -''And  as  soon  as  he  had  finished 
offering  the  burnt-offering,  Jehu  said  to  the  runners  and  to  the  captains. 
Go  in,  and  slay  them,  let  none  come  forth.     And  they  put  them  to  the  sword, 
and  the  runners  and  the  ca[)tains  cast  them^  out,  and  went  into  the  sanctuary'^ 
of  the  temj)le  of  Baal.     2(iX]^.„  tJ^.y  brought  out  the  ashcrali''  from  the  temple 
of  Baal  anil  burned  it,  '^'^and  broke  down  the  pillar  of  Baal  and  destroyed 
the  temple  of  Baal  and  made  it  a  draught-house  to  this  day. 


V  10"  Following  the  Ok.  and  Luc. 

"  !()"■'  80  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Syr.      Ileb.,  theu. 

»  10'''  Pos.sihly  a  .scril)e  first  added  in  the  niarRin,  (lU  his  vorshippera,  for  this  has  been  in- 
corporated into  the  text  of  the  Hob.  and  Luc,  in  (lifTorent  order. 

y  10-<  So  Gk.     Heb.,  they,  evidently  refcrrinn  to  .lelni  ami  .lehonarlab,  but  cf.  '". 

*  10^  The  object  of  the  verb  is  wantiiiK  and  tlie  constructioii  of  the  Ileb.  is  awkward.  The 
plausible  emendation  ha-s  been  suggested  which  gives  the  reading,  iind  they  cast  the  ashcrnha 
to  the  (irourul. 

''  10^^  Heb.,  into  the  city.  But  this  gives  no  sense.  A  probable  emendation  gives  the  above 
reading 

"^  U)'^'  Heb.,  macceholh,  pillars;  but  the  versions  have  a  .singular  ami  the  .statement  that 
it  was  burned  implies  that  it  was  not  stone  but  wood.  The  reference  to  the  pillars  in  -'"  favors 
the  conclusion  that  this  originally  read  aa  above. 

215 


II  Kgs.  1028]    FROM  JEHU  TO  THE  FALL  OF  SA]VL\RIA 

§  94.  Jehu's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  lO^*  ^e 
Late  Prophetic  Summary 

Jehu's         II  Kgs.   10  28Thiis  Jehu  put  an  end  to  Baalism  in  Israel;  ^Qonly  from 

[ouf       t^^  ^"^^  ^^  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat  with  which  he  led  Israel  into  sin, 

■■e-         from  these,  the  golden  calves  in  Bethel  and  in  Dan,  Jehu  did  not  depart. 

^^x\nd  Jehovah  said  to  Jehu,  Because  thou  hast  done  well  in  carrying  out 

my  will,  and  hast  done  to  the  house  of  Ahab  according  to  all  that  was  in  my 

heart,  thy  sons  even  to  the  fourth  generation  shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  Israel. 

^^But  Jehu  took  no  heed  to  walk  in  the  law  of  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel, 

with  all  his  heart :  he  departed  not  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  with  which  he 

led  Israel  into  sin. 

Politi-        ^-In  those  days  Jehovah  began  to  loathe  Israel,*^  and  Hazael  smote  them 

tory  ^'   ^"  ^^^  ^^^^  territory  of  Israel,  ^"^from  the  Jordan  toward  the  east,  all  the  land 

of  Gilead,^  the  Gadites,  the  Reubenites,  and  the  Manassites,  from  Aroer 

by  the  valley  of  the  Arnon,  including  Gilead  and  Bashan.     ^^Now  the  other 

acts  of  Jehu  and  all  that  he  did,  and  all  his  brave  deeds,  are  they  not  recorded 

in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  ?     ^^And  Jehu  slept  with  his  fathers, 

and  they  buried  him  in  Samaria.     And  Jehoahaz  his  son  became  king  in 

his  place.     ^^And  the  time  that  Jehu  reigned  over  Israel  in  Samaria  was 

twenty-eight  years. 

§  95.  Jehoahaz's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  IS'-b 
Late  Prophetic  Summary 

The  II  Kgs.   13  'In  the  twenty -third  year  of  Joash  the  son  of  Ahaziah  king 

trous'     of  Judah,  Jehoahaz  the  son  of  Jehu  became  king  over  Israel  in  Samaria; 
Ara-       and  he  reigned  seventeen  years.     2\n(j  \^q  djd  ^j^^t  which  displeased  Jehovah, 
inva-      and  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat  with  which  he  led  Israel  into  sin — • 
^'^'^^      he  did  not  depart  from  them.     ^And  the  anger  of  Jehovah  was  kindled 
against  Israel  and  he  delivered  them  continually  into  the  hand  of  Hazael 
king  of  Aram,  and  into  the  hand  of  Ben-hadad  the  son  of  Hazael.     ^Then 
Jehoahaz  besought  Jehovah,  and  Jehovah  hearkened  to  him ;  for  he  saw  the 
oppression  of  Israel,  how  that  the  king  of  Aram  oppressed  them.     ^There- 
fore Jehovah  gave  Israel  a  saviour,^  so  that  they  escaped  from  the  hand  of 
the  Arameans,  and  the  Israelites  could  dwell  in  their  homes  as  formerly. 
^Nevertheless  they  did  not  depart  from  the  sins  of  the  house  of  Jeroboam, 
with  which  he  led  Israel  into  sin,  but  walked  therein.     Also  the  asherah  in 
Samaria  remained  standing.     ^And  he  left  to  Jehoahaz  of  the  people  not 

§  94  This  section  throug-'iout  is  cast  in  the  language  and  reflects  the  point  of  view  of  the 
late  prophetic  editor.  The  statement  in  ^2  is  probably  based  on  information  drawn  from  an 
earlier  source. 

''10*-  So  Lat.  'Reh.,  to  cut  off  in  Israel.  The  error  probably  arose  because  of  the  similarity 
of  the  two  Heb.  words,  the  scribe  adopting  the  more  familiar. 

e  lo*-  The  older  source  probably  read,  all  Gilead.  The  later  editor  has  added  the  territory 
which  he  conceived  of  as  belonging  to  Israel,  with  the  result  that  Gilead  is  mentioned  twice. 

§  95  With  the  possible  exception  of  ^,  all  of  the  data  in  this  section  are  recast  in  the  words 
of  the  late  prophetic  editor.  It  records  in  general  terms  the  disastrous  period  of  Aramean  domi- 
nance to  which  the  prophet  Amos  refers  in  his  opening  address. 

'135  I.e.,  the  Assyrians,  whose  attacks  from  the  east  broke  the  power  of  the  Arameans. 
Cf.  chron.  chart  after  p.  199. 

246 


REIGN   OF   JEHOAHAZ  [II  Kgs.  IS^ 

Late  Prophetic  Summarij 

more  than  fifty  horsemen,  ten  chariots,  and  ten  thousand  footmen;  for  the 
king  of  Aram  destroyed  them  and  made  them  hke  the  dust  in  the  threshing,  s 
^Now  the  other  acts  of  Jehoahaz  and  all  that  he  did  and  his  brave  deeds, 
are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  ?  ^And  Je- 
hoahaz slept  with  his  fathers  and  they  buried  him  in  Samaria.  And  Joash 
his  son  became  king  in  his  place. 

§  96.  Events  of  Jehoash's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  13'»-'3.  "-25^  j^s-u^  jj  q\^^   2517-24 
Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  13  ^^in  the  thirty-seventh  year  of  Joash  king  of  Judah,  Jehoash  Partial 
the  son  of  Jehoahaz  became  king  over  Israel  in  Samaria,  and  reigned  six-  erance 
teen  years.     ^^And  he  did  that  which  displeased  Jehovah;  he  did  not  depart  ^^^^ 
from  all  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Xebat  with  which  he  led  Israel  into  Ara- 
sin,  but  he  walked  therein.     --Now  Hazael  king  of  Aram  oppressed  Israel  ™^'*°^ 
all  the  days  of  Jehoahaz.     -"^But  Jehovah  was  gracious  to  them  and  had 
compassion  on  them,  and  turned  again  to  them,  because  of  his  covenant 
with  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  would  not  destroy  them  nor  as  yet  cast 
them  from  his  presence. 

Annals  of  Israel 

2^But  when  Hazael  king  of  Aram  died,  Ben-liadad  his  son  became  king  Recov- 
in  his  place,     ^s^pj^^j^  Jehoash  the  son  of  Jehoahaz  took  again  from  Ben-  il^ 
hadad  the  son  of  Hazael  the  cities  which  he  had  taken  in  war  from  Jehoahaz  c^pt- 
his  father.     Three  times  Joash  smote  him  and  thus  recovered  the  cities  of  cities 
Israel. 

14  ^Then  Amaziah   sent   messengers  to  Jehoash  the  son  of  Jehoahaz,  Ama- 
son  of  Jehu  king  of  Israel,  saying,  Come,  let  us  measure  strength  with  each  luack 
other.''     ^But  Jehoash  the  king  of  Israel  sent  to  Amaziah  king  of  Judah,  V'!"" ,, 
saying.  The  thistle  in  Lebanon  sent  to  the  cedar  on  Lebanon,  saying,  'Give  and  his 
your  daughter  to  my  son  as  wife.'     But  a  wild  beast  on  I>ebanon  passed  by  asti-ous 
and  trod  down  the  thistle.     ^"^You  have  indeed  smitten  Edom  and  your  head  defeat 
has  been  turned.'     Enjoy  your  honor  and  stay  at  home,  for  why  should 
you  plunge  yourself  into  trouble,  so  that  you  and  Judah  with  you  will  fall  ? 

e  137  Lit.,  for  treadinq.  The  fiKure  is  that  of  the  rocky  oriental  threshing-floor  on  which 
the  fjrain  was  thrown  and  then  trainr)led  to  tlu.st  by  oxen  drawing  lieavy  sledges.  Luc.  inserts  ^ 
after  ''.  The  deliverance  from  the  Aramean  attacks  according  to  -  did  not,  however,  come  untJ 
after  the  reign  of  Jehoahaz. 

§96  The  editor's  summary  appears  in  IS'".  "•  =2.  »  and  14'5. '6.  In  13'-"  (or  m  Luc. 
more  appropriately  at  the  end  of  the  chapter)  a  concluding  summary  is  given  of  Jehdiush's 
reign,  although  important  events  in  which  he  participated  are  given  in  the  pa.ssagcs  whicii  follow. 
Furthermore,  in  M'i-  "'  practically  the  .sairie  formula.s  reappear.  The  slight  variations  in  the 
first  pa.ssage  from  the  editor's  usual  form  confirm  the  other  indications  that  it  is  a  re|)etition  due 
to  the  error  of  a  scribe  who  overlooked  the  passage  14'''.  ».  In  IS^^- ^'*  and  148-"  is  found  a 
brief,  direct  account  of  the  chief  wars  in  the  reign  of  Jehoash. 

The  record  of  .\maziah's  unsuccessful  attack  on  .lehoa.sh  is  written  from  the  Northern 
I.sraelitish  pr)int  of  view  and  probably  comes  from  the  annals  of  Isr.ael.  In  his  summary,  14  . 
the  editor  refers  to  the  record,  which  he  found  incorporated  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of 
Israel  and  which  he  apparently  (|U(jtPs  almost  in  its  entirety. 

'■  14"  Heb.,  look  each  other  in  tlie  face. 

'  14"  Heb.,  your  heart  (or  mind)  Ims  lifted  you  up. 

2i7 


II  Kgs.  1411]    FROM  JEHU  TO  THE  FALL  OF  SAMARIA 

Annals  of  Israel 

liBut  Amaziah  would  not  hear.  So  Jehoash  king  of  Israel  went  up,  and 
he  and  Amaziah  king  of  Judah  measured  strength  with  each  other  at  Beth- 
shemesh,  which  belongs  to  Judah.  i-And  Judah  was  defeated  by  Israel, 
so  that  they  fled  each  to  his  home.  i^And  Jehoash  king  of  Israel  took  Ama- 
ziah king  of  Judah,  the  son  of  Jehoash,  the  son  of  Ahaziah,  captive  at  Beth- 
shemesh.  And  he  brought  him  downJ  to  Jerusalem  and  tore  down  the  wall 
of  Jerusalem  to  the  distance  of  four  hundred  cubits,  from  the  Gate  of  Ephraim 
to  the  Corner  Gate.  i*And  he  took  all  the  gold  and  silver,  and  all  the  vessels 
that  were  found  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  and  in  the  treasures  of  the  king's 

palace,  the  hostages  also,  and  returned  to  Samaria. 

End  of  '^Now  the  other  acts  of  Jehoash  which  he  did  and  his  mighty  deeds,  and  how  he 
Jeho-  fought  witli  Amaziali  king  of  Judah,  are  tliey  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings 
ash's  of  Israel?  '''And  Jolioasli  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  was  buried  in  Samaria  with  the 
reign       kings  of  Israel.     And  Jeroboam  liis  son  became  king  in  his  place. 

§97.  Jeroboam  II's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  W^-^o 
Late  Prophetic  Summary 

Exten-        II  Kgs.  14  ^"^In  the  fifteenth  year  of  Amaziah  the  son  of  Joash  king  of 

the"  °^    Judah,  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Joash  king  of  Israel  became  king  of  Israel  in 

boun-     Samaria  and  reigned*^  forty-one  years.     24^jjj  jj^  ^jj^j  ^j^g^j.  -which  displeased 

of  Is-      Jehovah:  he  did  not  depart  from  all  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat 

^^^^        with  which  he  led  Israel  into  sin.     ^^He  restored  the  boundary-line  of  Israel 

from  the  entrance  to  Hamath  to  the  sea  of  Arabali,  according  to  the  word  of 

Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  which  he  spoke  by  his  servant  Jonah  the  son 

of  Amittai,  the  prophet  who  was  of  Gath-hepher.     ^ep^j.  Jehovah  saw  the 

very  bitter  affliction  of  Israel,  that  none  was  shut  up  nor  left  at  large,  and 

that  there  was  no  helper  for  Israel.     27j3y^  Jehovah  had  not  determined  to 

blot  out  the  name  of  Israel  from  under  heaven,  so  he  saved  them  through 

Jeroboam  the  son  of  Joash. 

Conclu-      2^Now  the  other  acts  of  Jeroboam,  and  all  that  he  did,  and  his  brave  deeds, 

^^°^        how  he  carried  on  war  and  how  he  recovered  Damascus  and  Hamath  for 

Israel,^  are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  ?    ^^And 

Jeroboam  slept  with  his  fathers,  even  with  the  kings  of  Israel.     And  Zecha- 

riah  his  son  became  king  in  his  place. 

J  1413  So  X.UC.,  Lat.,  and  the  parallel  in  II  Chr.  25=3.     Heb.,  came. 

§  97  Again  the  editor  dismisses  an  important  reign  with  a  brief  summary  of  the  chief  events. 
The  reign  of  Jeroboam  II  was  signalized  by  the  appearance  of  the  two  prophets  Amos  and  Hosea 
during  the  last  decade  of  his  long  and  prosperous  rule.  In  many  ways  it  was  the  most  significant 
epoch  since  the  days  of  David  and  Solomon.  The  sermons  of  Amos  and  Hosea  give  a  vivid 
picture  of  its  social  and  religious  conditions.     Cf.  Vol.  Ill  in  loco. 

^  14=3  go  Luc.  and  the  usual  formula  elsewhere.     Certain  words  have  fallen  out  of  the  Heb. 

'  14=8  So  Syr.  The  Heb.,  for  Judah  bij  Israel,  makes  no  sense  and  is  manifestly  corrupt. 
Burney's  reconstruction  (Notes  on  Kings,  p.  320)  is  simple  and  gives  a  good  reading,  and  how  he 
fought  with  Damascus  and  how  he  turned  away  the  wrath  of  Jehovah  from  Israel. 


248 


REIGNS  OF  ZECHARIAH   AND  MENAIIEM    [II  Kgs.  IjS 

§  98.  Reigns  of  Zechariah,  Shallum,  Menahem,  and  Pekahiah,  II  Kgs.  Ij^-^* 
Annals  of  Israel 

II  Kgs.  15  sin  the  thirty-eighth  year  of  Azariah  king  of  Jiidah,  Zecliariah  the  Zecha- 
son  of  Jeroboam  began  to  reign  in  Samaria,  and  he  reigned  six  months.      "And  he  did  riah's 
that  which  displeased  Jehovah,  as  liis  fathers  liad  done;    he  did  not  depart  from  the  P^'j^y 
sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat  with  whicli  he  led  Israel  into  sin.      ^^And  Shallum  death 
the  son  of  Jabesh  conspired  against  him,  and  put  him  to  death  in  Ibleam'" 
and  became  king  in  his  place. 

I'Xow  the  other  acts  of  Zechariah  are  already  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  Realiza- 
of  Israel.      '-This  was  the  word  of  Jehovah  wliich  he  spoke  to  Jehu,  saying,  Thy  sons  tion  of 
to  the  fourth  generation  shall  sit  upon  the  throne  of  Israel.      And  so  it  came  to  pass.       proph- 

"Shallum  the  son  of  Jabesh,  began  to  reign  in  the  thirty-ninth  year  of  Uzziah  king  ^^^ 
of  Judah;  and  he  reigned  one  month  in   Samaria.     ^^Then    JNIenahem   the  Mena- 
son    of    Gadi    went  up  from  Tirzah  and  came  to  Samaria  and  ])ut  Shal-p,^^"^ 
lum  the  son  of  Jabesh  to  death  in  Samaria,  and  became  king  in  his  place,  spiracy 
'^Now  the  other  acts  of  Shalhnn   and   his   conspiracy  wliich   he  made,  are  already 
recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel. 

^'^Then  Menahem  smote  Tappuah,"  and  all  who  were  in  it  and  in  its  entire  Cruelty 
territory  from  Tirzah  on;  because  they  did  not  open  the  gates  to  him  he  cit'ljfns 
smote  it,  and  all  the  women  in  it  with  child  he  ripped  up.  of  I'ap- 

*'In  the  thirty-ninth  j^ear  of  Uzziah  king  of  Judah,  Menahem  the  son  of  Gadi  became  ^"^ 
king  over  Israel  and  reigned  ten  years  in  Samaria.      "*And  he  did  that  which  displeased  Evil 
Jehovah:   he  did  not  depart  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat  with  which  policy 
he  led  Israel  into  sin. 

^^During  his  days°  PuIp  [Tiglath-Pileser  III],  the  king  of  Assyria,  invaded  Trib- 

the  land.     And  Menahem  gave  Pul  a  thousand  talents  of  silver,  that  he  Tig-*° 

might  help  him  to  establish  his  sway  over  the  kingdom.*!     20\j^(|  Menahem  ''Jth- 

commanded''  all  Israel,  even  all  the  men  of  wealth,  to  give  to  the  king  of  ill 

Assyria  each  fifty  shekels  of  silver.     So  the  king  of  Assyria  turned  back  and 

remained  no  longer  in  the  land. 

2'Now  the  other  acts  of  Menahem  and  all  that  he  did,  arc  they  not  recorded  in  the  Con- 
Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel?     '-And  Menahem  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  Peka-  clu.sion 
hiah  his  son  became  king  in  his  place. 

^^In  the  fiftieth   year  of  Azariah    king  of  Judah,  Pekahiah  the  son   of  Menahem  Pe- 
became  king  over  Israel  in  Samaria,  and    reigned  two  years.      ^■'And    he    displeased  kah'a 
Jehovah,  he  did  not  depart  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  with  wliich  he  ''""" 
led  Israel  into  sin.     -^^And  Pekah  the  son  of  Remaliah,  his  caj)tain,^  c()ns])ire<l  aty 
against  him  and  smote  him  in  Samaria  in  the  castle  of  the  royal  palace;'  and  jv'j^',"'' 
with  him  were  fifty  Gileadites;  and  he  .slew  him  and  became  king  in  his  place,  liii'li 
2'^Xow  the  other  acts  of  Pekahiah  and  all   that  he  did  are  already  recorded  in  the 
Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel. 

§  98  Into  his  framework  the  late  prophetic  editor  has  introduced  certain  brief  but  important 
notices  which  probably  came  originally  from  the  annals  of  Israel. 
■"1.5'"  So  Luc.     The  Heb.  gives  no  sense. 
"  1.5"!  So  Luc.     A  town  of  Mana-sseh,  Josh.  16«,  W-  K     Heb.,  Tipsah  on  the  Euphrates. 

0  1518,  lu  <jf,  (Jit    and  I^uc.     The  Heb.  text  is  corrupt. 

p  IS''--  The  Assyrian  king  PuL  officially  known  a-s  Tiglath-Pileser  III.  For  his  own  account 
of  this  expeilition.  cf.  Ai)penilix  \T. 

1  1.5''-'  Heb.,  thai  hU  hand  mi(/lit  he  irilh  him  to  slrenolhcn  the  kingdom  in  his  hand. 
'  L5-"  Slightly  correcting  tfie  text  in  conformity  with  Heb.  idiom. 

"  15^''  (Jr,  adjutant.      Cf.  I  Kgs.  9~'.  ,         .... 

t  1.5^  The  Heb.  adds  two  untranslatable  words,  possibly  proper  names,  Argob  and  Arieti. 
The  Lat.  has,  near  Argob  and  Arte.  It  has  been  plausibly  conjectured  that  they  have  been 
introduced  by  mistake  from  ^*. 


249 


II  Kgs.  1527]      FROM  JEHU  TO  THE  FALL  OF  SAMARIA 


Ve- 

Bvil 
policy 

Con- 
quests 
of  Tig- 
lath- 
Pileser 
III 

Ho- 

shea's 
con- 
spiracy 


§  99.  Reign  of  Pekah  and  the  Invasion  of  Tiglath-Pileser  III, 

II  Kgs.  15" -31 

Annals  oj  Israel 

II  Kgs.  15  ^'In  the  fifty-second  year  of  Azariah  king  of  Judah,  Pekah  the  son 
of  RemaUah  began  to  reign  ovei  Israel  in  Samaria  and  reigned  twenty  years,  ^s^nd 
he  displeased  Jehovah :  he  did  not  depart  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat 
with  which  he  led  Israel  into  sin. 

29During  the  days  of  Pekah  king  of  Israel  Tiglath-Pileser  king  of  Assyria 
came  and  captured  Ijon,  Abel-beth-maacah,  Janoah,  Kedesh,  Hazor,  Gilead, 
and  Galilee,"  all  the  land  of  Naphtali,  and  carried  their  inhabitants  captive 
to  Assyria. 

30Then  Hoshea  the  son  of  Elah  made  a  conspiracy  against  Pekah  the 
son  of  Remaliah  and  put  him  to  death  and  became  king  in  his  place 
in  the  twentieth  year  of  Jotham  the  son  of  Uzziah.  ^'Now  the  other  acts  of  Pekah 
and  all  that  he  did  are  already  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Israel. 


§  100.  Reign  of  Hoshea  and  the  Fall  of  Samaria,  II  Kgs.  IT^-",  IS'-'^ 
Annals  of  Israel 


Ho- 
shea's 
sub- 
mission 


II  Kgs.  17  'In  the  twelfth  year  of  Ahaz  king  of  Judah,  Hoshea  the  son  of  Elah 
began  to  reign  in  Samaria  over  Israel  and  reigned  nine  years.  ^And  he  displeased 
Jehovah,  yet  not  as  the  kings  of  Israel  who  were  before  him.     ^Against  him  came 

to  As-     Shalmaneser   kins:   of   Assyria;    and  Hoshea  became   subject  to   him  and 
syna       ,,,.., 

brought  hmi  tribute. 

Later         ^But  when  the  king  of  Assyria  found  Hoshea  guilty  of  conspiracy — for  he 

and  had  sent  messengers  to  Sewe^  king  of  Egypt  and  brought  no  tribute  to  the 

king  of  Assyria,  as  he  had  done  each  year  before — the  king  of  Assyria  shut 

ment      him  up  and  confined  him  in  prison. 


Trea 
son 
im- 
prison- 


Final 
capt- 
ure of 

Sa- 
maria 
and 
depor- 
tation 
of  its 
inhab- 
itants 


^Then  the  king  of  Assyria 
came  up  against  all  the  land, 
and  went  up  to  Samaria, 
and  besieged  it  three  years. 
^In  the  ninth  year  of  Ho- 
shea, the  king  of  Assyria" 
took  Samaria,  and  carried 
the  Israelites  away  captive 
to  Assyria  and  placed  them 


Annals  of  Judah 

II  Kgs.  18  9In  the  fourth  year  of  Hezekiah — that 
is  the  seventh  year  of  king  Hoshea  the  son  of  Elah  of 
Israel — Shalmaneser  king  of  Assyria  came  up 
against  Samaria  and  besieged  it.  ^^At  the  end  of 

three  years  they  conquered  it;  in  the  sixth  year 
of  Hezekiah — that  is  the  ninth  year  of  Hoshea  king  of 
Israel — was  Samaria  captured.     ^^And  the  king  of 


§  99  Again  the  brief  account  of  the  campaign  of  Tiglath-Pileser  III  was  evidently  taken 
by  the  editor  from  his  older  source.  For  the  Assyrian  record,  cf.  Appendix  VI.  Is.  7^-^  also 
supplements  the  meagre  records  of  this  reign. 

"  15'-''  Gilead  and  Galilee  may  have  been  added  by  a  later  hand,  for  they  are  territorial 
divisions,  while  the  preceding  names  are  those  of  towns  in  Naphtali.     Cf.  map  opp.  p.  255. 

§  100  Vss.  3.  ■!  are  the  direct  sequel  of  15^".  Vss.  ^'  ''',  however,  in  view  of  the  statement  in  ' 
that  Samaria  fell  in  the  ninth  year  of  Hoshea  and  of  the  parallel  in  18*",  are  not  the  sequel  to^.  ■<, 
but  record  different  events  in  the  same  campaign.  Therefore  they  are  probably  from  different 
sources.  The  account  of  Samaria's  capture  seems  to  have  been  drawn  by  the  editor  from  the 
annals  of  Judah,  and  slightly  recast  by  him,  and  then  introduced  here  to  supplement  the  meagre 
record  found  in  the  northern  annals.  This  conclusion  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  the 
original  parallel  to*-  •*  in  18*-"  was  clearly  taken  from  the  Judean  source.  For  the  Assyrian 
account  of  the  conquest  of  Samaria  in  722  b.c,   cf.    Appendix  VII. 

"  17^  Heb.,  .So.  Probably  to  be  identified  with  Shabako  or  else  with  an  Egyptian  general, 
Sib'u,  defeated  by  Sargon  in  720  B.C. 

"  17*  I.e.,  Sargon. 


250 


II  Kgs.  176] 
Annals  of  Israel 


in  Halah  and  on  the  Habor, 
the  river  of  Gozan,  and  in 
the  cities  of  the  Medes. 


THE   FALL   OF   SAMARIA 


[II  Kgs.  1811 


Annals  of  Judah 

Assyria  carried  the  Israelites  away  captive  and 
placed  them  in  Halah  anil  on  the  Habor,  the  river 
of  Gozan,  and  in  the  cities  of  the  Medes,  >-because 
they  obeyed  not  the-  voice  of  Jehovah  their  God,  but 
transgressed  his  covenant,  even  all  that  Moses  the  ser- 
vant of  Jehovah  commanded,  and  would  not  heed  nor 
do  it. 


§  101.  Causes  of  the  Downfall  of  Northern  Israel,  U  Kgs.  IT^-^ 
Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  17  'Now  this  came  to  pass  because  the  Israelites  had  sinned  Israel's 
against  Jehovah  their  God,  who  had  brought  them  up  from  the  land  of  Jry'and 
Egypt  from  the  power  of  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt,  and  had  feared  other  gods,  apos- 
^and  followed  the  customs  of  the  nations  whom  Jehovah  had  cast  out  from 
before  the  Israelites,  and  the  kings  of  Israel,  which  they  had  appointed. 
^And  the  Israelites  devised  things'^  that  were  not  right  against  Jehovah  their 
God  and  built  for  themselves  high  places  in  all  their  cities,  from  the  watch- 
tower  even  to  the  fortified  city,  i*^and  set  up  for  themselves  pillars  and  asherahs 
on  every  high  hill  and  under  every  green  tree,  ^and  offered  sacrifices  there 
(on  all  the  high  places)  as  did  the  nations  whom  Jehovah  had  carried  away 
before  them,  and  they  did  wicked  things  to  provoke  Jehovah  to  anger.  i-They 
also  served  idols,  in  regard  to  which  Jehovah  had  saitl  to  them,  Ye  shall  not 
do  this  thing.  i"^Yet  Jehovah  gave  warning  to  Israel  and  Judah  by  all  his 
prophets  and  seers,  saying.  Turn  from  your  evil  ways  and  keep  my  com- 
mands and  my  statutes  according  to  all  the  law  which  I  commanded  your  fa- 
thers and  which  I  imparted  to  you  by  my  servants  the  prophets.  i^However, 
they  would  not  hear,  but  were  wilful,'^  as  were  their  fathers,  who  did  not 
believe  in  Jehovah  their  God.  ^^.\nd  they  rejected  his  statutes  and  his  cove- 
nant that  he  had  made  with  their  fathers,  and  his  warnings  that  he  had 
given  them,  and  followed  vanity  and  became  vain,  and  imitated  the  ex- 
ain[)le  of  the  nations  about  them,  concerning  whom  Jehovah  had  charged 
them  that  they  should  not  do  like  them.  l^And  they  neglected  all  the  com- 
mands of  Jehovah  their  God  and  made  for  themselves  molten  images,  even  two 
calve-s  and  made  an  asherah  and  worshipped  all  the  host  of  heaven  and  served  Baal. 
'^And  they  made  their  sons  and  their  daughters  pass  through  the  fire,  and  used  divi- 
nation and  sorcery,  and  sold  themselves  so  that  they  did  that  which  displeased 


§  101  To  the  brief  account  of  Israel's  downfall  the  editors  of  KinRS  hsive  appropriately  ap- 
pended an  epiloRue  emphasizinK  the  moral  lessons  illustrated  by  that  sipcnificant  event.  Vss.  -'-^ 
reiterate  the  familiar  judKiiieiit  of  the  editor  upon  the  history  of  Isriiel  a.s  a  wlu.lc.  In  '-'««•  ''■'■  '», 
Israel's  sins  are  recapitulated  in  greater  detail.  The  languaRe  throufiliout  is  that  of  the  late 
prophetic  school,  but  it  is  also  strikinsly  similar  at  many  points  to  the  sermons  of  .Icreininh, 
cf.  '■'  and  Jer.  18",  2.5''.  3.5'^;  "  and  Jer.  2\  This  perhaps  indicates  that  the.se  openinK  vorsps  are 
from  a  still  later  hand.  .\t  least  "•''•  ""  are  later  additions,  for  not  only  do  they  assign  to  Israel 
the  sins  peculiar  to  Judah  in  the  days  of  .Manas.seh,  but  they  describe  types  of  idolatry  difTerent 
from  those  already  Riven  in  'J-'^.  The  immediate  .sequel  of  "'  is  -'.  V.ss.  ''J-  -»  are  clearly  a  later 
addition  from  the  period  of  the  Babylonian  exile,  when  Judah  was  suffering  a  like  penalty  with 

»  17"  The  IIV,  did  secretly,  is  not  tenable.  Gk.,  clad  themselves  in.  A  change  of  one  letter 
gives  the  above  reading. 

•  17'*  lieb.,  hardened  their  neck  like  the  neck  of  their  fathers. 


251 


II  Kgs.  1717]    FROM  JEHU  TO  THE  FALL  OF  SAMARIA 

Late  Prophetic  Summary 

Jehovah  to  provoke  him  to  anger.  ^^Therefore  Jehovah  was  very  angry 
with  Israel  and  removed  them  out  of  his  sight;  there  was  nothing  left  ex- 
cept the  tribe  of  Judah. 

Ju-  '8,\igo  Judah  did  not  keep  the  commands  of  Jehovah  their  God,  but  followed  thecus- 

dah's       toms  of  Israel  which  they  had  introduced,   ^"so  that  Jehovah  rejected  the  entire  Israel- 
apos-       itish  race  and  afflicted  them  and  gave  them  up  to  those  who  plundered  them  until  he 
^^^        had  cast  them  from  liis  sight. 

Jero-  2lj^nd  when  he  had  torn  Israel  from  the  house  of  David  and  they  had  made 

evilTe-    Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat  king,  Jeroboam  drove  Israel  from  following 

ligjous    Jehovah  and  made  them  commit  OTeat  sin.     22'pj^^g  tj^g  Israelites  walked  in 
policy 

all  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  which  he  committed :  they  departed  not  from  them, 

23until  Jehovah  removed  Israel  from  his  sight,  as  he  spoke  by  all  his  servants 

the  prophets.     So  Israel  was  carried  away  out  of  their  own  land  to  Assyria 

to  this  day. 

§  102.  Origin  and  Religion  of  the  Samaritans,  II  Kgs.  172*-" 

Annals  of  Israel 

Foreign      II  Kgs.    17  24Then  the  king  of  Assyria  brought  people  from  Babylon, 
n?sts       Cuthah,^  Avva,''  Hamath,  and  Sepharvaim,<^  and  settled  them  instead  of 
the  Israelites  in  the  cities  of  Samaria.     And  they  took  possession  of  Sa- 
maria and  dwelt  in  its  cities. 
Their  ^Sjs^q^,  3^^  ^]ig  beginning  of  their  dwelling  there  they  did  not  revere  Je- 

ious'  hovah.  Therefore  Jehovah  sent  lions  among  them,  which  were  continually 
^or-  killing  some  of  them.  ~^Qo  when  it  was  told  the  king  of  Assyria,  saying, 
The  nations  which  you  have  carried  away  and  settled  in  the  cities  of  Samaria 
do  not  know  the  law  of  the  god  of  the  land;  therefore  he  hath  sent  lions 
among  them,  and  now  they  are  slaying  them  because  they  do  not  know  the 
law  of  the  god  of  the  land,  -^"the  king  of  Assyria  gave  command,  Carry  thither 
one  of  the  priests  whom  I®  brought  from  there;  and  let  him^  go  and  dwell 
there  and  let  him  teach  them  the  law  of  the  god  of  the  land.  ^SgQ  q^^  (,£ 
the  priests,  whom  they  had  carried  away  from  Samaria,  came  and  dwelt  in 
Bethel  and  taught  them  how  they  should  revere  Jehovah. 

§  102  This  section  is  generally  recognized  to  be  composite.  Vss.  ~*-^^  contain  a  straight- 
forward statement  of  the  political  and  religious  fortunes  of  tlie  people  transported  from  different 
parts  of  the  Assyrian  empire  to  take  the  place  of  the  exiled  Israelites.  There  is  no  condemnation 
of  the  resulting  religious  practices.  The  facts  are  simply  stated  as  in  the  annals.  The  point 
of  view  (cf.  2'  '•  ^5)  is  in  general  that  of  an  early  rather  than  a  later  age.  The  same  is  true  of 
29-34a,  4i_  although  by  some  these  verses  are  assigned  to  a  later  editor.  At  least  they  embody 
older  data.  In  ^,  however,  the  statement  that  they  revered  Jehovah  is  reversed,  and  the 
thought  and  literary  style  of  34b-4o  a,re  those  of  an  exilic  editor.  The  reference  also  is  not,  as  in 
24-34a.  4i_  ^Q  ^^g  foreign  colonists,  but  apparently  to  the  later  Samaritan  people,  the  lineal  descend- 
ants of  the  Israelites.  The  author  also  alludes  to  the  later  written  law  and  is  greatly  influenced 
by  priestly  ideas  and  language. 

•>  17-*  The  Kutu  of  the  Assyrian  inscriptions.  It  is  identified  with  Tell-Ibrahim,  northeast 
of  Babylon. 

"=  172*  Not  yet  definitely  identified.  Probably  a  town  in  Northern  Syria.  Cf.  19'^  and  the 
Iwa  of  183*. 

d  1724  xhe  context  suggests  that  this  also  was  a  Syrian  town.  Cf.  18".  Otherwise  it  may 
be  the  Heb.  designation  of  the  two  Sippars:  Sippar  of  Shamash  and  Sippar  of  Anunitum.  The 
latter  hypothesis  is  supported  by  ^i. 

"=  17-^  So  Luc.     Heb.,  you. 

'  1727  So  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Lat. 

252 


RELIGION   OF  THE   SA^L\RITAXS      [II  Kgs.  1720 

Annuls  of  Israel 

29But  each  of  the  peoples  had  made  gods  of  their  own  and  set  them  np  Their 
in  temples  of  the  high  places  which  the  Samaritans  had  made,  each  people  hea-^'^ 
in  their  cities  in  which  they  dwelt:  ^'^the  men  of  Babylon  had  made  an  image  *hen 
of  Succoth-benoth,^  and  the  men  of  Cuth  had  made  Nergal,'*  and  the  men  Jeho- 
of  Hamath  had  made  Ashima,*  "^^and  the  Avvites  had  made  Nibhaz  and  li^^ 
Tartak;  and  the  Sepharvites  burnt  their  children  in  the  fire  to  Adram- 
melech  [Adar  is  king]  and  Anammelech  [Anu  is  king]  the  gods  of  Sepharvaim. 
^-But  when  they  began  to  revere  Jehovah  they  made  for  themselves  from 
their  own  number  priests  of  the  high  places,  who  sacrificed  for  them  in  the 
temples  of  the  high  places.  •^•^Thus,  while  they  revered  Jehovah,  they  also 
ser\'ed  their  own  gods,  after  the  manner  of  the  nations  from  which  they  had 
been  carried  away.  ^^To  this  day  they  do  according  to  the  earlier  custom. 
They  do  not  revere  Jehovah  nor  do  they  act  according  to  their  statutes  or  their  ordi- 
nances or  the  law  or  the  command  which  Jehovah  commanded  the  children  of  Jacob, 
whom  he  named  Israel,  'Hvith  whom  Jehovah  made  a  covenant  and  charged  them 
saying,  Ye  shall  not  fear  other  gods,  nor  bow  yourselves  to  them,  nor  serve  them,  nor 
sacrifice  to  them;  '^but  Jehovah,  who  brought  you  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  with 
great  power  and  with  an  outstretched  arm,  him  shall  ye  fear,  and  to  him  shall  ye  bow 
j-ourselves  and  to  him  shall  ye  sacrifice;  ^"and  the  statutes  and  the  ordinances,  and 
the  law  and  the  commandment  which  he  wrote  for  you,  ye  shall  faithfully  observe 
forever,  and  ye  shall  not  revere  other  gods;  ^^and  the  covenant  that  1  have  made 
with  you,  ye  shall  not  forget,  neither  shall  ye  revere  other  gods,  ^'-'but  Jehovah  j^our 
God  shall  ye  revere;  and  he  will  deliver  j'ou  from  all  your  enemies.  ■'"However,  they 
did  not  hearken,  but  rather  they  did  according  to  their  earlier  customs.  ^-^So  wliile 
these  peoples  revered  Jehovah,  they  also  served  their  graven  images;  their 
children  likewise,  and  their  children's  children — as  did  their  fathers,  so  do 
they  to  this  day. 

«  17^"  Apparently  the  title  of  a  Babylonian  deity.  The  identification  is  still  uncertain: 
Marduk,  the  consort  of  Marduk,  Ishtar,  and  Saturn  (revising  the  text)  have  each  been  sugRcsted. 

h  1730  xhe  god  of  war,  of  pestilence,  and  of  the  lower  world,  es))ecially  worshipped  at  Kutu. 

'  17'"  Marginal  reading  of  the  Heb.,  god  of  Scpharvaim.  The  expression  may  be  a  scribal 
addition. 


253 


ISRAEL  AND  JUDAH  AFTER  THE  DIVISION   OF 
THE  HEBREW  E3IPIRE. 


HISTORY   OF  JUDAH 

I  Kgs.    1421 — II  Kgs.   IS^''  {exclusive  of  data  relating 
to  Xorthern  Israel),  II  Chr.    115-27« 


HISTORY  OF  JUDAH   FROM   THE   DIVISION 

OF   THE   EMPIRE   TO   THE   FALL 

OF  JERUSALEM 


FR0:M   REHOBOAM  to   AHAZ,  I  Kgs.  I42I-1524,  224    29-3G.  41-50^ 

II  Kgs.  3^-27,  816-29^  929^  11,   12^   141-22^   151-7.   32-38^  n  Chr.   115-279 


§  103.  Rehoboam's  Reign,  I  Kgs.  14=1-2^  II  Chr.  lP-23 


Late  Prophetic 
Summary 

I     Kgs.      14 

21N0W  Rehoboam, 
the  son  of  Solo- 
mon, became  king 
in  Judah.  Reho- 
boam was  forty- 
one  years  old  when 
he  began  to  reign, 
and  he  reigned  sev- 
enteen years  in  Je- 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.   1 1   ^Now   Rehoboam  dwelt  in  Jerusalem,  Reho- 
and  built  cities  for  defence  in  Judah.     ^'Ile  bnilt  Beth-  f'oHifi? 
lehem.  Etam,  Tekoa,  "Bethzur,  Soco,  Adullani,  ^Gath,  cations 
iVIareshah,  Ziph,  ^Adoraim,  Lachish,  xVzekah,  ^^'Zorah, 
Aijalon,  and   Hebron,  which  are  in  Judah  and  in  Ben- 
jamin— fortified  cities.     ^^And  he  fortified  the  strong- 
holds and  put  commanders  in  them  and  stores  of  pro- 
visions and  oil  and  wine.     ^2^\^]so  in  each  city  he  put 
shields  and  spears  and  thus  made   them   exceedingly 
strong.     And  Judah  and  Benjamin  belonged  to  him. 


History  of  Judah. — For  two  centuries,  until  the  Assyrians  came  into  direct  contact  with 
Judah,  its  national  life  ran  on  uneventfully.  One  dynajity  occupied  the  throne  continuously 
and  its  crises  and  religious  movements  were  of  secondary  maRnitude  and  importance  compared 
with  those  of  the  greater  Northern  Kingdom.  The  editor  of  Kgs.  simply  gives  brief  epitomes 
of  eventr,  introducing  occasionally  short  quotations  from  the  annals,  or  from  the  expanded 
Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  .Judah.  One  event,  the  revolution  and  repair  of  the  temple  in  (he 
days  of  Joash,  receives  fuller  notice.  Here  the  quotation  appears  to  have  been  from  tlic  temple 
records. 

Since  the  direct  interests  of  the  Chronicler  are  all  centred  in  Judah,  he  naturally  seeks 
to  supi)lement  the  meagre  record  of  Kgs.  This  he  does  apparently  by  drawing  from  (he  .Midrash 
of  the  Kings  of  .Iu<lali  and  possii)ly  from  older  annalistic  sources  which  tnay  have  Ijeen  at 
his  command.  In  general  the  f)ic(ure  which  he  gives  is  traditional  rather  (han  historical,  didac- 
tic rather  than  exact,  although  at  certain  points  he  seems  to  have  preserved  some  important 
facts. 

§  103  The  late  prophetic  edi(or  of  Kgs.  simply  gives  in  his  own  language  a  chronological 
statement  and  his  usual  general  estimate  of  the  reign.  The  Chronicler,  however,  appears  to 
have  quoted  at  length  from  some  earlier  post-exilic  source,  which,  like  (he  book  of  Kgs.  (f.f/., 
I  Kgs.  14^'),  represented  Rehoboam  as  king  simply  of  Judah,  cf.  ''■  "•  ".  The  awkward  aildi(i(>n<4 
of  Benjamin  in  ""'•  '2i>.  zn.  are  j^  accord  with  tlm  l;i(er  theory  of  (he  Chronicler.  The  (pio(a(iiin 
is  probably  from  the  Midrash  of  the  Book  of  the  I<ings,  but  in  •''-'-»•  "'-^'  s(ill  older  dii(a  seem  (o 
have  been  incorporated,  which  may  have  been  derivcil  from  (he  pre-exilic  Chronicles  of  the 
Kings  of  Judah. 


257 


I  Kgs.  1421] 

Late  Prophetic 
Summary 

rusalera,  the  city 
which  Jehovah 
had  chosen  out  of 
all  the  tribes  of 
I  rael  to  put  his 
name  there.  And 
his  mother's  name 
was  Naamah  the 
Ammonitess.  ^ 

22And  Judahb 
did  that  which  dis- 
pleased Jehovah, 
and  they  aroused 
his  anger  with  the 
sins  which  they 
committed,  more 
than  all  that  their 
fathers  had  done. 
23They  also  built 
for  themselves  high 
places,  pillars,  and 
asherahs,  on  every 
high  hill  and  under 
every  green  tree. 
2*There  were  also 
temple  prostitutes'^ 
in  the  land.  They 
did  according  to 
all  the  abomina- 
tions of  the  nations 
which  Jehovah 
drove  out  before 
the  Israelites. 


FROM   REHOBOAM   TO    AHAZ  [II  Chr.  1113 

Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

i^And  the  priests  and  the  Levites  who  were  in  all 
Israel  resorted  to  him  out  of  all  their  different  localities. 
i^For  the  Levites  left  their  common  pasture-lands 
and  their  possessions  and  came  to  Judah  and  Jerusa- 
lem, because  Jeroboam  and  his  sons  declared  them 
ineligible  as  priests  to  Jehovah.  ^'^And  he  appointed 
for  himself  priests  for  the  high  places,  for  the  he-goats, 
and  for  the  calves  which  he  had  made.  ^^And  after 
them  there  came  from  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  such  as 
had  set  their  hearts  on  seeking  Jehovah,  the  God  of 
Israel,  to  Jerusalem  to  sacrifice  to  Jehovah  the  God 
of  their  fathers.  ^^So  they  .strengthened  the  kingdom 
of  Judah,  and  made  Rehoboam  the  son  of  Solomon 
strong  for  three  years,  for  they  walked  three  years  in 
the  way  of  David  and  Solomon. 

i^And  Rehoboam  took  as  wife,  INIahalath,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Jerimoth  the  son  of  David,  and  of  Abihail*'  the 
daughter  of  Eliab  the  son  of  Jesse.  ^^And  she  bore  him 
sons:  Jeush,  Shemarlah,  and  Zaham.  20^^^^  after  her 
he  married  Maacah  the  daughter  of  Absalom.  And 
she  bore  him  Abijah,  Attai,  Ziza,  and  Shelomith.  21  \nd 
Rehoboam  loved  Maacah  the  daughter  of  Absalom 
more  than  all  his  wives  and  his  concubines  (for  he 
married  eighteen  wives  and  sixty®  concubines  and  be- 
got twenty-eight  sons  and  sixty  daughters).  ^'~\nd. 
Rehoboam  appointed  Abijah  the  son  of  Maacah  at 
the  head  as  the  crown  prince  among  his  brothers,  for 
he  purposed^  to  make  him  king.  23 jj^  g^jgQ  -^^isely  dis- 
tributed all  his  sons  throughout  the  different  districts  of 
Judah  and  Benjamin,  to  the  different  cities,  and  gave 
them  provisions  in  rich  abundance  and  secured  for 
them  many  wives. 


Popu- 
larity 
of  the 
sanct- 
uary 
at  Je- 
rusalerc 


Reho- 
boam'g 
family 


»  I  Kgs.  14^'  The  Gk.  in  122**  (Swete)  reads,  the  daughter  of  Nahash  the  king  of  Ammon. 
b  I  Kgs.   14~  Gk.  and  Luc,  Rehoboam. 

'  II  Chr.  1118  So  Gk.   The  Heb.  makes  Abihail  the  second  \*ife  of  Rehoboam,  but  indicates 
that  but  one  is  intended. 

d  I  Kgs.  1424  Cf.  Vol.  I,  §  44,  note  >. 

e  II  Chr.  1121  Gk.,  Lat.,  and  Jos.,  thirty. 

'  II  Chr.  1122  So  Gk.  The  verb  has  fallen  out  in  the  Heb. 


258 


I  KgS.  U25] 


SIIISHAKS   INVASION 


[II  Chr.  121 


§  104.  Shishak's  Invasion,  I  Kgs.  U-*",  II  Clir.  12 


shak's 
plun- 
der of 
teniple 
and 
palace 


War 
with 
Jero- 
boam 


Annals  of  Judah 

I  Kgs.  14  25Now 
in  the  fifth  year  of 
King  Rehoboam 
Shishak  king  of 
Egypt  came  up 
against  Jerusalem. 
2*^ And  he  took  away 
the  treasures  of  the 
temple  of  Jehovah 
and  the  treasures  of 
the  royal  palace^ — 
he  took  all  away. 
He  also  took  away 
all  the  shields  of 
gold  which  Solomon 
had  made.  2/\n(j 
King  Rehoboam 
made  in  their  place 
shields  of  brass  and 
gave  them  into  the 
charge  of  the  com- 
manders  of  the 
guards,  who  kept 
the  door  of  the  roy- 
al palace.  -^And  as 
often  as  the  king 
went  into  the  tem- 
ple of  Jehovah,  the 
guards  took  them 
and  brought  them 
back  into  the 
guard-room. 

-'Now  the  other 
acts  of  Rehoboam  and 
all  that  he  did,  are 
they  not  recorded  in 
the  Chronicles  of  the 
Kings     of     Judah? 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  13  ^Now  when  the  rule  of  Rehoboam  was  Shi- 
established  and  he  was  strong,  he  forsook  the  law  of  ad-^' 
Jehovah  and  all  Israel  with  him.    -Thereupon  Shishak  vance 
king   of   Egypt   came    up    against  Jerusalem  in  the 
fifth  year  of  King  Rehoboam,  because  they  had  acted 
falsely  toward  Jehovah,  '^with  twelve  hundred  chariots, 
and  sixty  thousand  horsemen.      And  the  j)eoj)le  were 
without  number,  who  came  with  him  out  of  Egypt: 
Lybians,   Sukkites,   and   Ethiojoians.     *And   he  took 
the  fortified  cities  of  Judah,  and  came  to  Jerusalem. 

^Then  Shemaiah  the  prophet  came  to  Rehoboam  She- 
and  to  the  princes  of  Judah,  who  had  gathered  to-  f^^^'g 
cether  to  Jerusalem  because  of  Shishak.  and  said  to  I'roph- 

c>  GCV 

them.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  'Ye  have  abandoned  me, 
therefore  I  have  also  abandoned  you  to  Shishak.' 
^Then  the  princes  of  Israel  and  the  king  humbled 
themselves  and  said,  Jehovah  is  righteous.  "And  \\  hen 
Jehovah  saw  that  they  humbled  themselves,  the  word 
of  Jeho\  ah  came  to  Shemaiah,  saying.  They  have  hum- 
bled themselves.  I  will  not  destroy  them,  but  I  will 
grant  them  a  partial  deliverance  and  my  wrath  shall 
not  be  poured  out  upon  Jerusalem  through  Shishak. 
^Nevertheless  they  shall  become  subject  to  him,  that 
they  may  know  how  to  distinguish  between  my  ser- 
vice and  the  service  of  the  earthly  kingdoms. 

^So  Shishak  king  of  Egypt  came  up  against  Jeru-  Plunder 
salem  and  took  away  the  treasures  of  the  temple  of  {'empie 
Jehovah  and  the  treasures  of  the  royal  palace— he  took 
all  away.  He  also  took  away  the  shields  of  gold 
which  Solomon  had  made.  ^^^Vud  King  Rehoboam 
made  in  their  place  shields  of  brass,  and  gave  them  in- 
to the  charge  of  the  commanders  of  the  guards,  who 
kept  the  door  of  the  royal  palace.  ^^And  as  often  as 
the  king  went  into  the  "temple  of  Jehovah,  the  guards 
came  and  took  them  and  brought  them  back  into  the 
guard -room. 


§  104  The  short  account  of  Shishak's  invasion  in  I  Krs.  U«-f  and  probably  the  note  roKMrd- 
the  war  with  Jeroboam  in  ">  were  clearly  taken  from  an  older  source  wlueh  was  d.niM  loss 
annals  of  Judah.     This  brief  record  has  been  expan.ie.l  m  II  Chr.  12  into  a  typical  nu.lia.Kh. 


ing  tr 

possibly  derived 'bv  the "chmnicfer" from  hi.^Vni'drakhic  source.  The  outcome  tu"!'^  ""'"';;•" 
the  ordinary  fortunes  of  war.  but  upon  the  guilt  and  rei)entance  of  Relioboam  "">'  '''^'  l^^;  '^ 
and  the  favor  of  Jehovah,  secured  through  the  mediation  of  a  prophet.  Per  the  l,gM)tian 
record  of  Shishak's  invasion,  cf.  .\ppendix  III.  ,  •  .   r>      j  ,     i    t,^^  th^  .,.r 

«  I  Kes.  14=«  Gk.  and  Luc.  add  here,  and  the  qolden  shields  which  David  took  from  Ihrj'-'-- 
vants  of  Hadadezer  king  of  Zobah  and  brought  to  Jerusalem.  It  may  represent  the  original 
text.     Cf.  II  Sam.  8'. 

259 


I  Kgs.  1430] 
Annals  of  Judah 


30And  there  was 
war  between  Reho- 
boam  and  Jero- 
boam continually- 
^lAnd  R  e  h  o  b  o  a  m 
slept  with  his  fatliers 
and  was  buried  with 
his  fathers  in  tlie  city 
of  David.''  And  Abi- 
iani  liis  son  became 
king  in  his  place.' 


FROM   REHOBOAM   TO   AHAZ  [II  Chr.  12i2 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  Historij 

i^But  because  he  humbled  himself,  the  wrath  of  Judah 
Jehovah  turned  from  him,  so  as  not  to  destroy  him  Keho- 
completely — also  in  Judah  things  were  found  in  good  ^°^^ 
condition,     ^^go  King  Rehoboam  strengthened  him- 
self in  Jerusalem  and  reigned,  for  Rehoboam  was  forty- 
one  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned 
seventeen  years  in  Jerusalem,  the  city  which  Jehovah 
had  chosen  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  to  put  his 
name  there.     And  his  mother's  name  was  Naamah 
the  Ammonitess.     ^^And  he  did  that  which  was  evil, 
because  he  set  not  his  heart  to  seek  Jehovah. 

i^Now  the  acts  of  Rehoboam,  first  and  last,  are  they 
not  written  in  the  histories^  of  Shemaiah  the  prophet 
and  of  Iddo  the  seer  if^ 


105.  Abijah's  (Abijam's)  Reign,  I  Kgs.  IS^-^,  II  Chr.  W-W' 


Late  Prophetic 
Summary 

Abi-  I    Kgs.     15 

P'pol-iNowintheeigh- 
icy  teenth  year  of 
King  Jeroboam, 
thesonof  Nebat, 
Abijam  began 
to  reign  over  Ju- 
dah. 2Three 
years  he  reigned 
i  n  Jerusalem ; 
and  his  mother's 
name  was  Maa- 
cah  the  daugh- 
ter of  Abisha- 
lom.^     ^And  he 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  13  ^In  the  eighteenth  year  of  King  Jeroboam  Abi- 
Abijah  began  to  reign  over  Judah.     ^He  reigned  three  (var^ 
years  in  Jerusalem,  and  his  mother's  name  was  Micaiah  J^'*^^ 
the  daughter  of  Uriel  of  Gibeah.     And  there  was  war  be-  boam 
tween   Abijah   and  Jeroboam.     3\nd  Abijah  began  the 
war  with  an  army  of  brave  warriors,  consisting  of  four 
himdred  thousand  picked  men,  and  Jeroboam  set  the  bat- 
tle in   array  against  him   with  eight  hundred  thousand 
picked  men,  who  were  brave  warriors. 

^And  Abijah  stood  up  on  Mount  Zemaraim,  which  is  in  His 
the  hill-country  of  Ephraim,  and  said,  Hear  me,  O  Jero-  ^e'' 
boam  and  all  Israel :  ^Ouglit  you  not  to  know  that  Je-  ^j^^^°^ 
hovah,  the  God  of  Israel  gave  the  kingdom  over  Israel  to  beam's 
David  forever,  even  to  him  and  to  his  sons  by  a  covenant  [^Jf" 
of  salt .?™    ^Yet  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  the  servant  of  policy 


con- 
inna- 


h  I  Kgs.  1431  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Chr.  parallel.  The  Heb.  adds  from  W\  And  his 
mother's  7iame  was  Naamah  the  Ammonitess. 

'  I  Kgs.  14-^1  So  15''  ".  Luc.  and  Chr.,  Abijah.  The  latter  appears  to  have  been  the  origmal 
form.  The  alteration  may  have  been  made  by  a  scribe  to  distinguish  it  from  the  name  of  Jero- 
boam's son.     Cf.  141. 

i  II  Chr.  121s  Or,  words. 

^  II  Chr.  12'5  The  Heb.  adds  the  meaningless  phrase,  entered  in  the  genealogies.  The  Gk., 
and  his  deeds,  is  more  intelligible  but  it  perhaps  simply  indicates  that  the  text  was  corrupted 
at  an  early  date. 

§  105  Again  the  brief  facts  given  by  the  late  prophetic  editor  of  Kgs.  have  in  Chr.  been 
expanded  into  a  long  didactic  story  in  which  the  numbers  are  astonishingly  large  and  the  re- 
ligious purpose  and  ritualistic  motives  are  the  more  prominent.  Some  of  the  literary  peculiar- 
ities of  the  Chronicler  are  wanting;  Judah  figures  alone,  and  the  priests,  not  the  Levites,  play  the 
more  important  role,  indicating  that  this  midrash  was  probably  taken  from  the  older  source  to 
which  he  so  often  refers. 

'  I  Kgs.  15-  II  Chr.  11=0,  Absalom.  Maacah  was  probably  daughter  of  Tamar  and  there- 
fore Absalom's  granddaughter. 

'^  II  Chr.  135  Cf.  W.  R.  Smith,  Religion  of  the  Semites,  pp.  206  ff. 

260 


War 
with 
Jero- 
boam 


I  Kgs.  153] 

Late  Prophetic 
Summary 

walked  in  all  the 
sins  of  his  father 
which  he  had 
committed  be- 
fore him;  and 
his  heart  was  not 
perfect  with  Je- 
hovah his  God, 
as  the  heart 
of  David  his 
father.  ■*Never- 
theless  for  Da- 
vid's sake  Je- 
hovah his  God 
gave  him  a  lamp 
in  Jerusalem,  in 
that  he  raised  up 
his  sons"  after 
him  and  pre- 
served Jerusa- 
lem, because 
David  did  that 
which  pleased 
Jehovah  and 
turned  not  aside 
from  anything 
that  he  com- 
manded him  all 
the  days  of  his 
life,  except  oiily 
in  the  affair  of 
Uriah  the  Hittite." 

"And  the  other 
acts  of  Abijam 
and  all  that  he 
did,  are  they  not 
recorded  in  the 
Chronicles  o  f 
the  Kings  of  Ju- 
dah  ?  And  there 
was  war  between 
Abijam  and  Jer- 


ABIJAH'S   REIGN 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


[II  Chr.  136 


Solomon  the  son  of  David,  rose  up  and  rebelled  against 
his  lord,  "and  base  scoundrels  gathered  about  him,  and 
worthless  men  strengthened  themselves  against  Reho- 
boam  the  son  of  Solomon.  But  Rehoboam  was  still  young 
and  inefficient,  and  could  not  withstand  them.  ^And  now 
you  think  you  can  withstand  the  rule  of  Jehovah  in  the 
hand  of  the  sons  of  David,  because  you  are  a  great  multi- 
tude, and  there  are  with  you  golden  calves  which  Jero- 
boam made  for  you  as  gods.  ^Mave  you  not  driven  out 
the  priests  of  Jehovah,  the  sons  of  Aaron,  the  Levites, 
and  made  for  yourselves  priests  like  the  heathen  peoj)les  ? 
Whoever  comes  to  consecrate  himself  with  a  young  bid- 
lock  and  seven  rams,  the  same  may  become  a  priest  of 
the  no-srods  !  ^^^\\\  as  for  us,  Jehovah  is  our  God,  and 
we  have  not  forsaken  him,  and  the  sons  of  Aaron  are 
ministering  to  Jehovah  as  priests,  and  the  Levites  are 
doinff  their  work;  ^^and  thev  burn  to  Jehovah  every  morn- 
ing  and  every  evening  burnt-offerings  and  sweet  incense 
and  the  bread  is  set  in  order  on  the  clean  taljles,  and  the 
candlestick  of  gold  with  its  lamps  to  burn  every  evening, 
for  we  keep  the  command  of  Jehovah  our  God;  but  you 
have  forsaken  him.  ^^Yes,  and  God  is  with  us  at  our 
head  and  his  priests  with  the  trumpets  of  alarm  to  sound 
alarm  against  you.  O  Israelites,  fight  not  against  Jeho- 
vah, the  God  of  your  fathers;  for  you  will  have  no  success ! 

^^But  Jeroboam   brought   around   an   ambu.sh   behind  His 
them,  so  they  were  before  Judalu  and  the  ambush  was  u'lous' 
behind   them'.     i^^Vnd  when   Judah   looked   back,   there  ^|cjorv 
they  were  being  attacked  in  their  front  and  in  their  rear.  Jero- 
Then  the  priests  sounded  with  the  trumpets,  ^•''and  the 
men  of  Judah  gave  a  shout.     And  as  .soon  as  the  men  of 
Judah  shouted,  God  smote  Jeroboam  and  all  Israel  before 
Abijah  and  Judah.     ^^^nd  when  the  Israelites  fled  before 
Judah,    God   delivered  them   into  their  hand,   '"so  that 
Abijah  and  his  people  slew  a  great  many  of  them,  and 
there  fell  slain  of  Israel   five  hundred  thousand  picked 
men.      iS^Fhus  the  Israelites  were  humbled  at  that  lime 
and   the  Judahites   prevailed,   because   they 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  their  fathers.     ^^And 
sued  after  Jeroboam,  and  took  cities  from 
with  its  low  lis.  Jeshanah  with  its  towns,  and 


relied  upon 
Abijah  pur- 
hini.  Bethel 
iMiIiniii  with 


» I  Kes.  1.5*  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  xon.  ,  ,    ,  ,         ,  ,  >i         i„ 

"I  Kks.  1.5s  Not  foun.l  in  Ok.  mi.l  l-uc.     Apparently  a  note  a.l.lcl  by  a  later  scribe      In 

the  Heb.  a  scribe  ha.s  also  ir.corroody  a.l.l.Mi  from  H''"  vs.  ".  Now  there  was  war  between  lieho- 

boam  and  Jeroboam  nil  the  daijs  oj  hin  iije. 

261 


Asa's 
relig- 
ious 
re- 
forms 


I  Kgs.  157] 

Late  Prophetic 
Summary 

oboam.  ^A  n  d 
Abijam  slept 
with  his  fathers, 
and  they  buried 
him  in  the  city 
of  David.  And 
Asa  his  son  be- 
came king  in  his 
place. 


FROM   REHOBOAM   TO   AHAZ 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


[II  Chr.  I3I9 


its  towns.  20]sje;ther  did  Jeroboam  recover  his  strength 
again  in  the  days  of  Abijah,  and  Jehovah  smote  him  and 
he  died. 

2iBut  x\bijah  grew  more  powerful,  and  look  to  himself  Abl- 
fourteen  wives  and  begot  twenty-two   sons  and  sixteen  jfros- 
daughters.     22^nd  the  other  acts  of  Abijah,  and  his  ways  Parity 
and  his  words,  are  recorded  in  the  Midrash  of  the  Prophet 
Iddo. 


§  106.  Asa's  Piety  and  Might, 

Annals  of  Jndah 

I  Kgs.  15  ^In  the  twentieth  year 
of  Jeroboam  king  of  Israel  Asa  began  to 
reign  over  Judali.  '"And  he  reigned  forty- 
one  years  in  Jerusalem;  and  his  mother's 
name  was  Maacah — the  daughter  of  Abi- 
shalom."  I'And  Asa  pleased  Jehovah,  as 
did  David  his  father.  l^^j^d  ]ie  put 
away  the  sacred  prostitutes  from  the 
land,  and  removed  all  the  idols  that 
his  fathers  had  made.  ^^And  he 
also  removed  Maacah  his  mother 
from  being  queen-mother,  because 
she  had  made  a  horrible  image  as 
an  asherah.  And  Asa  cut  down  her 
horrible  image,  and  burnt  it  in  the 
Kidron  Valley.  "But  the  high  places 
were  not  taken  away:  nevertheless  the 
heart  of  Asa  was  perfect  with  Jehovah 
all  his  days.  ^^Also  he  brought  into 
the  temple  of  Jehovah  the  votive 
gifts  his  father  consecrated  and  his 
own  votive  gifts — silver,  gold,  and 
vessels. 


15 


II  Kgs.  159-15,  II  Chr.  ^^-15 
Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.    14   ^'^In  Asa's  days  the  Asa's 
land  was  quiet  ten  years.     -And  Asa  forms 
did  that  which  was  good  and  right  f^^-^^j. 
in  the  eyes  of  Jehovah  his  God,  ^for  ing 
he  put  away  the  foreign  altars  and  prises 
the  high  places  and  broke  down  the 
pillars  and  hewed  down  the  asherahs, 
^and  commanded  Judah  to  seek  Je- 
hovah, the  God  of  their  fathers,  and 
to  fulfil  the  law  and  the  command- 
ment.    ^Also  he  took  away  from  all 
the  cities  of  Judah  the  high  places  and 
the  sim-images,  so  that  the  kingdom 
had  rest  under  his  rule.     ^And  he 
built  fortified  cities  in  Judah,  for  the 
land  was  at  rest,  and  lie  had  no  war 
in  those  years  because  Jehovah  had 
given  him  rest.     ^For  he  said  to  Ju- 
dah,  Let  us  build  these  cities  and 
make  about  them  walls  with  towers, 
gates,  and  bars ;  the  land  is  at  our  dis- 
posal because  we  have  sought  Jeho- 
vah our  God;  we  have  sought  him, 
and  he  hath  given  us  rest  on  every 
side.     So  they  built  and  prospered. 


§  106  A  few  facts  are  taken  by  the  editor  of  Kgs.  from  his  earlier  annalistic  spurce.  The 
Chronicler,  however,  has  substituted  a  long  narrative  which  has  all  the  characteristics  of  the 
midrash:  the  huge  numbers,  the  supernatural  victory  and  the  prophetic  exhortation.  From 
14"  and  a  subsequent  reference  in  211''  Jt  seems  clear  that  the  Cushites  were  the  Arabian  peoples 
bearing  that  name,  not  the  Ethiopians.  The  story  in  H^-'-'  probably  incorporates  some  earlier 
historical  data.  Judah  is  the  designation  of  the  southern  kingdom,  indicating  that  the  mid- 
rash is  comparatively  early.  The  use  of  Judah  and  Benjamin  in  15''''  strongly  suggests  that 
this  is  a  later  addition  from  the  Chronicler,  although  it  may  possibly  be  from  a  later  midrash  of 
the  Book  of  the  Kings. 

p  I  Kgs.  I51"  Probably  a  mistaken  repetition  of  -.  The  error  makes  it  impossible  to  de- 
termine what  was  the  original.  Possibly  Asa's  mother  and  grandmother  both  bore  the  name, 
Maacah. 


262 


ASA'S   PIETY   AND   MIGHT  [II  Cur.  U8 

Chronicler'' s  Ecclesiastical  History 

^And  Asa  had  an  army  that  carried  shields:  out  of  Judah  three  hundred  Vic- 
thousand,  and  out  of  Benjamin,  that  carried  sliields  and  drew  bows,  two  Q°e^ 
hundred  and  forty  thousand — all  these  were  brave  warriors.     ^But  Zerah  7>erah 
the  Cushite  came  out  against  them  with  an  army  of  a  milHon  men  and  three  Cuslute 
himdred  chariots,  and  he  came  to  Mareshah.     ^^Then  Asa  went  out  to  meet 
him,  and  they  drew  up  for  battle  in  the  valley  of  Zejihathah  at  Mareshah. 
i^And  Asa  cried  to  Jehovah  his  God  and  said,  Jehovah,  there  are  none  be- 
sides thee  to  help,  between  the  mighty  and  him  who  has  no  strength.     Help 
us,  O  Jehovah  our  God;  for  we  rely  on  thee  and  in  thy  name  have  we  come 
against  this  multitude.     O  Jehovah,  thou  art  our  (iod;  let  not  man  prevail 
against  thee.     ^-Then  Jehovah  smote  the  Cusliites  before  Asa  and  before 
Judah  so  that  the  Cushites  fled.     ^'^And  Asa  and  the  people  who  were  with 
him  pursued  them  to  Gerar,  so  that  there  fell  of  the  Cushites  so  many  that 
none  of  them  remained  alive;  for  they  were  shattered  before  Jehovah  and 
before  his  army.     So  they  carried  away  very  much  booty.     ^^And  they  con- 
quered the  cities  about  Gerar,  for  a  terror  from  Jehovah  came  upon  them, 
and  they  plundered  all  the  cities,  for  there  was  much  spoil  in  them.     ^^They 
smote  also  the  tents  of  cattle  and  drove  away  .sheep  in  abundance  and  re- 
turned to  Jerusalem. 

15    ^And  the  spirit  of  God  came  upon  Azariah  the  son  of  Oded,  ^so  that  he  Aza- 
went  out  to  meet  Asa,  and  said  to  him,  Hear  me,  Asa  and  all  Judah  and  p,o. 
Benjamin:  Jehovah  is  true  to  you  while  ye  are  true  to  him,  and  if  ye  seek  ^jj'j."'gg 
him,  he  will  be  found  of  you;  but  if  ye  forsake  him,  he  will  forsake  you. 
^Now  for  a  long  time  Israel  has  been  without  the  true  God  and  without 
priestly  teaching  and  without  the  law;  ^but  when  in  their  distress  they  turned 
to  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  and  sought  him,  he  let  himself  be  found  by 
them.     ^And  in  those  times  no  one  could  in  peace  go  out  or  come  in;  but 
great  disturbances  came  upon   all  the  inhabitants   of  the  diflerent  lands. 
^And  one  nation  broke  in  pieces  another  nation,  and  one  city  another  city, 
for  God  terrified  them,  with  all  kinds  of  adversity.     'But  be  strong  and  do 
not  lose  courage,  for  your  work  shall  be  rewarded. 

^And  when  Asa  heard  these  words  and  the  proj)hecy  of  Oded  the  prophet,*"  The 
he  took  courage,  and  put  away  the  abonu'nations  from  all  the  land  of  Judah  outhto 
and  Benjamin,  from  the  cities  which  he  had  taken  from  the  hill-country  of  '^^^^^ 
Ephraim,  and  set  up  again  the  altar  of  Jehovah  that  was  before  the  porch  v:ih^ 
of  Jehovah.     ^Xhen  he  gathered  all  Judah   and   Benjamin,  together  with  fuliy" 
those  who  .sojourned  with  thcin  out  of  Ei)hraim,   Manasseh,  and  Simeon; 
for  a  great  number  came  over  to  him  out  of  all  Israel,  when  they  .saw  that 
Jehovah  his  God  was  with  him.     ^^go  |i,ey  gathered   themselves  together 
at  Jerusalem  in  the  third  month,  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Asa. 
l^And  they  sacrificed  to  Jehovah  on  that  day  of  the  spoil  which  they  had 
brought,    .seven    humlrcd    oxen    and    .seven    thou.sand    .sheep.     12'^),,.,,    ji^.y 
entered  into  a  covenant  to  .seek  Jehovah,  the  God  of  their  fathers,  with  all 


'1  IT  Clir.  ].'.«  Tho  impossible  Heb.  construction  shows  that  these  words  have  crept  into  the 
text  frorn  a  marginal  note. 


II  Chr.  1412]  FROM  REHOBOAM  TO   AHAZ 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

their  heart  and  with  all  their  soul,  ^^but  that  whoever  would  not  seek  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  Israel,  should  be  put  to  death,  whether  small  or  great,  whether 
man  or  woman.  ^'^And  they  took  an  oath  to  Jehovah  with  a  loud  voice  and 
amidst  shouting  and  the  blast  of  trumpet,  and  rams'  horns.  ^^And  all  Judah 
rejoiced  at  the  oath,  for  they  had  sworn  with  all  their  heart,  and  sought  him 
with  all  their  will,  so  that  he  let  himself  be  found  by  them.  And  Jehovah 
gave  them  rest  on  all  sides. 

§  107.  Asa's  War  with  Baasha,  I  Kgs.  IS^s",  II  Chr.  15i»-16i* 

Annals  of  Judah 

Asa's  I  Kgs.  15  i*^And  there  was  war  between  Asa  and  Baasha  king  of  Israel 

chase      ^'^  their  days.     ^^And  Baasha  king  of  Israel  went  up  against  Judah  and 

of  the     fortified  Ramah,  so  as  not  to  allow  anyone  to  go  out  or  in  to  Asa  king  of 

Aram     Judah.     ^^Then  Asa  took  all  the  silver  and  the  gold  that  were  left  in  the 

treasures  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  the  treasures  of  the  royal  palace,  and 

entrusted  them  to  his  servants.     And  King  Asa  sent  them  to  Ben-hadad  the 

son  of  Tabrimmon,  the  son  of  Hezion  king  of  Aram,  who  dwelt  at  Damascus, 

with  the  statement,  ^^There  is  a  league  between  me  and  you  and  between 

my  father  and  your  father;  herewith  I  send  you  a  present  of  silver  and  gold. 

Break  your  league  with  Baasha  king  of  Israel,  that  he  may  withdraw  from 

me.     20^,^(j  Ben-hadad  listened  to  King  Asa  and  sent  the  commanders  of 

his  armies  against  the  cities  of  Israel,   and  smote  Ijon,  Dan,  Abel-beth- 

Maacah,  and  all  Chinneroth,  together  with  all  the  land  of  Naphtali. 

Forti-         2i^Q^  as  soon  as  Baasha  heard  of  it,  he  abandoned  the  fortifying  of  Ramah 

oFgc-"  3^rid  returned  to''  Tirzah.     22'p'|^gpg^pQj^  King  Asa  made  a  proclamation  to  all 

ba  and    Judah — none  was  exempted — that  they  must  carry  away  the  stones  of  Ramah 

pah        and  the  timber  with  which  Baasha  had  fortified  it.     Then  with  these  King 

Asa  fortified  Geba  of  Benjamin  and  Mizpah. 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

Hana-  II  Chr.  16    ^And  at  that  time  Hanani  the  seer  came  to  Asa  king  of  Judah 

con.  and  said  to  him.  Because  you  have  relied  on  the  king  of  Aram,  and  have  not 

'^^n?-  relied  on  Jehovah  your  God,  therefore  the  army  of  the  king  of  Aram  has 

of  the  escaped  from  your  hand.     ^Were  not  the  Cushites  and  the  Lybians  a  great 

mean  army,  with  very  many  chariots  and  horsemen  ?     Yet,  because  you  relied  on 

s^Ui-  Jehovah,   he  delivered   them  into  your  hand.     ^For  the  eves  of  Jehovah 

Q.riC6 

sweep  here  and  there  over  the  whole  earth  to  show  his  strength  in  behalf 

§  107  The  account  in  Kgs.  of  Asa's  war  with  Baasha  and  his  short-sighted  policy,  which 
brought  the  Arameans  into  Palestine,  was  probably  taken  originally  from  the  state  annals  and 
has  the  value  of  a  contemporary  record.  To  this  account,  which  the  Chronicler  reproduces 
verbatim,  he  adds  what  is  apparently  a  quotation  from  his  later  source.  After  the  manner  of 
the  midrash.  the  condemnation  of  Asa's  alliance  with  Aram  is  put  in  the  mouth  of  Hanani  the 
seer,  doubtless  identified  in  this  later  tradition  with  the  father  of  the  prophet  Jehu,  mentioned 
in  I  Kgs.   16^ 

■■  I  Kgs.  15-'  So  Gk.,  Luc,  and  Lat.  Heb.,  dwelt  in.  The  difference  in  the  Heb.  is  only  a 
question  of  vocalization. 

264. 


ASA'S   WAR   WITH    BAASHA  [II  Ciiu.  169 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

of  those  whose  heart  is  perfect  toward  him.  Herein  you  have  acted  fool- 
ishly, for  from  henceforth  you  shall  have  wars.  ^^Then  Asa  was  angry 
with  the  seer  and  put  him  in  the  house  of  the  stocks,  for  he  was  in  a  rage 
with  him  because  of  this  thing.  And  at  that  time  Asa  also  oppressed  some 
of  the  people. 


L(de  Prophetic  Summary 

I  Kgs.  15  23Now  the 
other  acts  of  Asa  and  all 
his  brave  deeds  and  the 
cities  which  he  built,  are 
they  not  recorded  in  the 
Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of 
Judah  ?  But  in  his  old 
age  he  became  diseased 
in  his  feet.  -^And  Asa 
slept  with  his  fathers  and 
was  buried  with  his  fa- 
thers in  the  citv  of  David 
his  father.  And  Jehosha- 
phat  his  son  became  king 
in  his  place. 


II  Chr.  16  i^Now  the  acts  of  Asa,  the  earlier 
and  the  later,  are  already  recorded  in  the  Book 
of  the  Kings  of  Judah  and  Israel.  ^-And  Asa 
became  diseased  in  the  feet  in  the  thirty-ninth 
year  of  his  reign,  so  that  he  became  very  ill.  But 
in  his  sickness  he  did  not  seek  help  from  Je- 
hovah, but  from  the  physician.  ^^And  Asa  slept 
with  his  fathers  and  died  in  the  forty-first  year 
of  his  reign.  ^^And  thev  buried  him  in  his 
sepulchre,  which  he  had  hewn  out  in  the  city  of 
David,  and  laid  him  on  the  bed,  which  they  had 
filled  with  all  kinds  of  spices,  skilfully  mixed; 
and  they  burned  in  his  honor  an  exceedingly 
great  pyre. 


§  108.  The  Benign  Rule  of  Jehoshaphat,  I  Kgs.  22"",  II  Chr.  17,  19<-iS  2(fi 


U4 


Late  Prophetic  Sum- 
mary 

I  Kgs.  22  4iAnd 
Jehoshaphat  the  son 
of  Asa  began  to  reign 
over  Judah  in  the 
fourth  year  of  Ahab 
king  of  Israel.  "^-Je- 
hoshaphat  was  thirty- 
five  years  old  when  he 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  17  ^And  Jehoshaphat  Asa's  .son  became  His 
king  in  his  place  and  strengthened  himself  against  caHon" 
Israel.     ^And  he  placed  troops  in  all  the  fortified  ^^"'J^ , 
cities  of  Judah  and  set  garrisons  in  the  land  of  Judah  ing 
and  in  the  cities  of  Ephraini,  which  Asa  his  father  '^'^'^^ 
had  taken.     -^And  Jehovah  was  with  Jehoshaj)hat, 
because  he  walked  in  the  earlier  ways  of  his  ancestor 
David,  and  did  not  resort  to  the  Baals,  "^but  sought 


§  108  I  Kgs.  22^  was  probably  taken  directly  from  the  annals,  but  the  rest  of  the  passaRe 
is  from  the  editor.  The  parallel  in  Chr.  is  expanfled  and  devoted  to  a  didactic  end  in  the  spirit 
of  the  early  midrashes.  The  earlier  desifrnaf  ion  Judah  is  used  throuRhout  instead  ol  Judah  and 
Benjamin.  17' '^  like  the  kindred  passage,  19'",  however,  has  none  of  the  characteristics  of 
a  midrash.  Later  institutions  are  evidently  here  in  p.art  reliocted;  but  tlie  biusis  of  the  tradition 
appears  to  have  been  certain  definite  mea-sures  intended  to  iin|)rove  the  judicial  ornanization. 

The  existence  of  brief  coilcs  correspondinR  to  those  found  in  V.\.  20-2.5.  .'{4,  and  a  s.Nstotn  of 
local  judges  with  the  central  court  at  .Jerusalem  is  implied  by  Is.  ID'  and  many  passiiRCs  in  Dt. 
Of.  especially  I)t.  17.  An  enterprising  king  like  .lelioshaphat,  who  was  in  do.se  alliance  with 
Northern  Israel  ami  through  it  witli  the  high  Semitic  civilization  repro.scnle<l  by  the  I'liifiiiciuns, 
would  naturally  take  the  initiative  in  these  reforms.  A  brief  record  of  tlii.s  work  may  have 
been  found  in  tlie  royal  .ludean  chronicles  and  later  in  an  exilic  liook  of  the  Kings  of  .Judah  and 
Israel  which  was  in  turn  nither  (juoted  directly  by  the  Chronicler  or  el.se  was  already  incorporated 
in  the  Midrash  of  the  Book  of  the  Kings  to  which  he  refers.  The  noble  exhortation  to  tho 
judges  is  one  of  the  cla.ssical  pa.ssages  in  Chr. 


26L 


I  Kgs.  2242] 


PROM   REHOBOAM  TO   AHAZ  [II  Chr.  17^ 


Late  Prophetic  Sum- 
mary 

began  to  reign,  and  he 
reigned  twenty  -  five 
years  in  Jerusalem. 
And  his  mother's 
name  was  Azubah, 
the  daughter  of  Shilhi. 
43And  he  walked  alto- 
gether in  the  way  of 
Asa  his  father;  he  did 
not  turn  aside  from 
it,  doing  that  which 
pleased  Jehovah.  Only 
the  high  places  were 
not  taken  away,  but 
the  people  still  sacri- 
ficed and  burnt  their 
offerings^  on  the  high 
places.  44\nd  Jehosh- 
aphat  made  peace 
with  the  king  of  Is- 
rael. 

4-5Now  the  other 
acts  of  Jehoshaphat 
and  his  brave  deeds, 
that  he  did,  and  how 
he  made  war,  are  they 
not  recorded  in  the 
Chronicles  of  the 
Kings  of  Judah  ?* 
46A1so  the  rest  of  the 
temple  prostitutes, 
who  remained  in  the 
days  of  his  father  Asa, 
he  expelled  from  the 
land. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

the  God  of  his  ancestor,  and  w^alked  in  his  com- 
mands and  not  according  to  the  deeds  of  Israel. 
^Therefore  Jehovah  established  the  kingdom  in 
his  hand,  and  all  Judah  brought  Jehoshaphat  trib- 
ute, so  that  he  had  riches  and  honor  in  abundance. 
^Then  his  heart  was  exalted  in  the  ways  of  Jehovah, 
so  that  he  also  abolished  the  high  places  and  the 
asherahs  out  of  Judah. 

^'^And  the  terror  of  Jehovah  fell  on  all  the  king-  Jehosh- 
doms  of  the  lands  that  were  round  about  Judah,  stxength 
so  that  they  made  no  war  against  Jehoshaphat.  ^""^ 
^^And  some  of  the  Philistines  brought  Jehoshaphat  perity 
presents  and  a  silver  tribute;  the  Arabians  also 
brought  him  flocks:  seven  thousand,  seven  hundred 
rams,  and  seven  thousand,  seven  hundred  he-goats. 
^-So  Jehoshaphat  gradually  grew  stronger,  so  that 
he  built  in  Judah  castles  and  store-cities.  ^^He 
also  had  many  stores  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and 
soldiers,  brave  warriors,  in  Jerusalem.  ^4\]2(j  Q^g 
was  the  number  of  them  according  to  their  fam- 
ilies: of  Judah,  the  commanders  of  thousands,  Ad- 
nah  the  commander,  and  with  him  three  hundred 
thousand  brave  warriors;  ^^and  next  to  him  Jeho- 
hanan  the  commander,  and  with  him  two  hundred 
and  eightv  thousand;  ^^and  next  to  him  Amasiah, 
the  son  of  Zichri,  who  had  willingly  placed  himself 
at  the  command  of  Jehovah,  and  with  him  two  hun- 
dred thousand  brave  warriors.  ^"And  of  Benja- 
min: Eliada  a  brave  Avarrior,  and  with  him  two 
hundred  thousand  armed  with  bow  and  shield;  ^^and 
next  to  hun  Jehozabad,  and  with  him  a  hundred 
and  eighty  thousand,  equipped  for  war.  ^^These 
were  those  who  were  in  the  service  of  the  king,  be- 
sides those  whom  the  king  put  in  the  fortified  cities 
throughout  Judah. 


"In  the  third  year  of  his  reign  he  sent  his  princes,  Ben-hail,  Obadiah, 
Zechariah,  Nethanel,  Micaiah,  to  teach  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  ^and  with 
tionin  them  the  Levites,  Shemaiah,  Nethaniah.  Zebadiah,  Asahel,  Shemiramoth, 
Jehonathan,  Adonijah,  Tobijah,  and  Tob-adonijah,  the  Levites;  and  with 
them  Elishama  and  Jehoram,  the  priests,  ^that  they  should  teach  in  Judah, 
having  the  book  of  the  law  of  Jehovah  with  them.  So  they  went  about 
tjiroughout  all  the  cities  of  Judah  and  taught  among  the  people. 


"  I  Kgs.  22«  Cf.  §  48.  notek. 

'  I  Kgs.  22^5  xhe  parallel  passage  in  II  Chr.  20**  reads,  in  the  addresses  of  Jehu  the  swi  of 
Hanani,  ivhich  are  incorporated  in  the  history  of  the  kings  of  Israel. 

266 


BENIGN   RULE   OF  JEIIOSIIAPHAT      [II  Chr.  194 
Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

19  ^And  Jehosliaphat  dwelt  at  Jerusalem.     And  he  went  out  again  among  Ap- 
the  people  from  Beerslieba  to  the  hill-country  of  Ephraim  and  brought  them  i^fj"'' 
back  to  Jehovah,  the  God  of  their  fathers.     ^Ile  also  appointed  judges  in  »"<'  >"- 
the  land  in  all  the  fortified  cities  of  Judah,  city  by  city,  ^'and  said  to  the  judges,  tiontf 
Consider  what  you  do,  for  you  are  to  render  judgment  not  for  man  but  for  j^j-ggg 
Jehovah,  and  he  will  be  with  you  when  you  render  judgment.     ^Now  there- 
fore let  the  fear  of  Jehovah  be  upon  you.     Take  heed  in  whatever  you  do,  for 
with  Jehovah  our  God  there  is  no  injustice  or  partiality  or  acceptance  of 
bribes. 

^Moreover  in  Jerusalem  Jehoshaphat  appointed  certain  Levites  and  priests  Estab- 
and  the  heads  of  the  families  of  Israel  to  render  the  judgment  of  Jehovah  \^^^^^  ^f 
and  to  decide  controversies  for  the  hihabitants^  of  Jerusalem.     ^And   he  asu- 
charged  them  saying.  Thus  shall  you  do  in  the  fear  of  Jehovah,  faithfully  coui'rof 
and  with  sincere  purpose.     ^"^And  whenever  any  controversy  comes  to  you  al'ie-' 
from  your  kinsmen  who  dwell  in  other  cities,  between  blood  and  blood, ^'  rusa- 
between  law,  commandment,  statutes,  and  ordinances,  you  shall  warn  them 
that  they  be  not  guilty  toward  Jehovah,  and  so  wrath  come  upon  you  and 
upon  your  kinsmen;  this  must  you  do,  that  you  may  not  be  guilty.     ''And, 
behold,  Amariah  the  chief  jiriest  shall  be  at  your  head  in  all  matters  of  Je- 
hovah, and  Zebadiah  the  son  of  Ishmael,  the  ruler  of  the  house  of  Judah,  in 
all  the  king's  matters.     Also  the  Levites  shall  be  at  your  disposal  as  scribes. 
Do  your  work  courageously;  Jehovah  be  with  those  who  do  what  is  right. 

§  109.  Jehoshaphat's  Alliance  with  Ahab  against  the  Arameans,  I  Kgs. 

204,    29-36^    U    Q,r_     18'-193 

Chronicler s  Version  of  I  Kgs.  224'  29-36 

II  Chr.   18  ^Now  when  Jehoshaj)hat  had  attained  riches  and  honor  in  The 
abundance,  he  allied  himself  by  marriage  with  Ahab.     -And  after  some  a„Jre 
years  he  went  down  to  Ahab  at  Samaria.     And  Ahab  killed  sheep  and  oxen  "j"» 
in  abundance  for  him  and  for  the  people  who  were  with  him,  and  iiifhienced 
him  to  go  up  with  him  to  Raniolh  in  Giload.     '^And  Ahab  king  of  Israel 
said  to  Jehoshaphat  king  of  Judah,  Will  you  go  with  me  to  Ramoth  in  Gilead  ? 
And  he  answered  him,  I  am  as  you  are  and  my  people  as  your  people;  and 
we  will  go  with  you  to  the  war.     ... 

2^So  the  king  of  Israel  and  Jehosha])hat  the  king  of  Judah  went  up  to  Almb's 
Ramoth  in  Gilead.     ^^And  the  king  of  Israel  said  to  Jehoshaphat,  I  will  go  \^^\^ 
into  the  battle  disguised,  but  you  put  on  your  robes.     So  the  king  of  Israel  ""|',',,^,j. 
disguised  himself,  and  they  went  into  the  battle.     ^^Now  the  king  of  Aram  aphnt's 

peril 


"  II  Chr.  19*  So  the  Gk.,  which  has  evidcnily  Uic  oi  iKinal  text,  lleb.,  And  they  relumed 
to  J eruHalem. 

•'  II  Chr.  19'"  I.e.,  to  decide  who  is  guilty  and  the  extent  of  the  guilt  in  a  case  of  man- 
elaughter. 

§  109  At  this  point  the  histories  of  .Judah  and  Israel  touch  very  closely.  Already  in  con- 
nection with  the  history  of  tlie  nortliern  kinKdoin  llio  incidoiil  lias  hncn  nivoii  in  full  in  iS§  77,  78. 
Here  simply  the  Chronicler's  sliglitly  variant  vcr.sion  of  tlic  cxciits  which  (lircctly  concerned 
Judah  arc  rei>roduccd  in  order  to  give  a  complete  view  of  Jeliosiuiphat's  reign. 

267 


II  Chr.  1830]  FROM   REHOBOAM  TO   AHAZ 

Chronicler's  Version  of  I  Kgs.  22^'  29-36 

had  commanded  the  captains  of  his  chariots,  saying,  Fight  neither  with  small 
nor  great,  except  only  with  the  king  of  Israel,     ^i^herefore  when  the  cap- 
tains of  the  chariots  saw  Jehoshaphat  they  said,  It  is  the  king  of  Israel,  and 
lurned  about  to  fight  against  him.     But  Jehoshaphat  cried  out  and  Jehovah 
elped  him,  in  that  God  lured  them  from  him.     ^^^nd  when  the  captains 
of  the  chariots  saw  that  it  was  not  the  king  of  Israel,  they  turned  back  from 
pursuing  him. 
Ahab's       33^j^(]  a^  certain  man  drew  his  bow  at  a  venture  and  smote  the  king  of 
wound    Israel  between  the  girdle  and  breastplate;  then  he  cried  to  the  driver  of  the 
chariot.  Turn  about,  and  carry  me  out  of  the  army,  for  I  am  severely  wounded. 
^'^And  the  battle  increased  that  day,  but  the  king  of  Israel  held  himself  up 
in  his  chariot  against  the  Arameans  until  evening;  then  about  sunset  he  ukvl. 
Jehu's         19  ^But  Jehoshaphat  the  king  of  Judah  returned  home  to  Jerusalem  in 
dem-      peace,     ^^^d  Jehu  the  son  of  Hanani  the  seer  went  out  to  meet  him  and  said 
"?^J[on    to  King  Jehoshaphat,  Should  you  help  the  wicked  and  love  those  who  hate 
alii-        Jehovah  ?     For  this  wrath  has  come  upon  you  from  Jehovah,     ^jv^gyerthe- 
'^°°®       less  some  good  things  are  found  in  you,  in  that  you  have  put  away  the  asherahs 
from  the  land  and  have  set  your  heart  on  seeking  God. 

§  110.  Jehoshaphat's  War  against  the  Moabites,  the  Ammonites,  and 
their  Allies,  II  Chr.  20' -^o,  cf.  II  Kgs.  3^" 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

Ad-  II  Chr.  30  ^Now  after  this  the  Moabites  and  the  Ammonites  and  with 

of  "he     them  some  of  the  Meunites^  came  against  Jehosha{)hat  to  battle.     ^Xhen 

invad-    some  came  and  informed  Jehoshaphat,  saying,  A  great  multitude  is  coming 

against  you  from  the  other  side  of  the  sea,  from  Edom;'^  and  they  are  already 

in  Hazazontamar  (that  is  En-gedi).     ^Xhen  Jehoshaphat  feared  and  devoted 

himself  to  seeking  Jehovah  and  proclaimed  a  fast  throughout  all  Judah. 

*And  Judah  gathered  together  to  seek  help  of  Jehovah,  even  out  of  all  the 

cities  of  Judah  they  came  to  seek  Jehovah. 

Jehosh-      ^And  Jehoshaphat  stood  in  the  assembly  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem  in  the 

praye/  temple  of  Jehovah,  before  the  new  court,  *^and  said,  O  Jehovah,  the  God  of 

for  de-    our  fathers,  art  thou  not  God  of  heaven  ?  and  art  thou  not  ruler  over  all  the 

liv6r~ 

ance  kingdoms  of  the  nations  ?  And  in  thy  hand  is  power  and  might,  so  that 
none  is  able  to  withstand  thee.  "Didst  not  thou,  O  our  God,  drive  out  the 
inhabitants  of  this  land  before  thy  people  Israel,  and  give  it  to  the  descend- 
ants of  Abraham  thy  friend  forever  ?     ^So  they  dwelt  therein  and  built  thee 

§  110  Again  all  the  characteristics  of  the  late  Jewish  midrash  reappear.  The  literary 
style  and  the  absence  of  any  reference  to  Benjamin  point  to  an  older  source  rather  than  to  the 
original  work  of  the  Chronicler.  The  same  tradition  may  possibly  be  the  basis  both  of  the  pres- 
ent story  and  of  the  Elisha  narrative  in  II  Kgs.  3.  In  the  case  of  both  the  original  has  evidently 
been  greatly  transformed  and  embellished  during  the  long  process  of  oral  transmission  and 
ultimate  adaptation  to  the  final  didactic  purpose.  For  the  tradition  of  Jehoshaphat's  joint 
campaign  with  Jehoram  against  Moab,  cf.  §  88. 

™  20'  So  Gk.  The  impossible  Heb.,  Ammonites,  arose  from  a  transposition  of  two  letters. 
In  1°.  23  and  I  Chr.  4"  they  are  designated  as  inhabitants  of  Mount  Seir. 

»  20^  As  often  elsewhere,  a  scribe  has  mistaken  Edom  for  Aram.     The  sea  is  the  Dead  Sea. 

268 


JEHOSHAPHAT'S   FOREIGN   WAR        [II  Chr.  208 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

a  sanctuary  therein  for  thy  name,  saying,  ^ '  If  evil  comes  upon  us,  the  avengino' 
sword,  pestilence,  or  famine,  we  will  stand  before  this  temple  and  before 
thee  (for  thy  name  is  in  this  temple)  and  cry  to  thee  in  our  affliction  and 
thou  wilt  hear  and  save.'  ^'^And  now,  behold,  the  Ammonites  and  Moabitcs 
and  the  inhabitants  of  Mount  Seir,  whom  thou  wouldest  not  let  Israel  attack, 
when  they  came  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  but  they  turned  aside  from  them 
without  destroying  them* — ^'now  see  how  they  reward  us,  in  that  they  come 
to  cast  us  out  of  thy  possession,  which  thou  hast  given  us  as  an  inheritance. 
^-O  our  God,  wilt  thou  not  judge  them  ?  For  we  have  no  strength  against 
this  great  multitude  that  is  coming  against  us,  nor  do  we  know  what  to  do, 
but  our  eyes  are  turned  to  thee  !  ^-^And  all  Judah  stood  before  Jehovah, 
with  their  children. 

^^Then  upon  Jahaziel  the  son  of  Zechariah,  the  son  of  Benaiah,  the  son  Jaha- 
of  Jeiel,  the  son  of  Mattaniah  the  Levite,  of  the  sons  of  Asaph,  came  the  |Jf_  ^ 
spirit  of  Jehovah  in  the  midst  of  the  assembly;  ^^and  he  said,  Hearken,  all  cour- 
Judah  and  ye  inhabitants  of  Jerusaleiji  and  thou  King  Jchoshaphat:  Thus  ines- 
saith  Jehovah  to  you,  '  Fear  not  nor  be  dismayed  before  this  great  multitude;  ^^^^ 
for  the  battle  is  not  yours,  but  God's.     ^^To-morrow  go  down  against  them. 
See  they  are  coming  up  by  the  ascent  of  Ziz,  and  you  shall  find  them  at  the 
end  of  the  valley  before  the  Wilderness  of  Jeruel.     ^"In  this  battle  it  is  not 
your  part  to  fight;  put  yourselves  in  array,  stand  still,  and  see  the  deliverance 
which  Jehovah  will  accomplish  for  you,  O  Judah  and  Jerusalem  !     Fear  not, 
nor  be  dismayed;  to-morrow  go  out  against  them,  for  Jehovah  is  with  you.' 
^^And  Jchoshaphat  bowed  his  head  to  the  ground,  and  all  Judah  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  fell  down  before  Jehovah,  worshipping  Jehovah. 
^^Then  the  Levites,  of  the  children  of  the  Kohathites  and  of  the  children  of 
the  Korahites,  stood  up  to  praise  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel,  with  an  e.\- 
ceeding  loud  voice.'' 

20And  on  the  following  day  they  rose  early  and  went  Forth  into  the  Wilder-  The 
ness  of  Tekoa.  And  as  they  went  forth,  Jchoshaphat  stood  and  said.  Hear 
me,  O  Judah,  and  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  !  Believe  in  Jehovah  your  God,  victory 
so  shall  you  live  and  be  established.  Believe  his  prophets,  so  shall  you 
prosi)er.  ^^And  when  he  had  taken  counsel  with  the  people,  he  ap])ointed 
singers  to  give  praise  to  Jehovah  in  holy  array,  as  they  went  out  before  the 
army,  and  say.  Give  thanks  to  Jehovah;  for  his  kindness  endnreth  forever. 
22And  as  soon  as  they  began  to  sing  and  to  sing  praises,  Jehovah  sent  .secret 
enemies''  against  the  Ammonites,  Moabites,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Mount 
Seir,  who  had  come  ag-ainsl  Judah,  so  that  thev  dest roved  llieinsrivcs. 
23For  the  Ammonites  and  the  Moal)ites  .set  themselves  against  the  inhabitants 
of  Mount  Seir,  to  root  out  and  completely  destroy  them.  And  when  they 
had  made  an  end  of  the  inhabitants  of  Seir,  each  helped  to  destroy  the  other. 


mirac- 
ulous 


•  20"'  Cf.  Dt.  2»->o.  ,      .  .     ,     .  ,     ., 

•>  20"  Here  the  Chronicler  apparently  himself  introduces  the  I-evitical  singers.     In  tlio 

orii^inal  narrative  the  singers  seem  to  be  first  introduced  in-'.  ,     ,      ,       ,     ,  ■• 

'  2022  Heh.,  Liers-in-wait.     The  rei>rcscntation  of  tlie  story  leaves  IitUe  doubt  that  nngoho 

messengers  are  intended  and  that  they  stirred  u|i  the  different  hostile  nations  against  each  other. 

269 


The 

great 
spoil 


II  Chr.  2024]  FROM   REHOBOAM   TO   AHAZ 

Chroniclers  Ecclesiastical  History 

24And  when  Jiidah  came  to  the  Watch-tower  of  the  Wilderness  and  looked 
toward  the  multitude,  there  they  were  dead  bodies  fallen  to  the  earth,  and 
none  had  escaped  !  -^And  when  Jehoshaphat  and  his  people  came  to  take 
the  spoil  from  them,  they  found  cattle  in  abundance  and  personal  property,"^ 
garments  and  precious  jewels,  which  they  stripped  off  for  themselves,  until 
they  could  carry  away  no  more;  and  they  were  three  days  in  taking  the  spoil, 
it  was  so  much. 

26And  on  the  fourth  day  they  assembled  in  the  Valley  of  Beracah,  for  there 
they  blessed  Jehovah ;  therefore  the  name  of  that  place  was  called  The  Valley 
of  Beracah^  [Blessingl  to  this  dav.     ^/Xhen  they  returned,  all  the  men  of 

trip  DGO—  OJ  "^  «^  ,  .    1         • 

pie  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  with  Jehoshaphat  at  their  head  to  go  agam  with  ]oy 
Judah  ^^  Jerusalem,  for  Jehovah  had  made  them  rejoice  over  their  enemies.  "^And 
they  came  to  Jerusalem  with  harps,  lyres,  and  trumpets  to  the  temple  of 
Jehovah.  29^j^f[  a  fear  of  God  came  upon  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth, 
when  they  heard  that  Jehovah  had  fought  against  the  enemies  of  Israel. 
20So  the  realm  of  Jehoshaphat  enjoyed  quiet,  for  his  God  gave  him  rest  ou 
all  sides. 


Joy 
and 
pres- 
tige of 


111.  Jehoshaphat's  Disastrous  Commercial  Enterprises  and  Death, 
I  Kgs.  aa^-so,  II  Chr.  2035-211 


The 
wreck 
of  Je- 
hosha- 
phat's 
ships 


Annals  of  Judah 

I  Kgs.  33  47]S[q^  there  was  no 
king  in  Edom.  But  the  deputy  of 
King  Jehoshaphat  ^Smade  ships  of 
Tarshish  to  go  to  Ophir  for  gold.^ 
But  they  did  not  go ;  for  the  ships  were 
wrecked  at  Ezion-geber.  49'pj^gj^ 
Ahaziah  the  son  of  Ahab  said  to  Je- 
hoshaphat, Let  my  servants  go  with 
your  servants  in  the  ships.  But  Je- 
hoshaphat would  not.  5o\^(^  Jehosh- 
aphat slept  ^N-ith  his  fathers,  and  was 
buried  with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of  Da- 
vid his  father;  and  Jehoram  his  son  be- 
came king  in  his  place. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  30  35Xo^  later  Jehosha 
phat  king  of  Judah  allied  himself 
with  Ahaziah  king  of  Israel,  who  did 
very  wickedly.  ^*^And  he  bound 
himself  by  a  contract  with  him  to 
build  ships  to  go  to  Tarshish,  so  they 
made  the  ships  in  Ezion-geber.  ^'^But 
Eliezer  the  son  of  Dodavahu  of  INIar- 
eshah  prophesied  against  Jehosha- 
phat, saying,  Because  you  have  allied 
yourself  with  Ahaziah,  Jehovah  will 
surely  tear  your  work  in  pieces.  Ac- 
cordingly the  ships  were  broken,  so 
that  they  were  unable  to  go  to  Tar- 
shish. 


^  2025  Correcting  the  Heb.  with  the  aid  of  the  Gk. 

«  20^6  Identified  with  the  Wadi  Rereikut  near  Tekoa. 

§  111  The  citation  by  the  late  prophetic  editor  of  Kgs.  from  this  earlier  source,  is  supple- 
mented in  the  parallel  in  Chr.  by  a  brief  prophetic  warning  added  by  the  Chronicler  or  already 
found  in  his  midrashic  source.  The  descrintive  epithet,  Tarshish  ship,  was  also  interpreted 
to  mean  that  their  destination  was  Tarshish. 

'  I  Kgs.  22"-  ^s  The  current  translation  is  untenable.  The  lucid  translation  given  abm-e 
is  based  on  a  slight  emendation  of  the  Heb.  text.  The  Gk.,  favored  by  the  marginal  reading 
of  the  Heb.,  has,  ship,  not  ships.  This  may  well  have  been  the  original  text,  although  the  Chron- 
icler's parallel  supports  the  plural. 

270 


II  Kgs.  81G] 


JEHORAMS   REIGN 


[II  Chr.  212 


§  11^2.  Jehoram's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  S'^-'-\  II  Chr.  212=0 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  8  if'And  in  the  fifth  year 
of  Joram,  the  son  of  Ahab  king  of 
Israel,  Jehoshaphat  being  then  king 
of  Judah,  Jehoram  the  son  of  Jehosh- 
aphat king  of  Judah  began  to  reign. 
^'He  was  thirty-two  years  old  when 
he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned 
eight  years  in  Jerusalem.  ^^And  he 
walked  in  the  way  of  the  kings  of  Is- 
rael, as  did  the  house  of  Ahab,  for 
he  had  married  the  daughter  of  Ahab, 
and  he  did  that  which  displeased  Je- 
hovah. ^^However,  Jehovah  would 
not  destroy  Judah  for  the  sake  of 
David  his  servant,  since  he  had  prom- 
ised to  give  him  a  lamp  before  him^ 
alwavs. 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  21  2Now  Jehoram  had 
brothers,  the  sons  of  Jehoshaphat: 
Azariah,  Jehiel,  Alichael,  and  She- 
y)hatiah;  all  these  were  the  sons  of 
Jehoshaphat  king  of  Israel.  -^And 
their  father  gave  them  great  gifts  of 
silver,  of  gold,  and  of  precious  things, 
with  fortified  cities  in  Judah,  but  the 
kingdom  he  gave  to  Jehoram,  be- 
cause he  was  the  eldest.  "*Now  when 
Jehoram  had  taken  over  the  kingdom 
of  his  father  and  had  strengthened 
himself  he  slew  his  brothers  with  the 


sword, 
nobles. 


together  with  cerlaiu  of  the 


Annals  of  Judah 

20In  his  days  Edom  revolted  from 
the  rule  of  Judah  and  established  a 
king  over  themselves.  ^iXhen  Joram 
passed  over  to  Zair,  and  all  his  char- 
iots^ with  him.^  And  he  rose  U{)  by 
night  and  smote  through  the  Edom- 
ites  who  had  surrounded  him  and  the 
captains  of  the  chariots  were  with  him, 
but  the  people  fled  to  their  tents.  ^^So 
Edom  revolted  from  under  the  rule 
of  Judah  to  this  day.     Then  Libnah 

revolted  at  the  same  time.  -^Aiul  the 
other  acts  of  Joram  and  all  that  he  did  are 
they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the 
Kings  of  Judali?  '^'And  Joram  slept  wilh 
his  fathers  and  was  buried  with  his  fathers 
in  the  city  of  David,  and  Aliaziah  his  son 
became  king  in  his  place. 

§  112  To  the  Keneral  statements  of  the  late  prophetic  editor  of  Krs.  the  Chronicler  adds 
certain  facts  in  212",  which  seem  to  be  authentic  and  which  are  apparently  derived  from  one  of 
his  older  non-canonical  sources.  Vss.  '■'  are  but  a  verbatim  quotation  from  Kgs.  Ihe  Btory 
in  "-20  is  evidently  a  later  raidrash.  .     .,  „,      „.,      „  ,       .      ,■      i   u 

"  ri  Kgs.  81'  So  Luc,  Lat.,  Targ.,  and  the  parallel  in  IT  Chr.  217.  Heb.,  for  Ins  children; 
but  they  were  the  Inmv.  .  ,  ,  .. 

h  II  Kgs.  821  The  ITeb.is  difficult  anrl  the  context  not  cnmi>lete.  Apnarentlv  some  of  the 
text  has  been  lost,  especially  the  account  of  the  ambush  into  which  the  Hebrews  fell  and  wlucli 
is  implied  in  21  h 

'  11  KgH.  821   Supplying,  irilh  him.  from  the  parallel  passage  in  Chr. 

'  II  Chr.  21"  Restoring  the  original  text  of  Kgs-     Heb.,  unth  his  captains. 

■'  II  Chr.  21'  Restoring,  with  him,  from  Kgs. 


^In  his  days  Edom  revolted  from 
the  rule  of  Judah  and  established  a 
king  over  themselves.  ^Then  Je- 
horam passed  over  to  Zair,  and  all 
his  chariotsJ  with  him.  And  he  rose 
up  by  night  and  smote  through  the 
Edomites  who  had  surroinidcd  him 
and  the  captains  of  the  chariots  were 
with  him.*^  ^°So  Edom  revolted  from 
the  rule  of  Judah  to  this  day.  Then 
Libnah  revolted  at  the  same  time 
from  his  rule,  because  he  had  for- 
saken Jehovah,  the  God  of  his 
fathers. 


II  Chr.  2111]  FROM   REHOBOAM  TO   AHAZ 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical   History 

Elijah's      iiMoreover  he  made  high  places  in  the  cities^  of  Judah,  and  led  the  inhab- 
ctm-"^  °^  itants  of  Jerusalem  into  apostasy ,'^  and  led  Judah  astray.     i-Then  there 
demna-  came  a  writing  to  him  from  EUjah  the  prophet,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  David  your  ancestor,  '  Because  thou  hast  not  walked  in  the  ways 
of  Jehoshaphat  thy  father,  nor  in  the  ways  of  Asa  king  of  Judah,  l^but  hast 
walked  in  the  way  of  the  kings  of  Israel  and  hast  led  Judah  and  the  inhab- 
itants of  Jerusalem  into  apostasy,  as  did  the  house  of  Ahab,  and  also  hast 
slain  thy  brothers  of  thy  father's  house,  who  were  better  than  thyself;  l^ow 
Jehovah  will  smite  with  a  great  plague  thy  people,  thy  children,  thy  wives, 
and  all  thy  possessions;  i^and  thou  thyself  shall  become  very  sick  with  a 
disease  of  thy  bowels,  until,  because  of  the  disease,  thy  bowels  shall  waste 
away  day  by  day. 
Jeho-         i^Then  Jehovah  stirred  up  against  Jehoram  the  Philistines  and  the  Ara- 
mis-^     bians,  who  live  beside  the  Cushites,"  ^''so  that  they  came  up  against  Judah, 
f(jrt-       an(j  invaded  it,  and  carried  away  all  the  possessions  that  were  found  in  the 
and        royal  palace,  together  with  his  son  and  his  wives.     Thus  not  a  single  son 
some'     was  left  to  him,  except  Jehoahaz  his  youngest.     i^And  after  all  this  Jehovah 
eiid        smote  him  in  the  bowels  with  an  incurable  disease,  l^so  that  in  process  of 
time,  at  the  end  of  two  years,  °  his  bowels  wasted  away  because  of  his  sick- 
ness, and  he  died   in  great  pain.     And  his    people  made  no  such  funeral 
pyre  for  him  as  they  did  for  his  fathers.     ^^He  was  thirty-two  years  old 
when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  in  Jerusalem  eight  years.     And  he 
departed  without  being  missed,  p  and  they  buried  him  in  the  city  of  David, 
but  not  in  the  sepulchre  of  the  kings. 


§  113.  Ahaziah's  Brief  Reign,  II  Kgs.  8«-29,  927.29^  jj  c^j.   ggi.o 

Late  Prophetic  Summary 
Aha-  II  Kg s .  8  25ln  the  twelfth  year 


ev^il  ^     of  Joram  the  son  of  Ahab  king  of 
policy     Israel,  Ahaziah  the  son  of  Jeho- 

and  al- 
liance    ram  kmg  of  Judah  began  to  reign. 

^^Ahaziah  was  twenty-two  years 

old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  33  lAnd  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerusalem  made  Ahaziah,  his  youngest 
son,  king  in  his  place;  for  the  hordes  that 
came  with  the  Arabians  to  the  camp  had 
slain  all  the  older  sons.  So  Ahaziah  the 
son  of  Jehoram  became  king  of  Judah. 


I  II  Chr.  21"  So  Gk.     Heb.,  mountains. 

■n  II  Chr.  21"  Heb.,  play  the  harlot.  So  also,  as  in  the  prophets,  it  is  used  primarily  in  the 
figurative  sense.     Cf.  Hos.  2'". 

°  II  Chr.  211'^  Probably  the  Arabian  Cushites,  although  in  the  O.T.  the  Heb.  word  also 
designates  the  Ethiopians. 

°  II  Chr.  2V^  The  Gk.,  two  days,  makes  better  sense  and  may  be  original. 

PlI  Chr.  2120  Heb.,  desired. 

§  113  Ahaziah's  reign  of  probably  less  than  one  year  is  treated  by  the  editor  of  Kgs.  in  the 
usual  manner.  Another  editor,  remembering  that  Jehoram  reigned  twelve  years  and  Ahaziah 
one,  and  that  both  died  at  the  same  time  by  the  hand  of  .lehu,  reckoned  that  .4.haziah's  accession 
must  have  been  in  the  eleventh,  not  the  twelfth  (as  in  8-=)  year  of  Jehoram.  Accordingly  in  8^', 
immediately  after  the  account  of  the  death  of  Ahaziah,  he  adds,  in  the  eleventh  year  of  Joram 
the  son  of  Ahab  Ahaziah  became  king  over  Judah.  The  editor  in  8-'  is  probably  correct,  since 
Ahaziah's  reign  appears  to  have  been  limited  to  months  and  reckoned  as  a  year  only  in  round 
numbers. 

The  source  followed  by  the  Chronicler  was  in  part  dependent  upon  Kgs.,  but  regarding  the 
manner  of  Ahaziah's  death  it  preserves  a  variant  tradition. 


272 


1  Kgs.  826] 


AHAZIAH'S  BRIEF  REIGN 


[II  CiiR.  222 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

he  reigned  one  year  in  Jerusalem. 
And  his  mother's  name  was  Atha- 
Hah  the  granddaughter'^  of  Omri 
king  of  Israel.  27^^^^  j^g  walked 
in  the  way  of  the  house  of  Ahab 
and  did  that  which  displeased  Je- 
hovah, as  did  the  house  of  Ahab ; 
for  he  was  related  by  marriage  to 
the  house  of  Ahab.  28And  he  went 
with  Joram  the  son  of  Ahab  to 
make  w-ar  against  Hazael  king  of 
Aram  at  Ramoth  in  Gilead.  But 
the  Arameans  wounded  Joram. 
29^hen  King  Joram  returned  to 
be  healed  in  Jezreel  of  the  wounds 
which  the  Arameans  had  given 
him  at  Ramah.  when  he  fought 
against  Hazael  king  of  Aram. 


Prophetic  Jehu  History 

His  8  29b\nd  Ahaziah  the  son  of 

"y^"^  ^  Jehoram  king  of  Judah  went  down 
Jehu  ^Q  visit  Joram  the  son  of  Ahab 
to  Jezreel  because  he  was  sick. 
9  -''And  u'hen  Jehu  slew  Joram, 
Ahaziah  king  of  Judah  saw  it 
and  fled  in  the  direction  of  Beth- 
gannim.  Then  Jehu  pursued 
after  him  with  the  words,  Ilim 
also  !  Smite  him  in  the  chariot. 
And  they  smote  him  in  the  ascent 
of  Gur,  which  is  by  Ibleam.  And 
he  escaped  to  Megiddo  and  died 
there.  28j3y^  ]^\^  servants  carried 
him  to  Jerusalem  and  buried  him 
there  in  his  sef)ulchre  with  his 
fathers  in  the  city  of  David. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

2Forty-two  years  old  was  Ahaziah,  when 
he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  one 
year  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's 
name  was  Athaliah  the  granddaughter 
of  Omri.  ^Ile  also  walked  in  the  ways 
of  the  house  of  Ahab,  for  his  mother  was 
his  counsellor  to  do  wickedly.  ^And  he 
did  that  which  displeased  Jehovah,  as 
did  the  house  of  Ahab,  for  they  were  his 
counsellors  after  the  death  of  his  father, 
to  his  destruction.  ^Ile  also  followed 
their  advice  and  went  with  Jehoram  the 
son  of  Ahab  king  of  Israel,  to  make  war 
against  Hazael  king  of  Aram  at  Ramoth 
in  Gilead.  But  the  Arameans  w-ounded 
Joram.  '^And  he  returned  to  be  healed 
of  the  wounds  which  they  had  given  him 
at  Ramah,  when  he  fought  against  Ha- 
zael king  of  Aram. 


And  Azariah  the  son  of  Jehoram  king 
of  Judah  went  down  to  visit  Jehoram 
the  son  of  Ahab  in  Jezreel,  because  he 
was  sick.  ^Now  the  destruction  of  Aha- 
ziah was  of  God,  in  that  he  went  to 
Joram,  and  after  his  arrival  he  went  out 
with  Jehoram  against  Jehu  the  son  of 
Nimshi,  whom  Jehovah  had  anointed  to 
cut  off  the  house  of  Ahab.  ^Now  when 
Jehu  was  executing  judgment  upon  the 
house  of  Ahab,  he  found  the  princes  of 
Judah  and  the  sons  of  the  brothers  of 
Ahaziah,  ministering  to  Ahaziah,  and 
slew  them.  ^Then  he  sought  Ahaziah. 
And  they  caught  him  while  he  was  hiding 
in  Samaria,  and  llicy  brought  him  fo  Joiui 
and  he  slew  him.  But  they  buried  Iiim, 
for  they  said.  He  is  the  son  of  Jehoslia- 
phat,  w-ho  sought  Jehovah  with  all  his 
heart.  -Xnd  tlic  house  of  Ahaziah  had  no 
one  who  hud  the  strength  necessary  to  rule. 


1 II  Kg8.  8^  Heb.,  daughter,  used  in  tlic  .sciiho  of  doscondant. 


273 


11  Kgs.  Ill] 


FROM   REHOBOAM   TO   AHAZ  [II  Chr.  22io 


§  114.  Overthrow  of  Athaliah  and  Accession  of  Joash,  II  Kgs.  IV-", 

II  Chr.  22'«-23=i 


Atha- 
liah's 
seizure 
of  the 
throne 


Jehoi- 
ada's 
con- 
spir- 
acy 


Temple  Records 

II  Kgs.  11  iNow  when  Atha- 
liah, the  mother  of  Ahaziah, 
learned  that  her  son  was  dead  she 
arose  and  destroyed  all  the  royal 
family.  -But  Jehosheba,  the 
daughter  of  King  Joram  and  sis- 
ter of  Ahaziah,  took  Joash,  the 
son  of  Ahaziah,  and  stole  him 
away  from  among  the  king's  sons, 
who  were  about  to  be  slain,  and 
puf  him  in  the  bedchamber.  Thus 
she  hid  him  from  Athaliah,  so 
that  he  was  not  slain.  ^And  he 
was  with  her,  hid  in  the  temple  of 
Jehovah,  six  years  while  Athaliah 
reigned  over  the  land. 


^But  in  the  seventh  year 
Jehoiada  sent  and  brought 
the  military  commanders® 
of  the  Carites  and  of  the 
guards*  and  brought  them 
to  him  into  the  temple  of 
Jehovah.  Thereupon  he 
showed  them  the  king's  son. 
^And  he  commanded  them 
saying.  This  is  what  you 
shall  do :  a  third  part  of  you, 
who  go  in  on  the  sabbath 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  22  lOXow  when  Athaliah,  the 
mother  of  Ahaziah,  learned  that  her  son 
was  dead,  she  arose  and  destroyed  all  the 
royal  family  of  the  house  of  Judah.  ^^But 
Jehoshabeath,  the  daughter  of  the  king, 
took  Joash  the  son  of  Ahaziah  and  stole 
him  away  from  among  the  king's  sons, 
who  were  about  to  be  slain,  and  put  him 
and  his  nurse  in  the  bedchamber.  Thus 
Jehoshabeath,  the  daughter  of  King  Je- 
horam,  the  wife  of  Jehoiada  the  priest  (for 
she  was  the  sister  of  Ahaziah),  hid  him 
from  Athaliah,  so  that  she  did  not  slay 
him.  i-And  he  was  with  her,  hid  in  the 
temple  of  God,  six  years  while  Athaliah 
reigned  over  the  land. 

23  ^But  in  the  seventh  year  Jehoiada  took 
courage  and  entered  into  a  covenant  with  the 
military  commanders,  Azariah  the  son  of  Je- 
horam,  Ishmael  the  son  of  Jehohanan,  Aza- 
riah the  son  of  Obed,  Maaseiah  the  son  of 
Adaiah,  and  Elishaphat  the  son  of  Zichri. 
^And  they  went  about  Judah  and  gathered 
Levites  from  all  the  cities  of  Judah  and  the 
heads  of  the  Israelitish  families,  and  they  came 
to  Jerusalem.  ^Then  all  the  assembly  made 
a  covenant  with  the  king  in  the  house  of  God. 
And  he  said  to  them.  Behold,  the  king's  son 


§  114  The  interest  in  this  and  its  sequel,  II  Kgs.  12,  centres  about  the  temple  and  the  re- 
ligious revolution  effected  through  the  activity  of  Jehoiada  the  priest.  The  narrative  is  straight- 
forward and  circumstantial — evidently  from  a  writer  acquainted  with  the  facts  and  with  the 
details  of  the  sanctuary.  Joash  plays  a  secondary  role.  The  character  and  contents  of  the 
narrative  strongly  support  the  conclusion  that  it  was  taken  from  the  temple  records  and  there- 
fore ranks  as  practically  contemporaneous  testimony  regarding  the  important  events  recounted. 

By  many  i^-isa  are  regarded  as  a  duplicate  of  '"  and  from  a  different  source,  but  the  evidence 
adduced  is  far  from  conclusive.  The  execution  of  Athaliah  and  the  priests  of  Baal  and  the 
removal  of.  the  symbolism  of  the  cult,  fostered  within  the  temj^le  precincts  by  the  queen,  were 
the  natural  preliminaries  to  the  introduction  of  the  young  king  to  the  palace  and  vacant  throne. 
The  care  taken  that  Athaliah  shall  not  be  slain  in  the  temple  court.  »,  and  the  prominence  given 
to  the  covenant  and  to  the  overthrow  of  Baalism,  "•  "*,  all  point  to  the  temple  records  as 
likewise  the  source  from  which  these  verses  were  taken.  The  recapitulation  in  20  seems  to  antici- 
pate "  and  i".  It  may  have  been  added  by  the  editor,  although  there  is  nothing  in  it  to  indicate 
that  it  is  not  a  concluding  summary  from  the  original  author  of  the  section. 

The  Chronicler  substitutes  the  Levites  for  the  captains  of  the  guard  and  the  Carites.  thus 
protecting  the  temple  from  all  pollution  by  the  common  people.  He  also  introduces  the  singers 
at  the  crucial  moment,  when  Athaliah  appears;  otherwise  he  follows  the  narrative  of  Kgs. 

■■  II  Kgs.  11-  Restoring  the  original  Heb.  by  the  aid  of  the  parallel  in  II  Chr.  22". 

•II  Kgs.  11^  Heb.,  commanders  of  hundreds. 

'11  Kgs.  ll*  Heb.,  runners. 


II  KgS.   11'5] 


OVERTHROW   OF   ATHALIAII 


[II  Chr.  233 


Temple  Records 

and  keep  guard  over  the 
royal  palace,  ''and  a  third  part 
shall  be  at  the  gate  Sur;  and  a 
third  part  at  the  gate  behind 
the  guards,  that  you  may  keep 
watch"  over  the  royal  palace.^' 

"^And  the  two  divisions  of 
you,  even  all  who  go  forth 
on  the  sabbath  to  keep 
guard  over  the  temple  of  Je- 
hovah about  the  king,  ^shall 
surrotuid  the  king,  each 
with  his  weapons  in  his 
hand.  And  whoever  comes 
within  the  ranks,  let  him  be 
slain.  Thus  yoti  shall  be 
with  the  king,  when  he  goes 
out  and  when  he  comes  in. 


^And  the  military  commanders 
did  just  as  Jehoiada  the  priest 
had  commanded:  each  brought 
his  men,  both  those  who  were  to 
come  in  on  the  sabbath  and 
those  who  were  to  go  out  on  the 

sabbath,  to  Jehoiada  the  priest. 
'"And  the  priest  delivered  to  tlie  mil- 
itary commanders  the  spears  and 
shields  that  had  been  King  David's, 
which  were  in  the  temple  of  Jeho- 
vah." ^^And  the  guards  stood 
each  with  his  weapons  in  his 
hand,  from  the  south  side  of  the 
temple  to  the  north  side  of  the 
temple,  before  the  altar  and  be- 
fore the  temple,  around  the  king.^ 
^•^Then  he  brought  out  the  king's 
son  and  ])ut  the  crown  upon  him 
and  the  ornaments,  and  tlievy)ro- 
claimed  him  king  and  anointed 
him,  and  clapjjed  their  hands 
and  said,  May  the  king  live ! 


Chrotiicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

shall  reign,  as  Jehovah  hath  spoken  concern- 
ing the  sons  of  David.  '^This  is  what  you 
shall  do:  A  third  part  of  you,  the  priests  and 
Levites,  who  come  in  on  the  sal)bath,  shall 
be  porters  at  the  thresholds;  '^and  a  third  par\ 
shall  guard  the  royal  palace;  and  a  third  {)art 
the  Gate  Jesod;  and  all  the  people  shall  be  in 
the  courts  of  the  temj^le  of  Jehovah.  *^But  let 
none  come  into  the  temple  of  Jehovah  except 
the  priests  and  the  ministering  Levites;  they 
shall  come  in,  for  they  are  ceremonially  clean; 
but  all  the  people  shall  observe  the  command 
of  Jehovah.  "And  the  Levites  shall  surround 
the  king,  each  with  his  weapons  in  his  hand; 
and  whoever  comes  into  the  temple,  let  him  be 
slain.  Thus  you  shall  be  with  the  king  when 
he  comes  in  and  when  he  goes  out. 

^So  the  Levites  and  all  Judah  did  just 
as  Jehoiada  the  priest  commanded:  each 
brought  his  men,  both  those  who  were  to 
come  in  on  the  sabbath  and  those  who 
were  to  go  out  on  the  sabbath;  for  Je- 
hoiada the  priest  had  dismissed  the  divis- 
ions. ^And  Jehoiada  the  priest  delivered 
to  the  military  commanders  the  spears, 
bucklers,  and  shields  that  had  been  King 
David's,  which  were  in  the  house  of  God. 
^•^And  he  set  all  the  ])eople,  each  with  his 
weapon  in  his  hand,  from  the  south  side 
of  the  temple  to  the  north  side  of  the  tem- 
ple, even  to  the  altar  and  the  temple, 
around  the  king.  iiTlien  tliey  brought 
out  the  king's  son  and  put  the  crown  and 
the  ornaments  upon  him,  and  proclaimed 
him  king,  and  Jehoiada  and  his  .sons 
anointed  him,  and  cried,  May  the 
live ! 


mg 


"  JI  KgS.  ll*  So  the  free  paraphrase  in  II  Chr.  235.  supported  by  a  scholia  cited  by  Field. 


The  same  is  obtained  by  a  simple  correction  of  the  present  untranslatable  Heb. 

Kes.  11'-  This  verse  has  either  been  misplaced  or  else  is  a  rIoss,  for  '  is  the  direct 


con- 


II  Kes 
tinualion  of  '■' 

»  11  Kes - --„ ... 

It  is  probable  that  a  scribe  introfluced  this  verse  from  II  (  hr. 

supports  this  conclusion.     It  may  also  be  .secondary  in  f'hr.  ^       1  1  • 

»  II  Kes.  11"  The  awkward  form  of  the  Heb.  an.l  the  fact  that  .loash  was  not  yet  king 
i»dicate  that  these  words  are  also  from  a  later  scribe  who  recalled  the  comman<l  iti  \ 


while '■  introduces  hopeless  confusion.  ,       ,      ,    ,  .1  1 

11"*  But  cf   1  Kes    14*' -".   The  temple  Euanls  were  also  iloubtless  already  nriued. 
'  2;j".     ' 


Its  awkward  form  likewise 


275 


II  Kgs.  1113]  FROM  REHOBOAM  TO   AHAZ         [II  Chr.  2312 


Death 

of 

Queen 

Atha- 

liah 


Cove- 
nant 
with 
Jeho- 
vah and 
over- 
throw 
of 

Baal- 
ism 


Estab- 
hsh- 
ment  of 
Joash 
on  the 
throne 


Temple  Records 

i^But  when  Athaliah  heard 
the  cry'*  of  the  people,  she  came 
to  the  people  into  the  temple  of 
Jehovah.  i"^Then  she  looked  and 
there  was  the  king  standing  by 
the  pillar,  as  was  the  custom,  and 
the  commanders  and  the  trum- 
peters by  the  king,  and  all  the 
people  of  the  land  rejoicing  and 
blowing  trumpets.  Then  Atha- 
liah tore  her  clothes  and  cried, 
Treason  !  Treason  !  ^'^And  Je- 
hoiada  the  priest  gave  command 
to  the  military  commanders  who 
were  over  the  army  and  said  to 
them.  Bring  her  out  between  the 
ranks ;  and  whoever  follows  her, 
slay  with  the  sword  !  for  the 
priest  said,  Let  her  not  be  slain 
in  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  ^^So 
they  laid  hands  on  her,  and,  as 
she  went  through  the  horses' 
entry  to  the  royal  palace,  she  was 
slain. 

I'^And  Jehoiada  made  a  cov- 
enant between  Jehovah  and  the 
king  and  the  people,  that  they 
should  be  Jehovah's  people; 
likewise  between  the  king  and 
the  people.  ^^And  all  the  peo- 
ple of  the  land  went  to  the  tem- 
ple of  Baal  and  destroyed  it.  His 
altar  and  his  images  they  broke 
completely  in  pieces,  and  they 
slew  Mattan  the  priest  of  Baal 
before  the  altars. 

Then  the  priest  ap- 
pointed watchmen  over 
the  temple  of  Jehovah. 
i^And  he  took  the  mili- 
tary commanders  and  the 
Carites,  and  the  guards 
and  all  the  people  of  the 
land,    and   they   brought 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

i-^But  when  Athaliah  heard  the  cry  of 
the  people  running  and  praising  the  king, 
she  came  to  the  people  into  the  temple  of 
Jehovah,  ^^fhen  she  looked  and  there 
was  the  king  standing  by  his  pillar  at 
the  entrance,  and  the  commanders  and 
the  trumpeters  by  the  king,  and  all  the 
people  of  the  land  rejoicing  and  blowing 
trumpets,  and  the  singers  with  musical 
instruments  leading  the  songs  of  praise. 
Then  Athaliah  tore  her  clothes,  and  said, 
Treason  !  Treason  !  ^^But  Jehoiada  the 
priest  brought  out  the  military  command- 
ers who  were  over  the  army,  and  said  to 
them.  Bring  her  out  between  the  ranks; 
and  whoever  follows  her,  let  him  be  slain 
with  the  sword;  for  the  priest  said.  Slay 
her  not  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  ^^So 
they  laid  hands  on  her,  and,  as  she  went 
to  the  entrance  of  the  horse-gate  which 
led  to  the  royal  palace,  they  slew  her  there. 


i^And  Jehoiada  made  a  covenant  be- 
tween himself  and  all  the  people,  and  the 
king,  that  they  should  be  Jehovah's  peo- 
ple. i''And  all  the  people  went  to  the 
temple  of  Baal  and  destroyed  it.  And 
they  broke  completely  in  pieces  his  altars 
and  his  images,  and  Mattan  the  priest  of 
Baal  they  slew  before  the  altars. 


i^And  Jehoiada  appointed  the  watchmen  over 
the  temple  under  the  direction  of  the  levitical 
priests,  whom  David  had  distributed  in  the  tem- 
ple of  Jehovah,  to  offer  the  burnt-offerings  of 
Jehovah,  as  it  is  prescribed  in  the  law  of  Moses, 
with  rejoicing  and  with  singing,  according  to  the 
regulation  of  David.  ^^And  he  placed  the  por- 
ters at  the  gates  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  that 


»  II  Kgs.  ll's  A  scribe  has  added,  of  the  guard.     It  is  not  found  in  the  parallel  in  Chr. 


276 


II  KgS.  1119] 

Temple  Records 

down  the  king  from  the 
temple  of  Jehovah  and 
entered  tlirough  the  gate 
of  the  guards  to  the  royal 
palace.  And  he  sat  on 
the  royal  throne.  -^^So  all 
the  people  of  the  land  re- 
joiced and  the  city  was 
quiet.  Thus  they  slew 
Athaliah  with  the  sword 
in  the  royal  palace. 


ACCESSION   OF  JOASH 


[II  Chr.  2319 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

none  who  was  at  all  unclean  should  enter.  ^OThen 
he  took  the  military  commanders  and  the  nobles 
and  those  who  ruled  the  people  of  the  land,  and 
brought  down  the  king  from  the  temple  of  Je- 
ho\ah.  And  when  they  had  come  through  the 
upper  gate  to  the  royal  palace,  they  placed  the 
king  upon  the  royal  throne,  ^i^hen  all  the  peo- 
ple of  the  land  rejoiced  and  the  city  was  quiet. 
Thus  they  slew  Athaliah. 


§  115.  Joash's  Reign  and  Repair  of  the  Temple,  II  Kgs.  IV^-W\  II  Chr.  24 


Temple  Records 

II  IvgS.  11  ^iJehoash  was  seven 
years  old  when  he  began  to  reign.  12  'In 
the  seventh  j-ear  of  Jehu  Johoash  be- 
gan to  reign,  and  he  reigned  fort3'  years 
in  Jerusalem.  .\nd  his  mother's  name 
was  Zibiah  of  Beersheba.  -And  Jehoash 
did  that  wliich  pleased  Jehovah  just  as 
long  as  Jehoiada  the  priest  instructed 
him.  ^Only  the  high  places  were  not 
taken  away;  the  people  still  sacrificed  and 
burnt  their  ofTerings  on  the  liigh  places. 

■*And  Jehoash  said  to  the  priests, 
All  the  money,  which  in  the  form  of 
consecration  gifts  is  brought  into  the 
temj)le  of  Jehovah,  the  money  which 
comes  from  each  man's  assessment, 
the  money  from  the  persons  wdiose 
value  is  estimated,  and  all  the  money 
which  the  people  bring  of  their  own 
free  will  into  the  temple  of  Jehovah,^ 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  24  iJoash  was  seven  years 
old  when  he  began  to  reign,  antl  he 
reigned  forty  years  in  Jeru.salem. 
And  his  mother's  name  was  Zibiah, 
of  Beersheba.  -And  Joash  did  that 
which  pleased  Jehovah  all  the  days 
of  Jehoiada  the  priest.  "^And  Jehoiada 
took  for  himself  two  wives,  and  he 
begot  sons  and  daughters. 

^Now  after  this  it  occurred  to  Joash 
to  restore  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 
"^And  he  gathered  together  the  priests 
and  the  Lcvites  and  said  to  them. 
Go  out  to  the  cities  of  Judah  and 
gather  of  all  Israel  money  to  rej)air 
the  temple  of  your  God  from  year  to 
year;  but  you  must  hasten  the  matter. 
However,  the  Levites  did  not  hasten 


§  11.5  The  narrative  of  Kgs.  continues  the  prece<Hng  and  is  clearly  froTn  the  sanio  source. 
The  eriitor  has  intioducerl  it  by  his  usual  synohroiiistic  formula.  The  laiiKiiuKC  of  12'"'  '■'*  is 
closely  parallel  to  the  citation  from  the  annals  of  Judah  in  1  Kgs.  16"'  "*  and  they  are  probably 
from  the  same  source,  although  their  present  connection  and  the  i)arallel  references  in  II  Kns. 
IG'^.  '1  and  18"'  to  the  robbery  of  the  temple  in  order  to  pay  tribute,  both  of  which  are  from  the 
tem|»le  records,  tend  to  connect  them  with  the  latter  source.  The  brief  quotation  in  -".'•''>  is 
evidently  from  the  annals  of  Jud.ih. 

The  Chronicler  ha.s  an  expanded  and  much  revised  version  of  the  narratives.  The  I.ovites 
appear,  aa  well  as  the  priests,  and  the  Aramean  inv:ision  is  interpreted  as  a  divine  judgment 
upon  Joash  for  a  sin — tiie  murder  of  the  son  of  Jehoiada — to  which  no  reference  is  made  in  Kgs. 
The  parallel  passages  illustrate  most  vividly  the  older  aii<l  the  later  concc|)tion.s  of  the  history. 
At  the  same  time  it  is  probable  that  the  later,  through  the  medium  of  oral  priestly  trailition, 
has  preserved  facts  not  recorded  in  the  older,  although,  where  there  are  direct  contrailictions, 
the  authority  is  clearly  with  tlie  older  and  more  natural  narrative  of  Kgs. 

''11  Kgs.  12'  The  passage  is  exceechngly  difficult.  The  translation  aims  to  l)ring  f)ut  the 
meaning  of  the  text.  'I'liree  sources  of  income  appear  to  be  suggcsteil:  (1)  the  poll-tiix  for  the 
temple,  (2)  the  eiiuivalent  values  for  persons  consecrated  tr)  .lehovah  -the  later  usage  is  outlined 
in  iletail  in  Lev.  27,  (.3)  the  regular  vows  and  frc-ewill  offerings.  IJy  the  majority  of  scholars  (2) 
is  regardcfl  as  a  scribal  note  intended  to  explain  (1),  but  the  lw<j  peculiar  iili<jms  do  not  appear 
to  be  equivalent  to  each  other. 


277 


II  Kgs.  125]  FROM   REHOBOAM  TO   AHAZ 


[II  Chr.  245 


Temple  Records 

^let  the  priests  take  that  for  them- 
selves each  from  his  acquaintances. 
They  must,  however,  repair  the 
breaches  in  the  temple,  wherever  any 
breach  is  found.  "^But  it  transpired 
that  in  the  twenty-third  year  of  Je- 
hoash  the  priests  had  not  yet  repaired 
the  breaches  of  the  temple.  ^Then 
King  Jehoash  called  for  Jehoiada  the 
priest  and  for  the  other  priests  and 
said  to  them.  Why  have  you  not  re- 
paired the  breaches  of  the  temple  ? 
Now  therefore  take  no  more  money 
from  your  acquaintances,  but  turn  it 
over  for  the  repair  of  the  breaches 
of  the  temple.  ^And  the  priests 
agreed  that  they  should  take  no  more 
money  from  the  people  nor  repair 
the  breaches  of  the  temple. 

^Then  Jehoiada  the  priest  took  a 
chest,  boi'ed  a  hole  in  its  cover  and 
sions  placed  it  beside  the  doorposf^  at  the 
ex-  right  of  the  entrance  of  the  temple  of 
and^re-  Jehovali.  And  the  priests,  who  kept 
pair  of  watch  at  the  threshold,  put  therein 
temple  all  the  money  that  was  brought  into 
the  temple  of  Jehovah.  ^"^And  as 
soon  as  they  saw  that  there  was  much 
money  in  the  chest,  the  king's  scribe 
and  the  high"  priest  came  up,  and 
they  put  up  in  bags  and  counted  the 
money  that  was  found  in  the  temple 
of  Jehovah.  ^^Then  they  gave  the 
money  that  was  weighed  out  into  the 
hands  of  those  who  had  the  over- 
sight of  the  temple  of  Jehovah;  and 
they  paid  it  out  to  the  carpenters  and 
the  builders,  who  worked  on  the  tem- 
ple of  Jehovah,  ^^and  to  the  masons 
and  the  stone-cutters,  and  for  the 
buying  of  timber  and  hewn  stone  to 
repair  the  breaches  of  the  temple  of 


De- 
tailed 
provi 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

it.  ^Then  the  king  summoned  Je- 
hoiada the  chief  and  said  to  him.  Why 
have  you  not  recjuired  the  Levites  to 
bring  in  from  Judah  and  Jerusalem 
the  tax  of  Moses,  the  servant  of  Je- 
hovah, and  of  the  assembly  of  Israel 
for  the  tent  of  the  testimony  ?  ^For 
the  wacked  Athaliah  and  her  sons" 
had  wrought  devastation  in  the  house 
of  God,  and  had  employed  all  the 
objects  consecrated  to  the  temple  of 
Jehovah  for  the  Baals. 


^So  the  king  commanded,  that  they 
should  prepare  a  chest  and  place  it 
outside  at  the  gate  of  the  temple  of 
Jehovah.  ^And  they  made  a  proc- 
lamation through  Judah  and  Jeru- 
salem to  bring  in  for  Jehovah  the  tax 
that  Moses,  the  servant  of  God,  laid 
upon  Israel  in  the  wilderness.  ^'^x\nd 
all  the  princes  and  all  the  people  re- 
joiced, and  brought  in  and  cast  into 
the  chest,  until  it  was  full.  ^^And 
each  time,  when  the  chest  was  brought 
to  those  appointed  by  the  king  by  the 
hand  of  the  Levites  and  they  saw 
that  there  was  much  money,  the 
king's  scribe  and  the  one  appointed 
by  the  chief  priest  came  and  emptied 
the  chest  and  took  it  and  carried  it 
again  to  its  place.  Thus  they  did 
day  by  day  and  gathered  money  in 
abundance,  ^^^nd  the  king  and  Je- 
hoiada gave  it  to  the  master  workmen 
in  the  construction  of  the  temple  of 


■^  II  Chr.  24'  So  Gk.  and  Lat.     Heb.,  sons  of  Athaliah  that  wicked  woman. 

<^  II  Kgs.  12^  Heb.,  altar.  Gk.,  maq^ehah;  but  the  context  indicates  that  it  was  beside  the 
entrance.     A  slight  emendation  gives  the  above. 

■^  II  Kgs.  12"*  Elsewhere  in  11  Jehoiada  is  called  simply,  the  priest.  Furthermore  he 
lived  in  the  temple.     High  is  evidently  from  a  later  scribe ;  possibly  also,  priest. 


278 


II  Kgs.  1212] 

Temple  Records 

Jehovah,  and  for  all  for  which  outlay 
should  be  made  upon  the  temple  for 
its  repairs.  ^^However,  there  were 
not  made  for  the  temple  of  Jehovah 
silver  cups,  basins,  trumpets,  or  any 
vessels  of  gold  or  vessels  of  silver 
from  the  money  that  was  brought 
into  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  ^^but 
they  gave  that  to  those  who  did  the 
work  and  repaired  the  temple  of  Je- 
hovah. i^Moreover  they  reckoned 
not  with  the  men,  into  whose  hand 
they  delivered  the  money  to  give  to 
those  who  did  the  work,  for  they 
dealt  faithfully.  ^^The  money  from 
the  trespass-offerings  and  the  money 
from  the  sin-offerings  was  not  brought 
into  the  temple  of  Jehovah;  it  be- 
longed to  the  priests. 


REPAIR   OF   THE   TEMPLE 


[II  Chr.  2412 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History  , 

Jehovah.  And  they  hired  masons 
and  carpenters  to  restore  the  temple 
of  Jehovah,  and  also  those  who 
wrought  iron  and  brass  to  repair  the 
temple  of  Jehovah.  ^'^So  the  work- 
men toiled,  and  thus  the  work  went 
forward  rapidly  in  their  hands.  And 
they  set  up  the  house  of  God  accord- 
ing to  the  plan,  and  strengthened  it. 
I'^And  when  they  had  finished,  they 
brought  the  rest  of  the  money  before 
the  king  and  Jehoiada,  and  he  caused 
to  be  made  from  it  vessels  for  the 
temple  of  Jehovah,  even  vessels  for 
the  service  and  for  offering  the  sacri- 
fice, and  spoons  and  vessels  of  gold 
and  silver.  So  they  ofi'ered  burnt- 
offerings  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah 
continually  as  long  as  Jehoiada  lived. 


i^But  when  Jehoiada  was  old  and  satisfied  with  living  he  died.  A  hundred 
and  thirty  years  old  was  he  when  he  died.  ^^And  they  buried  him  in  the 
city  of  David  among  the  kings,  because  he  had  done  good  in  Israel  and 
toward  God  and  his  temple. 

I'But  after  the  death  of  Jehoiada  the  princes  of  Judah  came  and  made 
obeisance  to  the  king.  Then  the  king  gave  heed  to  them.  ^^And  they  for- 
sopk  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  tlie  God  of  their  fathers,  and  served  the  asherahs 
and  the  idols.  But  wrath  came  upon  Judah  and  Jerusalem  for  their  guilt. 
i^Yet  he  sent  jirophets  to  them,  to  bring  them  back  to  Jehovah,  who  testified 
against  them;  but  they  would  not  heed. 

^f^hen  the  spirit  of  God  came  upon  Zechariah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  the 
priest,  so  that  he  stood  before  the  temple  and  said  to  them.  Thus  sailh  God, 
'  Why  do  ye  transgress  the  commands  of  Jehovah,  so  that  ye  cannot  pros- 
per? Because  ye  have  forsaken  Jehovah,  he  hath  also  forsaken  you.'  -^But 
they  conspired  against  him  and  at  the  command  of  the  king  stoned  him  to 
death  in  the  court  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  --Thus  Joash  the  king  did  not 
remember  the  kindness  which  Jehoiada  his  father  had  done  him,  but  slew 
his  son !     And  when  he  died,  he  said.  May  Jehovah  see  and  j)unish ! 


Death 
of  Je- 
hoiada 


Later 
apos- 
tasy of 
king 
and 
people 


Mar- 
tyrdom 
of  Zech- 
ariah 
the  son 
of  Je- 
hoiada 


Annuls  of  Judah 

I'Then  Hazael  king  of  Aram  went  ^S^^j  n  came  to  pass  at  the  end 

up  and  fought  against  Gat'n,  and  took  of  a  year,  that  the  army  of  the  Ara- 

it.     But  when  Ilazael  set  out  togoup  means  came  up  against  him.     And 

to  Jerusalem,  ^^Jehoash  king  of  Ju-  thev  came  to  Judah  and  Jerusalem 

dah    took    all    the   consecrated    gifts  and  d(>stroved  all  the  princes  of  the 

that  Jehoshaphat  and  Jehoram  and  people  from  among  the  people  and 

279 


II  Kgs.  1217]  FROM   REHOBOAM   TO   AHAZ  [II  Chr.  2423 


Annals  of  Judah 

Ahaziah,  his  ancestors  the  kings  of 
Judah,  had  dedicated,  and  his  own 
consecrated  gifts,  and  all  the  gold 
that  was  found  in  the  treasures  of 
the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  of  the  roy- 
al palace,  and  sent  it  to  Hazael  king 
of  Aram.  Then  he  went  away  from 
Jerusalem. 


Fatal 
con- 
spiracy 
against 
Joash 


20But  his  servants  arose 

and   made   a   conspiracy 

and  smote  Joash  at  the 

house  of  Millo,  that  go- 

eth  down^  to  Silla,  ^ifor 

his   servant  Jozacar   the 

son  of  Shimeath  and  Je- 

hozabad  the  son  of  Shom- 

er  put  him  to  death.  And 
they  buried  him  with  his 
fathers  in  the  city  of  David; 
and  Amaziah  his  son  became 
king  in  his  place.  ^'Nowthe 
other  acts  of  Joash  and  all 
that  he  did — are  they  not  re- 
corded in  the  Chronicles  of 
the  Kings  of  Judah? 


Chronicler''s  Ecclesiastical  History 

sent  all  the  spoil  taken  from  them  to 
the  king  of  Damascus.  24'pjjg  army 
of  the  Arameans,  indeed,  came  with 
a  small  body  of  men ;  but  Jehovah  de- 
livered a  very  great  army  into  their 
hand,  because  the  Judeans  had  for- 
saken Jehovah  the  God  of  their  fa- 
thers; so  that  they  executed  judg- 
ment upon  Joash. 
-^And  when  they  departed  from  him — for  they 
left  him  very  sick — his  own  servants  conspired 
"against  him,  on  account  of  the  bloodguilt  of  the 
son^  of  Jehoiada  the  priest,  and  slew  him  on  his 
bed.  So  he  died  and  they  buried  him  in  the 
city  of  David,  but  they  buried  him  not  in  the 
sepulchres  of  the  kings,  ^o^j^j  these  are  those 
who  conspired  against  him:  Zacar^  the  son  of 
Shimeath  the  Ammonitess,  and  Jehozabal  the 
son  of  Shimrith  the  Moabitess.  27]\Jq^  jjjg  gQj^ 
and  the  many  divine  utterances  against  him, 
and  the  rebuilding  of  the  house  of  God — they 
have  already  been  recorded  in  the  Midrash  of 
the  Book  of  the  Kings.  And  Amaziah  his  son 
became  king  in  his  place. 


Sum- 
mary of 
Ama- 
ziah's 
reign 


Execu- 
tion of 
his  fa- 
ther's 
assas- 
sins 


§  116.  Amaziah's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  W-^\  II  Chr.  25 
Annals  of  Judah 

II  Kgs.  1 4  'In  the  second  year  of  Joash  son  of  Jehoahaz  king  of  Israel,  Amaziah 
the  son  of  Joash  king  of  Judah  began  to  reign.  -He  was  twenty  years  old  when  he 
began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  twenty-nine  years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's 
name  was  Jelioaddin  of  Jerusalem,  ^^nd  he  did  that  which  pleased  Jehovah,  yet  not 
like  David  his  ancestor — he  did  just  as  Joash  his  father  had  done.  ■'However,  he 
did  not  take  away  the  high  places;  the  people  still  sacrificed  and  burnt  their  offer- 
ings on  the  high  places. 

^Now  as  soon  as  the  kingdom  was  firmly  established  in  his  hand,  he  slew 

his  servants  who  had  slain  his  father.     ^^But  the  children  of  the  murderers 

he  did  not  put  to  death,  according  to  that  wliich  is  written  in  the  book  of  the  law 

« II  Chr.  2425  So  Gk.  and  Lat.    Heb.,  sons. 

e  II  Kgs.  122"  xhe  passage  is  obscure.  The  original  may  have  read,  as  he  was  going  down 
to  the  house  of  Millo. 

*>  II  Chr.  2426  Heb.,  Zabad,  but  the  original  probably  had  a  shortened  form  of  the  corre- 
sponding, Jozacar,  cf.  II  Kgs.  122i. 

§  116  Into  his  usual  formulas  the  editor  of  Kgs.  has  introduced  two  brief  citations  from  the 
Judean  annals,  5.6a.  7_  xhe  reference  in  ^b  jg  to  the  late  prophetic  law-book,  Dt.  24i6.  The 
precedent  established  at  this  time  may  well  have  formed  the  basis  of  the  later  law.  As  has  al- 
ready been  noted,  the  account  of  the  war  with  Israel  in  «-»  is  from  the  annals  of  Israel,  cf.  note 
§96. 

For  the  brief  account  of  this  war  with  Edom  in  II  Kgs.  14'  the  Chronicler  has  substituted 
a  story  probably  drawn  from  his  other  main  source.  Possibly  "-"'  are  from  the  same.  The 
account  of  the  war  with  Joash  of  Israel  is  taken  from  the  canonical  book  of  Kgs.  (148-16)  ^^^  jg 
slightly  e.x;panded  in  i^.  20. 

280 


AI^L\ZIAH'S  REIGN  [II  Kgs.  U^ 

Annals  of  Judah 

of  Moses,  as  Jehovah  commanded,  saying,  The  fathers  shall  not  be  put  to  death  for  the 
cliildren  nor  the  children  be  put  to  death  for  the  fathers,  but  every  man  shall  die  for 
his  own  sin.' 


"He  slew  of 
Edom  in  the  val- 
ley of  Salt  ten 
thousand,  and 
took  Sela  [the 
Rock]  by  storm, 
and  named  it 
JoktheeP  to  this 
day. 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  Histor)/ 

II  Chr.  25  ^Moreover  Amaziah  gathered  Judah  to- 
gether, and  ordered  them  according  to  their  families, 
under  commanders  of  thousands  and  commanders  of 
hundreds,  even  all  Judah  and  Benjamin,  and  numbered 
them  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  and  found  them 
to  be  three  hundred  thousand  picked  men,  able  to  go  forth 
to  war  and  who  could  handle  spear  and  shield.  ^He  also 
hired  a  hundred  thousand  brave  warriors  from  Israel  for 
a  hundred  talents  of  silver.  "But  a  man  of  God  came  to 
him,  saying,  O  king,  let  not  the  army  of  Israel  go  with  you,  for  Jehovah  is 
not  with  Israel,  that  is,  with  all  the  Ephraimites.  ^But  if  you  think  that  you 
will  become  strong  in  this  way,  God  will  cast  you  down  before  the  enemy, 
for  God  hath  power  to  help  and  to  cast  down.  ^But  Amaziah  said  to  the 
man  of  God,  But  what  shall  I  do  for  the  hundred  talents  I  have  given  to  the 
troops  of  Israel  ?  And  the  man  of  God  answered,  Jehovah  is  able  to  give 
you  much  more  than  this.  ^^Then  Amaziah  separated  them  (the  troops 
who  had  come  to  him  out  of  Ephraim)  to  go  home  again.  But  their  anger 
was  greatly  aroused  against  Judah  and  they  returned  home  in  fierce  anger. 
^^Amaziah,  however,  took  courage  and  led  forth  his  people  to  the  Valley 
of  Salt  and  smote  ten  thousand  of  the  children  of  Seir.  ^-And  ten  thou- 
sand the  Judahites  carried  away  alive,  brought  them  to  the  top  of  a 
crag,  and  cast  them  down  from  the  top  of  the  crag,  so  that  they  all  were 
dashed  to  pieces.  ^^j^^,)^  ^he  troops  whom  Amaziah  sent  back  without 
allowing  them  to  go  with  him  to  battle  fell  upon  the  cities  of  Judah,  from 
Samaria  to  Bethhoron,  and  smote  of  them  three  thousand,  and  took  much 
spoil. 

^^Xow  after  Amaziah  returned  from  the  slaughter  of  the  Edomites,  he  His 
brought  the  gods  of  the  children  of  Seir,  and  set  them  up  to  be  his  gods,  'J,"i're'?' 
and  bowed  down  himself  to  them,  and  offered  sacrifices  to  them.     ^^Therefore  f''/^'^^  to 
the  anger  of  Jehovah  was  aroused  against  Amaziah,  and  he  sent  to  him  a  toJe- 
pro[)het,  who  said  to  him,  Why  have  you  sought  after  the  gods  of  the  people,  J°opijet 
which  have  not  delivered'  their  own  people  out  of  your  hand  ?     ^*'And  it 
came  to  pass,  as  he  talked  with  him,  that  the  king  said  to  him.  Have  we  ap- 
pointed you  the  king's  counsellor.'     Desist;  why  should  you  be  cut  down? 
Then  the  prophet  desisted  and  said,  I  know  that  God  has  determined  to 
destroy  you,  because  you  have  done  this  and  have  not  hearkened  to  my 
counsel. 


'  II  Kks.  14"  Under  Ahab  the  unjust  ancient  custom  was  still  in  force,  IT  Kgs.  9™.  The 
present  pa-ssage  records  one  of  the  earliest  precedents  which  in  time  save  rise  to  the  law  of 
Dt.  24'"  referred  to  by  the  late  prophetic  editor. 

'  II  Kks.  14'  The  usual  identification  with  Petra,  the  capital  of  Edom,  is  by  no  means  cer- 
tain.    It  is  nowhere  el.se  known  as  Jokthcel.     Am.  !"•  "  implies  that  Edom  was  independent. 

281 


[II  Chr.  2517  FROM   REHOBOAM   TO   AHAZ 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

His  I'^Tlien  Amaziah  kinsj  of  Judah  took  advice,  and  sent  to  Joash  the  son  of 

Fenge      Jelioahaz,  the  son  of  Jehu  the  king  of  Israel  saying,  Come,  let  us  meet  face 

°?'^h®j,    to  face.     i^But  Joash  kmg  of  Israel  sent  to  Amaziah  king  of  Judah,  saying, 

Israel     The  thistle  that  was  in  Lebanon  sent  to  the  cedar  that  was  in  Lebanon, 

saying,  '  Give  your  daughter  to  my  son  as  wife.'     But  a  wild  beast  of  Lebanon 

passed  by  and  trod  down  the  thistle.     ^^You  think,  you  have  indeed  smitten 

Edom;  and  now  your  heart  impels  you  to  win  renown.     Remain  at  home; 

why  should  you  court  misfortune,  so  that  you  will  fall  and  Judah  with  you  ? 

His  20]3^^  Amaziah  would  not  hear.     It  was  God's  doing,  that  he  might  de- 

ana  *     liver  them  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies,  because  they  had  sought  after  the 

immil-    gods  of  Edom.     "^So  Joash  king  of  Israel  went  up,  and  he  and  Amaziah  king 

of  Judah  met  face  to  face  at  Bethshemesh,  which  belongs  to  Judah.     ^^And 

Judah  was  defeated  by  Israel,  so  that  they  fled  each  to  his  home.     23  \jjj 

Joash  king  of  Israel  took  Amaziah  king  of  Judah,  the  son  of  Joash,  the  son 

of  Jelioahaz,  at  Bethshemesh  and  brought  him  down  to  Jerusalem  and  broke 

down  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  from  the  Gate  of  Ephraim  to  the  Corner  Gate — - 

four  hundred  cubits.     -^And  he  took  all  the  gold  and  silver  and  all  the  vessels 

that  were  found  in  the  house  of  God  with  Obed-edom,  together  with  the  treasures 

of  the  royal  palace  and  the  hostages,  and  returned  to  Samaria. 

Late  Prophetic  Suvimary 

His  II  Kgs.   14  i^And  Amaziah  the  son  of  Joash  king  of  Judah  lived  after 

^^  the  death  of  Jehoash  son  of  Jelioahaz  king  of  Israel  fifteen  years.  ^^Now 
the  other  acts  of  Amaziah,  are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the 
Kings  of  Judah  .^  ^^And*'  they  made  a  conspiracy  against  him  in  Jerusalem. 
And  he  fled  to  Lachish,  but  they  sent  after  him  to  Lachish  and  slew  him 
there,  ^o^j^^j  Ij^gy  brought  him  upon  horses,  and  he  was  buried  at  Jeru- 
salem with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of  David.  ^^And  all  the  people  of  Judah 
took  Azariah,^  who  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  made  him  king  in  the  place  of 
his  father  Amaziah. 

§  117.  Reign  of  Azariah  (Uzziah),  II  Kgs.  14",  \o^-\  11  Chr.  26 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

Sum-  II  Kgs.  15  ^In  the  twenty-seventh 

of^\z-  year  of  Jeroboam  king  of  Israel,  Aza- 

ariah's  x'lab.  SOU  of  Amaziali  king  of  Judah 

and  began  to  reign.      ^gjxteen  years  old 

po  icy  ^^^^g  1^^  when  he  began  to  reign,  and 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  26  lAnd  all  the  people  of 
Judah  took  Uzziah,  who  was  sixteen 
years  old,  and  made  him  king  in  the 
place  of  his  father  Amaziah.  ^He 
built  Elath,  and  restored  it  to  Judah 


•=  II  Kgs.  14"  The  Chronicler  adds,  II  Chr.  25^7,  at  the  beginning  of  this  verse,  Now  since 
the  time  that  Amaziah  turned  from  following  Jehovah,  thus  attributing  a  moral  cause  to  the 
calamity  that  overtook  the  king. 

'  II  Kgs.  1421  go  in  151.  7,  17.  23,  27^  and  the  longer  form  Azariyahu,  in  ISf'  8.  In  IS^^.  "  the 
form  Uzziyahu  occurs,  and  in  15'^'  ^"  in  Gk.  and  Luc,  Azariah.  Otherwise  in  the  O.T.  the 
shorter  form.  Uzziah,  is  used. 

§  117  The  long  and  significant  reign  of  Azariah  is  passed  over  by  the  editor  of  Kgs.  with 
only  a  surprisingly  brief  mention.     The  two  important  facts  that  he  cites  from  the  older  sources 


282 


II  Kgs.  152]  REIGN   OF   AZARIAH  [II  Chr.  262 


Late  Prophetic  Summari/ 

he  reigned  fifty-two  years  in  Jerusa- 
lem. And  his  mother's  name  was 
Jeeohah  of  Jerusalem.  ^And  he  did 
that  which  pleased  Jehovah,  just  as 
his  father  Amaziah  had  done  "^How  - 
ever  the  high  places  were  not  taken 
away;  the  people  still  sacrificed  and 
burnt  their  offerings  on  the  high 
places.  1 4  2-He  built  Elath  and  re- 
stored it  to  Judah  after  King  Amaziah 
slept  with  his  fathers. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

after  the  king  slept  with  his  fathers. 
"^Sixteen  years  old  was  Uzziah  when 
he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned 
fifty-two  years  in  Jerusalem.  And 
his  mother's  name  was  Jechiliah  of 
Jerusalem.  ^And  he  did  that  which 
pleased  Jehovah  just  as  his  father 
Amaziah  had  done.  ^And  he  was 
ready  to  seek  God  during  the  life- 
time of  Zechariah,  who  instructed 
liim  'n  the  fear"*  of  God;  and  as  long 
as  he  sought  Jehovah,  God  gave  him 
prosperity. 

^And  he  went  against  the  Pliilistines,  and  broke  down  the  wall  of  Gath  His 
and  the  wall  of  Jabneh  and  the  wall  of  Ashdod  and  built  cities  near  Ashdod  riei°" 
and  among  the  Philistines.     "And  God  helped  him  against  the  Philistines 
and  against  the  Arabians  who  dwelt  in  Gur-baal,  and  the  ]\Ieunites."     ^And 
the  Ammonites  paid  tribute  to  Uzziah;  and  his  reputation  spread  abroad 
even  to  the  entrance  of  Egypt;  for  he  became  exceedingly  strong. 

^Moreover  Uzziah  built  towers  in  Jerusalem  at  the  Corner  Gate  and  at  His 
the  Valley  Gate  and  at  the  corner  of  the  wall  and  fortified  them,     ^"^nd  he  jnl; 
built  towers  in  the  wilderness  and  hewed  out  many  cisterns,  for  he   had  enter- 
many  herds,  in  the  lowland  and  husbandmen  in  the  plain  and  vinedressers 
in  the  mountains  and  in  the  fruitful  fields,  for  he  loved  agriculture. 

i^Moreover  Uzziah  had  an  army  of  fighting  men,  ready  to  take  the  field.  His 
divided  into  companies  according  to  the  number  of  their  reckoning  made  ^m\^ 
by  Jeiel  the  scribe  and  Maaseiah  the  officer,  under  the  direction  of  Hananiah,  ™'l'- 
one  of  the  king's  generals,     ^^^he  whole  number  of  the  heads  of  families,  equip- 
even  the  brave  warriors,   w-as   two   thousand,   six  hundred.     ^^^And  under  ™®" 
their  command  was  an  army  of  three  hundred  and  seven  thousand,  five 
hundred,  ready  for  war  with  complete  equipment,  to  help  the  king  against 
the  enemy.     ^^And  Uzziah  equipped  them,  even  all  the  army,  with  coats  of 
mail,  bows,  and  stones  for  slinging.     ^^Also  he  made  in  Jerusalem  skilfully 
invented  machines,  which  were  set  upon  the  towers  and  on  the  battlements, 
with  which  to  shoot  arrows  and  great  stones. 


are  that  Azariah  restored  Elath,  which  had  probably  been  reconquered  by  his  father  Amaziah, 
and  that  he  was  a  leper. 

The  material  prosperity  of  Judah  reflected  in  Is.  2,  was  due  to  his  constructive  aggressive 
policy.  The  Chronicler,  therefore,  doubtless  gives  not  only  a  fuller,  but  also  a  truer  picture 
of  this  important  reign,  especially  in  20'-''''',  wiiere  he  ajjpears  to  have  quoted  from  his  non- 
canonical  source.  Whether  in  ^■'^'■-'>  he  simplv  sought,  according  to  the  religious  ideas  of  his  age, 
to  explain  Uzziah's  strange  fate,  or  had  earlier  data  at  his  command,  cannot  be  definitely  de- 
termined. .      ,  --  , 

"11  Chr.  26*  So  the  versions  and  certain  Heb.  MSS.     Received  Heb.,  vision. 

•  II  Chr.  26'  Cf.  also  I  Chr.  4". 


283 


His 

leprdsy 
and 
death 


II  Kgs.  155]  FROM   REHOBOAM  TO  AHAZ         [II  Chr.  26^^ 

Annals  oj  Judah        Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  Historij 

IIKgs.l5  5.\nd 

Jehovah  smote  the 

king,    so    that    he 

was  a  leper  to  the 

day  of  his  death. 

And    he  dwelt  in 

his  house  without 

restraint,     while 

Jotham,  the  king's 

son,    was    at    the 

head  of  the  royal 

household,    ruling 

the  people  of  the 

land.  ''Now  the  oth- 
er acts  of  Azariah 
and  all  that  he  did, 
are  they  not  record- 
ed in  the  Chronicles 
of  the  Kings  of  Ju- 
dah? ^And  Azariah 
slept  with  his  fa- 
thers; and  they  bur- 
ied him  with  his 
fathers  in  the  city  of 
David,  and  Jotham 
his  son  became  king 
in  his  place. 


And  his  name  spread  far  abroad,  for  he  was  mar- 
vellously helped  until  he  became  strong.  ^^But  when 
he  was  strong,  his  heart  was  so  lifted  up,  that  he  acted 
corruptly.  And  he  trespassed  against  Jehovah  his  God 
by  going  into  the  temple  of  Jehovah  to  burn  incense. 
^'^And  Azariah  the  priest  went  in  after  him,  with  eighty 
priests  of  Jehovah,  men  of  ability.  ^^And  they  with- 
stood Uzziah  the  king  and  said  to  him.  It  is  not  your 
part,  Uzziah,  to  burn  incense  to  Jehovah,  but  that  of 
the  priests,  the  sons  of  Aaron,  who  are  consecrated  to 
burn  incense.  Go  out  of  the  sanctuary,  for  you  have 
trespassed,  and  that  shall  not  be  to  your  honor  in  the 
sight  of  Jehovah  God.  ^^Then  Uzziah  was  angry  and 
he  had  a  censer  in  his  hand  to  burn  incense.  And 
while  he  was  angry  with  the  priests,  the  leprosy  broke 
out  on  his  forehead  before  the  priests  in  the  temple 
of  Jehovah  beside  the  altar  of  incense,  ^o^j^j  when 
Azariah  the  chief  priest  looked  upon  him,  there  he  was 
leprous  on  his  forehead.  So  they  thrust  him  out  quickly 
from  there,  and  he  himself  hastened  to  go  out,  because 
Jehovah  had  smitten  him.  ^^Xnd.  Uzziah  the  king  was 
a  leper  to  the  day  of  his  death,  and  dwelt  in  his  house 
without  restraint,  being  a  leper,  for  he  was  cut  off  from 
the  temple  of  Jehovah;  while  Jotham  his  son  was  at 
the  head  of  the  royal  household,  ruhng  the  people  of  the  land.  ^^Now  the 
other  acts  of  Uzziah,  first  and  last,  Isaiah  the  prophet,  the  son  of  Amoz, 
has  recorded.  ^^So  Uzziah  slept  w'ith  his  fathers;  and  they  buried  him 
W'ith  his  fathers  in  the  field  of  burial  which  belonged  to  the  kings,  for  they 
said.  He  is  a  leper.     And  Jotham,  his  son,  became  king  in  his  place. 


§  118.  Jotham's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  IS^^-^^  11  Chr.  27 


Jo- 

thani's 
policy, 
build- 
ing en- 
ter- 
prises 
and 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  15  ^^in  the  second 
year  of  Pekah  the  son  of  Rema- 
liah  king  of  Israel,  Jotham  the 
son  of  Uzziah  king  of  Judah  be- 
gan to  reign.  ^^He  was  twenty- 
five  years  old  when  he  began  to 
reign,  and  he  reigned  sixteen 
years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his 
mother's  name  was  Jerusha  the 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  3  7  ^Jotham  was  twenty-five  years 
old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned 
sixteen  years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  moth- 
er's name  was  Jerushah  the  daughter  of 
Zadok.  ^And  he  did  that  which  pleased 
Jehovah,  just  as  his  father  Uzziah  had 
done,  only  he  did  not  enter  into  the  tem- 
ple of  Jehovah.  And  the  people  acted 
ever  more  corruptly.     ^He  built  the  upper 


§  118  In  15'*'' ■  3"  the  late  prophetic  editor  of  Kgs.  has  incorporated  two  brief  statements 
drawn  from  the  annals  of  Judah.  Likewise  the  Chronicler  in  3i>-5  has  also  drawn  what  appears  to 
be  authentic  data  from  his  non-canonical  source.  The  amount  of  the  tribute,  however,  in  27*, 
is  probably  dus  to  the  Chronicler's  well-kmown  fondness  for  large  numbers. 


284 


n  KgS.  1532] 


JOTHAM'S  REIGN 


[II  Chr.  273 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

daughter  of  Zadok.  34^^nd  he 
did  that  which  pleased  Jehovah ; 
he  did  just  as  his  father  Uzziah 
had  done.  ^oj^Q^ygyei-  i\iq  high 
places  were  not  taken  away ;  the 
people  still  sacrificed  and  burnt 
their  offerings  on  the  high  places. 
He  built  the  upper  gate  of  the 
temple  of  Jehovah.  "^'In  those 
days  Jehovah  began  to  send 
against  Judah  Rezin  the  king  of 
Aram  and  Pekah  the  son  of  Re- 
mahali.  36>^Q^y  ^}jg  other  acts 
of  Jotham  and  all  that  he  did,  are 
they  not  recorded  in  the  Chron- 
icles of  the  Kings  of  Judah  ? 
^^And  Jotham  slept  with  his  fa- 
thers and  was  buried  with  his 
fathers  in  the  city  of  David  his 
father;  and  Ahaz  his  sou  became 
long  in  his  place. 


Chroniclers  Ecclesiastical  History 

gate  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  on  the 
wall  of  Ophel  he  built  much.  '^Moreover 
he  built  cities  in  the  hill-country  of  Judah, 
and  in  the  forests  he  built  castles  and 
towers.  ^He  fought  also  with  the  king 
of  the  Ammonites  and  conquered  Amraon. 
And  the  Ammonites  gave  him  that  year 
a  hundred  talents  of  silver  and  two 
hundred  thousand  bushels"  of  wheat  and 
ten  thousand  of  barley.  The  same  amount 
did  the  Ammonites  render  to  him  in  the 
second  year  and  in  the  third.  ^So  Jotham 
became  mighty,  because  he  ordered  his 
wavs  according  to  the  will  of  Jehovah  his 
God.  "Now  the  other  acts  of  Jotham 
and  all  his  wars  and  his  undertakings, 
they  are  indeed  already  recorded  in  the 
Book  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  and  Judah. 
^He  was  twenty-five  years  old  when  he 
began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  sixteen 
years  in  Jerusalem. 


II 

THE  ASSYRL\N  PERIOD:  FROM  AHAZ  TO  JOSIAH,  II  Kgs.  16, 

18-21,  Is.  36-39,  II  Chr.  28-33 


§  119.  The  Reign  of  Ahaz  and  h 
n  Kgs.  16,  Is. 

Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  16  *In  the  seventeenth 
S-""^  year  of  Pekah  the  son  of  Remaliah 
Ahaz  the  son  of  Jotham  became  king 
of  Judah.  -Twenty  years  old  was 
Ahaz  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he 
reigned  sixteen  years  in  Jerusalem. 


Reac- 


10U8 
policy 


is  Homage  to  Tiglath-Pileser  III, 
28 


7'-l^  II  Chr 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  28  ^Ahaz  was  twenty  years 
old  when  he  began  to  reign  and  he 
reigned  sixteen  years  in  Jerusalem. 
And  he  did  not  do  that  which  j)leased 
Jehovah,  as  did  David  his  ancestor, 
^but  he  walked   in   the  ways  of  the 


"  II  Chr.  27'  Heb.,  ten  thousand  cars. 

The  Assyrian  Period. — The  folly  of  Ahaz  in  seeldnR  aid  from  Assyria  ag.ainst  his  northern 
nfit'hljors  eave  that  stronc.  ambitious  world-power  its  title  to  interfere  in  the  politics  of  .Iiidaii. 
Until  Assyria  bcEan  to  fall  into  decay  in  the  days  of  Josiah,  it  never  ce.ased  enerKCtically  to 
maintain  that  title.     The  result  was  that  it  determined  tlie  political  history  of  tiie  .surviving 


5  119  FoUowinR  the  usual  editorial  introduction  are  two  citation.s,  apparently  from  dis- 
tinct sources.  In  ''-"  the  designation  of  the  kinc  is  simply  Ahaz.  but  in  '"i'*  it  is  always  Kitifj 
Ahaz.  Moreover  '•'-^  recount  in  the  brief  annalistic  style  political  facts,  l)Ut  in  '"in  )1,o  important 
details  of  Ahaz's  journey  to  Damascus  and  the  far-reacliiuK  sitinificancc  of  the  act  are  iKiiored  and 
the  narrative  simply  tells  of  the  innovati.ns  introduced  in  the  temple  and  its  ritual  by  the  king 

285 


II  Kgs.  162] 


THE   ASSYRIAN   PERIOD 


[II  Chr.  282 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

And  he  did  not  do  that  which  pleased 
Jehovah  his  God,  as  did  David  his 
ancestor,  ^but  walked  in  the  way  of 
the  kings  of  Israel.  He  also  made  his 
son  to  pass  through  fire  according 
to  the  abominations  of  the  nations, 
whom  Jehovah  drove  out  before  the 
Israelites.  ^And  he  sacrificed  and 
burnt  their  offerings  on  the  high 
places  and  on  the  hills  and  under 
every  green  tree. 


Attack 
of  the 
Ara- 
means 
and 
North- 
ern Is- 
raelites 


Annals  of  Judah 

^Then  Rezin  king  of 
Aram  and  Pekah  son  of  Re- 
maliah  came  up  to  attack 
Jerusalem;  and  they  be- 
sieged Ahaz,  but  could  not 
overcome  him.  ^At  that 
time  the  king  of  Edom  re- 
covered Elath  for  Edom^ 
and  drove  the  Judahites 
from  Elath;  and  the  Edom- 
ites  came  to  Elath  and  have 
dwelt  there  until  the  present 
day. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

kings  of  Israel  and  made  molten 
images  for  the  Baals.  ^Moreover  he 
offered  sacrifices  in  the  valley  of  Ben- 
Hinnom,  and  burnt  his  sons  in  the 
fire  according  to  the  abominations 
of  the  nations  whom  Jehovah  drove 
out  from  before  the  Israelites.  ^And 
he  sacrificed  and  burnt  offerings  on 
the  high  places  and  on  the  hills  and 
under  every  green  tree. 


^Therefore  Jehovah  his  God  delivered  him 
into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Aram,  and  they 
smote  him  and  carried  away  from  him  a  great 
multitude  of  captives  and  brought  them  to 
Damascus.  And  he  was  also  delivered  into 
the  power  of  the  king  of  Israel,  who  smote 
him  with  a  great  slaughter.  ^For  Pekah  the 
son  of  Remaliah  slew  in  Judah  a  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand  in  one  day,  all  of  them  val- 
iant warriors,  because  they  had  forsaken  Je- 
hovah the  God  of  their  fathers.  ''And  Zichri, 
a  mighty  man  of  Ephraim,  slew  Maaseiah,  the 
king's  son,  and  Azrikam,  the  commander  of 
the  palace,  and  Elkanah,  who  was  next  to 
the  king. 


Hebrew  state.     Most  of  its  crises  came  tlirough  its  relations  to  Assyria.     It  was  a  period  of 
severe  political  and  religious  trial. 

Fortunately  it  is  possible  to  view  the  period  from  many  different  sides.  The  citations 
from  the  annals  of  Judah  are  brief  and  few.  The  late  prophetic  editor  usually  adds  only  the 
bare  facts  or  else  gives  his  general  estimate  of  each  reign;  but  he  also  draws  at  length  from  what 
appear  to  have  been  three  distinct  sources:  the  temple  records,  a  Hezekiah  history,  and  a 
collection  of  Isaiah  stories.  These  are  richly  supplemented  by  the  contemporary  addresses  of 
the  prophets  of  the  period  (cf.  Vol.  Ill),  which  constitute  the  best  possible  historical  sources. 
In  addition  the  Assyrian  monumental  literature  contains  detailed  accounts  of  the  campaigns 
of  the  kings  who  invaded  Palestine.  Cf.  Appendices  VI-VIII.  At  certain  points  the  later 
Jewish  stories  in  Chr.  furnish  further  data.  These  combined  sources  give  an  unusually  clear 
picture  of  what  was  one  of  the  most  important  periods  in  the  literary  and  religious  history  of  the 
Hebrew  race. 


as  the  result  of  his  visit  to  the  heathen  capital.  It  seems  clear,  therefore,  that  ^-^  are  from  the 
annals  and  i^-is  from  the  temple  records. 

Is.  7'"'^  supplements  the  meagre  records  of  the  annals  regarding  the  early  stages  of  the  con- 
flict. The  parallel  version  in  II  Chr.  28  departs  widely  from  the  brief  narrative  of  Kgs.  which 
it  incorporates.  Again  the  huge  numbers  and  the  role  of  the  prophet  indicate  that  the  story 
has  been  freely  adapted  to  the  religious  teaching  which  the  author  sought  thus  to  imijress.  It 
may  be  the  work  of  the  Chronicler,  but,  more  probably  was  taken  from  his  midrashic  source. 
The  data  in  ''  jirobably  came  from  a  still  older  source.  The  natural  sequel  of  ^'^  is  -°.  Vss.  -'^'  ^^ 
contain  the  Chronicler's  usual  concluding  formula.  For  the  contemporary  record  of  the  cam- 
paigns of  Tiglath-Pileser  III,  cf.  Appendix  VI. 

^  II  Kgs.  16°  So  marginal  reading  of  Heb.  Clearly  Edom  was  mistaken  for  the  very  similar 
Heb.  word  Aram,  and  Rezin  was  adcled  from  5,  giving  the  reading,  Rezinking  of  Aram  recovered 
Elath  for  Aram,     But  Elath  originally  belonged  not  to  Aram  but  to  Edom.     Cf.  map  opp.  p.  49. 

286 


REICxN   OF   AHAZ 


[II  Chr.  28« 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

^And  the  Israelites  carried  away  captive  of  their  kinsmen  two  hundred 
thousand,  women,  sons,  and  daugliters,  and  also  took  away  much  spoil 
from  them  and  brought  it  to  Samaria.  ^But  a  prophet  of  Jehovah  was 
there,  by  the  name  of  Oded.  And  he  went  out  to  meet  the  armv  that  came 
to  Samaria,  and  said  to  them,  See,  because  Jehovah,  the  God  of  your  fathers, 
was  wroth  with  Judah,  he  hath  delivered  them  into  your  hand.  But  ye 
have  slain  them  in  a  rage  which  hath  reached  up  to  heaven.  ^^And  now 
you  purpose  to  enslave  the  inhabitants  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem  that  they 
may  be  bondmen  and  bondwomen  to  you;  but  are  there  not  even  with  you 
crimes  of  your  own  against  Jehovah  your  God  ?  ^^Now  hear  me,  therefore, 
and  send  back  the  caj^tives,  whom  you  have  taken  of  your  kinsmen,  for  the 
fierce  wrath  of  Jehovah  is  upon  you. 

i-Then  certain  heads  of  the  Ephraimites,  Azariah  the  son  of  Johanan, 
Berechiah  the  son  of  Meshillemoth,  and  Jehizikiah  the  son  of  Shallum,  and 
Amasa  the  son  of  Hadlai,  stood  up  against  those  who  came  from  the  war, 
^^and  said  to  them,  You  shall  not  bring  in  the  captives  here,  for  you  pur- 
pose that  which  will  bring  us  guilt  against  Jehovah  to  add  to  our  sins  and 
to  our  guilt,  for  our  guilt  is  great,  and  there  is  fierce  wrath  against  Israel. 
^^So  the  armed  men  left  the  captives  and  the  spoil  before  the  princes  and  all 
the  assembly.  ^°And  the  men  who  have  been  mentioned  rose  up  and  took 
the  captives,  and  with  the  spoil  clothed  all  who  were  naked  among  them, 
and  after  they  had  clothed  them,  they  provided  them  with  sandals  and  gave 
them  to  eat  and  to  drink  and  anointed  them  and  carried  all  the  feeble  among 
them  on  asses,  and  brought  them  to  Jericho,  the  city  of  palm-trees,  to  their 
kinsmen.     Then  they  returned  to  Samaria. 


Pro- 
phetic 
com- 
mand 
tore- 
turn 
the 
cap- 
tives 
from 
Judah 


Annals  of  Judah 

"But  Ahaz  sent  messengers  to 
Tiglath-Pileser  king  of  Assyria, 
saving,  I  am  vour  servant  and 
your  son;  come  up  and  deliver 
hfs^foes  ™^  from  the  power  of  the  king 
of  Aram  and  from  the  power  of 
the  king  of  Israel,  who  have  at- 
tacked me.  ^Tlien  Ahaz  took  the 
silver  and  gold  that  were  found 
in  the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  in 
the  treasures  of  the  royal  palace, 
and  .sent  it  as  a  present  to  the 
king  of  Assyria.  ^And  the  king  of 
Assyria  listened  to  him.  So  the 
king  of  Assyria  went  up  against 
Damascus  and  took  it  and  car- 
ried its  inhabitants  captive  to 
Kir'^  and  put  Rezin  to  death. 


Return 
of  the 
cap- 
tives 


^^At  that  time  King  Ahaz  sent  to  the 
kings  of  Assyria  to  help  him.  ^"For  the 
Edomites  had  come  again  and  smitten 
Judah  and  carried  away  captives.  ^^The 
Philistines  also  had  invaded  the  cities  of 
the  lowland  and  of  the  South  Country  of 
Judah  and  had  taken  Bcthsliemesh,  Aija- 
lon,  Gederoth,  Soco  with  its  dependent 
towns,  and  Timnath  with  its  dependent 
towns,  (jimzo  also  with  its  dependent 
towns,  and  they  dwelt  there.  ^^For  Je- 
hovah brought  Judah  low  because  of  Ahaz 
king  of  Lsrael,  because  he  had  acted 
waiitonlv  with  Judah  and  had  behaved 
very  faithlessly  with  Jehovah.  -"And  Tig- 
lath-Pileser king  of  Assyria  came  to  him, 
but  j)roved  to  be  his  enemy  and  did  not 
strengthen  him. 


^  II  Kgs.  16"  Pos-sibly  Kir  is  added  from  Am.  l".     It  is  not  found  in  the  Gk. 

287 


II  Kgs.  1610] 
Temjde  Records 


THE  ASSYRIAN   PERIOD 


The 

heathen 
altar 
and 
other 
inno- 
vations 
intro- 
duced 
by 
Ahaz 


Other 
chan- 
ges in 
the 
temple 


i^Now  when  King  Ahaz  went  to  Damascus  to  meet 
Tiglath-Pileser  king  of  Assyria,  he  saw  there  the  altar 
that  was  at  Damascus.  Then  King  Ahaz  sent  to  Urijah 
the  priest  a  model  of  the  altar  and  a  pattern  of  all  the 
details  of  its  construction.  ^^And  Urijah  the  priest 
built  an  altar,  exactly  corresponding  to  what  King  Ahaz 
had  sent  from  Damascus,  even  thus  Urijah  the  priest 
made  it  before  King  Ahaz  returned  from  Damascus. 
l-And  when  the  king  returned  from  Damascus  and  saw 
the  altar,  the  king  drew  near  to  the  altar,  went  up  on  it, 
i^and  burnt  his  burnt-offering  and  his  cereal-offering, 
and  poured  out  his  libation  on  the  altar.  i'*And  the 
brazen*^  altar,  which  stood  before  Jehovah,  he  brought 
from  the  front  of  the  temple,  from  between  his  altar 
and  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  and  put  it  on  the  north  side 
of  his  altar.  ^^And  King  Ahaz  commanded  Urijah  the 
priest,  saying.  On  the  great  altar  burn  the  morning 
burnt-offering  and  the  evening  cereal -offering  and  the 
king's  burnt-offering  and  his  cereal-offering,  with  the 
burnt-offering  of  all  the  people  of  the  land,"  and  their 
cereal-offering  and  their  libations,  and  sprinkle  upon 
it  all  the  blood  of  the  burnt-offering  and  all  the  blood 
of  the  sacrifice;  but  the  brazen  altar  shall  be  for  me  to 
inquire  by.^  ^''Thus  did  Urijah  the  priest,  just  as 
King  Ahaz  commanded. 


I'^King  Ahaz  also  cut  off  the  bor- 
der-frames of  the  stands  and  removed 
the  laver  from  them;  he  also  took 
down  the  sea  from  the  brazen  oxen 
that  were  under  it,  and  put  it  upon  a 
stone  pedestal.  ^^And  the  covered 
way  for  the  sabbath,  that  they  had 
built  in  the  temple,  and  the  outer  en- 
trance for  the  king,  he  sent  away  from 
the  temple  of  Jehovah  for  the  sake  of 
the  king  of  Assyria. 


[II  Chr.  2821 

Chronicler's  Eccle- 
siastical History 

"lAnd  Ahaz  plun 
dered  the  temple  c 
Jehovah,  and  the 
palace  of  the  king 
and  of  the  princes 
and  gave  it  to  the 
king  of  Assyria; 
but  it  helped  him 
not.     22^j^(j  [^  j^i^g 

time  of  his  distress*' 
he  committed  still 
more  crimes  against 
Jehovah  —  this 
same  King  Ahaz. 
^^For  he  sacrificed 
to  the  gods  of  Da- 
mascus, which 
smote  him,  and  he 
thought,  Because 
the  gods  of  the 
kings  of  Aram 
helped  them,  there- 
fore, I  will  sacri- 
fice to  them,  that 
they  may  help  me. 
But  they  were  the 
ruin  of  him  and  of 
all  Israel. 
^^And  Ahaz  gathered  together  the 
vessels  of  the  house  of  God  and  shut 
up  the  doors  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah ; 
and  he  erected  altars  in  every  corner 
of  Jerusalem,  ^s^j^^j  jj^  every  city  of 
Judah  he  made  high  places  to  offer 
sacrifices  to  other  gods,  and  thus  pro- 
voked to  anger  Jehovah,  the  God  of 
his  fathers. 

26Now  his  other  acts,  and  all  his 
ways,  first  and  last,  are  already  writ 


"  II  Chr.  2822  The  Gk.  corrects  the  awkward  Heb.  text  by  joining  ^'^  to  the  preceding  verse, 
but  distressed  him. 

<*  II  Kgs.  16^*  Brazen  was  probably  added  by  mistake  from  ^^^. 

"  II  Kgs.  16'*  Gk.  and  Luc.  omit,  of  the  land — a  later  phrase. 

'  ^I  Kgs.  16'*  I.e.,  by  examining  the  parts  of  the  sacrifice.  The  exact  meaning  of  the  Heb. 
is  not  certain.  It  may  be,  to  think  of,  i.e.,  to  decide  later  what  to  do  with  it,  but  the  above 
interpretation  is  in  closer  keeping  with  the  use  of  the  verb  elsewhere. 


288 


II  Kgs.  1619]  REIGN   OF   AHAZ  [II  Chr.  2826 

Temple  Records  Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

ten  in  the  Book  of  the  Kings  of  Judah 
and  Israel,  ^'^j^^j  \haz  slept  with 
his  fathers  and  they  buried  him  in  the 
city,  even  in  Jerusalem;  for  they 
brought  him  not  into  the  sepulchres 
of  the  kings  of  Israel.  And  Hezekiah 
his  son  became  king  in  his  place. 


"Now  the  other  acts  of  Ahaz  which  he 
did,  are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Cliron- 
icles  of  the  Kings  of  Judah?  -"And  Ahaz 
slept  with  his  fatliers  and  was  buried 
with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of  David. 
And  Hezekiah  his  son  became  king  in  his 
place. 


§  120.  The  Reign  of  Hezekiah   and  his  Reforms,  II  Kgs.  18'-s,  II  Chr.  29- 

31,  32"-3i 

Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.   IS  ^Xow  in  the  third  year  of  Hoshea  the  son  of  Elah  king  of  Heze- 
Israel,  Hezekiah  the  son  of  Ahaz  king  of  Judah  began  to  reign.     ^He  was  good^ 
twenty-five  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign;  and  he  reigned  twenty-nine  policy 
years  in  Jerusalem.     And  his  mother's  name  was  Abijahs  the  daughter  of 
Zechariah.     ^And  he  did  that  which  pleased  Jehovah,  just  as  David  liis 
ancestor  had  done. 

Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  29  -^He  also  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign  in  the  first  month  opened  His 
the  doors  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  repaired  them.     '^And  he  brought  in  tat'ion 
the  priests  and  the  Levites  and  gathered  them  together  into  the  open  space  to  the 
on  the  east,  ^and  said  to  them.  Hear  me,  O  Levites;  now  sanctify  yourselves 
and  make  ceremonially  clean  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  the  God  of  your  fathers, 


§  120  Hezekiah  was  approved  by  later  generations  because  of  the  reputation  that  he  en- 
joyed as  a  religious  reformer.  That  it  rested  u)3on  a  real  basis  of  fact  is  coiifinned  by  the  state- 
ment in  .Jer.  2(5'"-"*'  to  the  effect  that  he  and  all  Judah  hSeded  the  earnest  reform  sermons  of  the 
I)ri)phet  Micah.  The  subsequent  reaction  under  Manasseh  also  strongly  suggests  that  Hezekiah 
had  introiluced  certain  innovations  which  struck  at  popular  religious  practices.  I  niess  it  be  a 
later  interpolation,  18--  confirms  the  general  statement  in  ■*  and  indicates  that  his  reforms  were 
introduced  in  the  earlier  part  of  his  reign.  Amos  and  Hosea  viewed  the  high  places  with  disfavor, 
although  they  did  not  demand  their  abolition.  Isaiah  attacked  tree  and  idol  worship  (!-■'•  28' 
18.  20)  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  reference  to  the  destruction  of  the  brazen 
serpent  which  the  tradition,  preserved  in  Num.  21S'  'J,  had  associated  with  Moses,  is  authentic. 
Certain  other  heathen  s.vmbols  still  connected  with  the  religion  of  Jehovah  were  probably  also 
placed  under  the  ban  by  the  reffirmers.  It  is  by  no  means  imjiossible  that  the  movement  was 
inaugurated  which  later  found  prominent  expression  in  the  Deutcronomic  code  and  application 
in  connection  with  Josiah's  reform,  and  which  resulted  in  the  abolition  of  all  heathen  shrines 
outside  of  Jerusalem.  The  account  in  '"  was,  however,  probably  written  by  one  w'ho  had  in 
mind  the  more  sweeping  reforms  of  021  n.c. 

The  later  tendency  to  magnify  the  reforming  work  of  Hezekiah  is  strikingly  illustrated  b.y 
the  parallels  in  Chr.  Later  priestly  tradition  ref)resented  him  as  cleansing  the  temple,  institut- 
ing special  sacrifices,  and  celebrating  a  great  passover  feast  in  strict  accord  with  the  laws  and 
usages  which  did  not  tjecome  firmly  established  until  centuries  later.  These  narratives  are  akin 
to  the  priestly  precedents  in  V.x.  anil  Num.,  associated  with  Moses  and  intended  to  illustrate  the 
ceremonial  institutions  which  grew  up  about  the  second  temple.  Regarded  from  this  point  of 
view  their  real  value  becomes  apparent. 

The  account  of  the  great  passover  in  the  days  of  Hezekiah  in  30  is  not  strictly  consistent 
with  the  one  attributed  to  Josiah  in  ,3.5  (cf.  especially  35'**)  and  ma.v  have  been  modelled  after  it 
by  a  later  midra«hist.  It  seems  probable  that  both  were  found  by  the  Chronicler  in  the  non- 
canonical  source  from  which  he  derived  so  much  of  his  material.  In  20-''-'"'  he  introduces  his 
favorite  levitical  singers.  Cha|).  31  also  appears  to  cf)me  from  his  hand.  The  important  fact 
in  32''"  wa-*  r>r'>bal)lv  derived  from  his  non-canonical  source. 

«  II  Kgs.  18-  So  the  parallel  II  Chr.  29'.     The  Ileb.  has  the  shortened  form,  Abi. 

289 


II  Chr.  295]  THE   ASSYRL\N   PERIOD 

Chronicler^s  Ecclesiastical  History 

and  carry  out  the  filth  from  the  holy  place.  ^For  our  fathers  have  acted 
faithlessly  and  done  that  which  displeased  Jehovah  our  God  and  forsaken 
him  and  turned  away  their  faces  from  the  habitation  of  Jehovah  and  turned 
their  backs  upon  him.  '^Also  they  have  shut  up  the  doors  of  the  porch  and 
put  out  the  lamps,  and  have  not  burned  incense  nor  offered  burnt-offerings 
in  the  holy  place  to  the  God  of  Israel.  ^Therefore  the  wrath  of  Jehovah 
was  upon  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  and  he  hath  delivered  them  to  be  an  object 
of  horror,  astonishment,  and  contempt,  as  you  see  with  your  own  eyes. 
^For  now  our  fathers  have  fallen  by  the  sword  and  our  sons  and  our  daughters 
and  our  wives  are  in  captivity  for  this.  ^^Now  it  is  in  my  heart  to  make  a 
covenant  with  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  that  his  fierce  anger  may  turn 
away  from  us.  ^^My  sons,  do  not  now  be  negligent,  for  Jehovah  hath  chosen 
you  to  stand  before  him  to  minister  to  him,  and  that  you  should  be  his  min- 
isters and  offer  sacrifices. 
CTeans-  ^^Then  the  Levites  arose,  Mahath  the  son  of  Amasai,  of  the  sons  of  the 
t^|°  Kohathites;  and  of  the  sons  of  jNIerari,  Kish  the  son  of  Abdi  and  Azariah 
temple  t}jg  sqjj  Qf  Jehallelel;  and  of  the  Gershonites,  Joah  the  son  of  Zimmah  and 
Eden  the  son  of  Joah;  ^^and  of  the  sons  of  Elizaphan,  Shimri  and  Jeuel; 
and  of  the  sons  of  Asaph,  Zechariah  and  Mattaniah;  ^^and  of  the  sons  of 
Heman,  Jehuel  and  Shimei;  and  of  the  sons  of  Jeduthun,  Shemaiah  and 
Uzziel.  I5^nd  they  gathered  their  kinsmen  and  sanctified  themselves  and 
went  in,  according  to  the  commands  of  the  king  by  the  words  of  Jehovah, 
to  cleanse  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  ^*^And  the  priests  went  into  the  inner 
part  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah  to  cleanse  it  and  brought  out  all  the  unclean- 
ness  that  they  found  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah  into  the  court  of  the  temple  of 
Jehovah.  And  the  Levites  took  it,  in  order  to  carry  it  out  to  the  Brook 
Kidron.  ^''Now  they  began  on  the  first  day  of  the  first  month  to  make 
ceremonially  clean,  and  on  the  eighth  day  of  the  month  they  came  to  the 
porch  of  Jehovah,  and  they  made  the  temple  of  Jehovah  ceremonially  clean 
in  eight  days;  and  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  the  first  month  they  completed 
their  work.  ^^Then  they  went  into  Hezekiah  the  king  within  the  palace 
and  said.  We  have  cleansed  all  the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  the  altar  of  burnt- 
offering,  with  all  its  vessels,  and  the  table  of  showbread,  with  all  its  vessels. 
i^Moreover  all  the  vessels,  which  King  Ahaz  in  his  reign  had  cast  away, 
when  he  acted  faithlessly,  we  have  again  made  ceremonially  clean,  and  there 
they  are  before  the  altar  of  Jehovah. 
Offer-  ^^Then  Hezekiah  the  king  early  in  the  morning  assembled  the  princes  of 
belialf  the  city  and  went  up  to  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  -^^And  they  brought  seven 
of  the  bullocks  and  seven  rams  and  seven  lambs  and  seven  he-goats  for  a  sin- 
offering  in  behalf  of  the  king  and  the  sanctuary  and  Judah.  And  he  com- 
manded the  priests,  the  sons  of  Aaron,  to  offer  them  on  the  altar  of  Jehovah. 
^^So  they  killed  the  bullocks,  and  the  priests  received  the  blood  and  sprinkled 
it  on  the  altar,  and  they  killed  the  rams  and  sprinkled  the  blood  upon  the 
altar;  they  also  killed  the  lambs  and  sprinkled  the  blood  upon  the  altar. 
2^x\nd  they  brought  near  the  he-goats  for  the  sin-offering  before  the  king 
and  the  assembly,  that  they  might  lay  their  hands  upon  them.    ^^Then  the 

290 


HEZEKIAH'S   REFORMS  [II  Chr.  2924 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

priests  killed  them  and  they  brought  the  blood  as  a  sin-offering  upon  the 
altar,  to  make  atonement  for  all  Israel;  for  the  king  ordered  the  burnt-offer- 
ing and  the  sin-offering  for  all  Israel. 

-^And  he  set  the  Levites  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah  with  cymbals,  harps,  Service 
and  lutes,  according  to  the  command  of  David  and  of  Gad  the  king's  seer  °  ^°'^^ 
and  of  Nathan  the  prophet;  for  the  command  was  from  Jehovah  by  his 
prophets,  ^e^jj^j  ^}jg  Levites  stood  with  the  instruments  of  David  and  the 
priests  with  the  trumpets.  -"And  Hezekiah  commanded  to  offer  the  burnt- 
offering  upon  the  altar.  And  when  the  burnt-offering  began,  the  song  in 
honor  of  Jehovah  also  began,  and  the  trumpets,  accompanied  by  the  instru- 
ments of  David  king  of  Israel.  -^Then  all  the  assembly  worshipped,  and 
the  singers  sang,  and  the  trumpeters  sounded;  all  this  continued  until  the 
burnt-offering  was  finished.  -^.Vnd  when  they  had  made  an  end  of  offering, 
the  king  and  all  who  were  present  with  him  bowed  themselves  and  wor- 
shipped. ^"^Moreover  Hezekiah  the  king  and  the  princes  commanded  the 
Levites  to  sing  j>raises  to  Jehovah  with  the  words  of  David  and  of  Asajih 
the  seer.  So  they  sang  praises  with  gladness  and  bowed  their  heads  and 
worshipped. 

^^Then  Hezekiah  spoke  up  and  said.  Now  you  have  consecrated  your-  Public 
selves  again  to  Jehovah;  come  near  and  bring  sacrifices  and  thank-offerings  fi^e" 
into  the  temple  of  Jehovah.     And  the  assembly  brought  in  sacrifices  and  ^'\''  '3'^ 
thank-offerings,  and  as  many  as  were  of  a  liberal  heart  burnt-offerings,  tion 
^-And  the  number  of  the  burnt-offerings  which  the  assembly  brought  was  temple 
seventy  bullocks,  a  hundred  rams,  and  two  hundred  lambs;  all  these  were 
for  a  burnt-offering  to  Jehovah.     ^^And  the  consecrated  things  were  six 
hundred  oxen  and  three  thousand  sheep.      -^^But  the  priests  were  too  few 
to  flay  all  the  burnt-offerings.     Therefore  their  kinsmen  the  Levites  helped 
them,  until  the  work  was  ended  and  until  the  priests  had  sanctified  them- 
selves.    The  Levites,  however,  were  more  faithful  in  sanctifying  themselves 
than  the  priests.     ^^And  there  were   also  burnt-offerings  in  abundance,  to-    / 
gether  with  the  fat  of  the  peace-offerings  and  with  the  drink-offerings  for  every 
burnt-offering.     So  the  service  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah   was  set  in  order. 
^And  Hezekiah  and  all  the  people  rejoiced  because  of  that  which  God  had 
prepared  for  the  people,  for  the  thing  was  done  quickly. 

30  ^And  Hezekiah  sent  to  all  Israel  and  Judah  and  wrote  letters  also  to  Sum- 
Ephraim  and  Manasseh,  that  they  should  come  to  the  temple  of  Jehovah  [""i^eep 
at  Jerusalem,  to  keep  the  passover  to  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel.     -For  tiie 
the  king  and  his  princes  and  all  the  assembly  in  Jerusalem  had  decided  to  over 
keep  the  passover  in  the  second  month.     -^For  they  could  not  keep  it  at 
that  time,  because  the  priests  had   not  sanctified   themselves  sufficiently, 
neither  had  the  people  gathered  themselves  together  to  Jerusalem.     '^And 
the  thing  seemed  right  to  the  king  and  all  the  assembly.     ^So  they  deter- 
mined to  make  a  proclamation  throughout  all  Israel,  from  Beersheba  even 
to  Dan,  that  they  should  come  to  keep  the  passover  to  Jehovah,  the  God  of 
Israel,  at  Jerusalem;  for  they  had  not  kept  it  in  such  great  numbers  as  is  pre- 
scribed. 

291 


II  Chr.  306]  THE   ASSYRIAN   PERIOD 

Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

The  6go  the  couriers  went  with  the  letters  from  the  king  and  his  princes  through- 

mation  out  all  Israel  and  Judah  and  proclaimed  the  command  of  the  king,  saying, 
Israelites !  turn  again  to  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Israel, 
that  he  may  turn  to  the  remnant  which  is  left  of  you  from  the  hand  of  the 
kings  of  Assyria.  ^And  be  not  like  your  fathers  and  your  kinsmen,  who  were 
faithless  toward  Jehovah,  the  God  of  their  fathers,  so  that  he  gave  them  up 
to  destruction,  as  you  see.  ^Now  be  not  obdurate,  as  were  your  fathers, 
but  yield  yourselves  to  Jehovah*^  and  enter  into  his  sanctuary  which  he  has 
sanctified  forever,  and  serve  Jehovah  your  God,  that  his  fierce  anger  may 
turn  away  from  you.  ^For  through  your  returning  to  Jehovah,  your  kins- 
men and  children  shall  find  compassion  in  the  presence  of  those  who  led 
them  captive  so  that  they  shall  come  back  into  this  land;  for  Jehovah  your 
God  is  gracious  and  merciful,  and  will  not  turn  away  his  face  from  you,  if 
you  return  to  him. 
Atti-  ^^So  the  couriers  passed  from  city  to  city  through  the  country  of  Eph- 

the^  °^  raim  and  Manassch,  even  to  Zebulon.  But  they  laughed  them  to  scorn  and 
north-  mocked  them.  ^^Nevertheless  some  people  from  Asher  and  Manasseh  and 
tribes  Zebulon  humbled  themselves  and  came  to  Jerusalem.  ^^^Jso  upon  Judah 
came  the  hand  of  God  to  give  them  one  heart  to  do  the  command  of  the 
king  and  of  the  princes  by  the  word  of  Jehovah. 
Cele;  ^'^So  a  great  crowd  of  people  assembled  at  Jerusalem  to  keep  the  feast  of 

of  the"  unleavened  bread  in  the  second  month — a  very  great  assembly.  ''*And  they 
pass-  arose  and  took  away  the  altars  that  were  in  Jerusalem  and  all  the  altars  for 
incense  they  took  away  and  cast  into  the  Brook  Kidron.  i°Then  they  killed 
the  passover  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  second  month.  And  the  priests 
and  the  Levites  were  ashamed  and  sanctified  themselves  and  brought  burnt- 
offerings  into  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  ^^^nd  they  stood  in  their  place,  as 
was  their  custom,  according  to  the  law  of  Moses  the  man  of  God :  the  priests 
sprinkling  the  blood  which  they  received  from  the  hand  of  the  I^evites.  ^"Fcr 
there  were  many  in  the  assembly  who  had  not  sanctified  themselves;  there- 
fore the  Levites  had  the  charge  of  killing  the  passover  lambs  for  every  one 
who  was  not  clean  in  order  to  consecrate  them  to  Jehovah.  ^^For  a  ma- 
jority of  the  people,  most  from  Ephraim,  Manasseh,  Issachar,  and  Zebulon, 
had  not  kept  themselves  ceremonially  clean,  yet  they  ate  the  passover  other- 
wise than  is  prescribed,  for  Hezekiah  had  prayed  for  them,  saying.  The  good 
Jehovah  pardon  every  one  ^^wlio  setteth  his  heart  to  seek  God,  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  his  fathers,  though  he  be  not  cleansed  according  to  the  purifica- 
tion of  the  sanctuary.  ^''And  Jehovah  listened  to  Hezekiah  and  healed  the 
people.  -^^So  the  Israelites,  who  were  present  at  Jerusalem,  kept  the  feast 
of  unleavened  bread  seven  days  with  great  gladness.  And  the  Levites 
and  the  priests  praised  Jehovah  day  by  day  with  all  their  might.  --^And 
Hezekiah  spoke  reassuringly  to  all  the  Levites  who  had  demonstrated  their 
skill  in  serving  Jehovah.'     So  they  ate  throughout  the  feast  for  the  seven 

I'll  Chr.  30**  Heb.,  give  your  hand. 

'  II  Chr.  30--   Slightly  correcting  the  Heb.  text. 

292 


over 


HEZEKIAH'S   REFORMS  [II  Chr.  3022 

Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

days,  oiTering  sacrifices  of  peace-offerings  and  making  confession  to  Jehovah, 
tlie  God  of  their  fathers. 

23'p'jjgjj  ^}jg  whole  assembly  decided  to  keep  another  seven  days;  and  so  they  The 
kept  another  seven  days  with  gladness.     -^For  Ilezekiah  king  of  Judah  dis-  fi^T^^fJ^of 
tributed  to  the  assembly  a  thousand  bullocks  and  seven  thousand  sheep,  feast- 
and  the  princes  distributed  to  the  assembly  a  thousand  bullocks  and  ten 
thousand  sheep,  and  a  great  number  of  priests  sanctified  themselves.     2o.^j^j 
all  the  assembly  of  Judah,  with  the  priests  and  the  Levites  and  all  the  as- 
sembly, that  came  out  of  Israel,  and  the  sojourners,  who  came  out  of  the 
land  of  Israel  and  who  dwelt  in  Judah,  rejoiced.     26gQ  there  was  great  joy 
in  Jerusalem;  for  since  the  time  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David  king  of  Israel 
there  was  nothing  like  it  in  Jerusalem.     2<'p}|gj^  \\yq  priests  and'  the  Levites 
arose  and  blessed  the  people;  and  their  voice  was  heard  and  their  prayer 
came  up  to  this  holy  habitation,  even  unto  heaven. 


Annals  of  Judah 

Heze-  II   KgS.   18    ^He  removed  the  high 

kiah  s      places  and  broke  in  pieces  the  pillars  and 

ious         cut  down  the  asherah.      And  he  broke 

forms     ^"   pieces    the   brazen    serpent    that 

INIoses  had  made ;  for  up  to  that  time 

the  Israelites   had  oft'ered  sacrifices 

to  it;  and  they  called   it  Nehushtan 


II  Chr.  31  iNow  when  all  this 
was  finished,  all  Israel,  who  were 
present,  went  out  to  the  cities  of  Ju- 
dah and  broke  in  pieces  the  pillars 
and  hewed  down  the  asherahs,  and 
broke  down  the  high  places  and  the 
altars  in  all  Judah  and  Benjamin,  in 
[The  Brazen  One].k  ^He  trusted  in  Ephraim  also  and  Manassch,  until 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel;  so  that  after    i    ,,         i      i     j     x  i   xi  11       t'i 

him  was  none  like  liim  among  all  the  kings      t'ley  had  destroyed  them  all.     Then 
of  Judah,  nor  among  those  who  were  be-      all    the    Israelites    returned    to    their 
fore  him      «For  he  held  fast  to  Jehov-ah        ^.j^j^      g^^.}^  ^^  l^jg  ^wn  possession, 
he  departed  not  from  lollowing  him,  but  • 

kept  his  commands,  wliich  Jehovah  had 
commanded  Moses. 


'^And  Hezekiah  appointed  divisions  of  the  priests  and  the  Levites  after  Provi- 
their  divisions — each  of  the  priests   and  the  Levites  according  to  his  ser-  fo^^the 
vice — for  burnt-ofTerin<fs  and  for  neace-oftVrinjrs,  to  minister    and   to   oive  main- 
thanks  and  praise  in  the  gates  of  the  »..'amp  of  Jehovah.     -^Tlie  contribution  of  the 
of  the  king  from  his  possessions  was  for  burnt-offerings,  for  the  morning  and  service 
evening  burnt-offerings,  as  well  as  the  burnt-ofl'erings  for  the  sabbaths,  for 
the  new  moons,  anrl  for  the  set  feasts,  as  it  is  prescribed  in  the  law  of  Jehovah. 
^Moreover  he  conunanded   the  j)eople  who  dwelt  in  Jerusalem  to  provide 
the  portion  of  the  priests  and  the  Levites,  that  they  might  devote  themselves 
to  the  law  of  Jehovah.     •''And  as  soon  as  the  command  was  known,  the 
Lsraelites  gave  in  abundance  the  first-fruits  of  grain,  new  wine,  oil,  and  honey, 
as  well  as  the  increase  of  the  field;  and  the  tithe  of  all  things  they  also  brought 
in  abundantly.     '^And  the  Israelites  and  Judahites  who  dwelt  in  the  cities  of 


'  II  Chr.  30"  So  the  versions  and  many  lleb.  manuscripts.  The  accepted  Heb.  omits 
the  and. 

I*  II  Krs.  is*  The  word  may  be  connecterl  cither  with  the  Heb.  word  for  brass  or  for  ser- 
pent.    Probably  a  play  on  these  double  meanings  was  intended. 


II  Chr.  316]  THE   ASSYRIAN   PERIOD 

Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

Judah,  also  brought  in  the  tithe  of  oxen  and  sheep  and  the  tithe  of  dedicated 
things,  which  were  consecrated  to  Jehovah  their  God,  and  laid  them  by 
heaps.  '^In  the  third  month  they  began  to  lay  the  foundation  of  the  heaps 
and  finished  them  in  the  seventh  month.  ^And  when  Hezekiah  and  the 
princes  saw  the  heaps,  they  blessed  Jehovah  and  his  people  Israel.  ^Then 
Hezekiah  questioned  the  priests  and  the  Levites  concerning  the  heaps.  ^'^And 
Azariah  the  chief  j^riest,  of  the  house  of  Zadok,  answered  him  and  said, 
Since  the  people  began  to  bring  the  oblations  into  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  we 
have  eaten  and  had  enough  and  have  left  plenty,  for  Jehovah  has  blessed  his 
people;  and  we  have  left'  this  great  store. 
Provi-  ^'^Then  Hezekiah  commanded  to  prepare  chambers  in  the  temple"  of  Je- 
for'the  hovah;  and  they  prepared  them.  ^^Then  they  conscientiously  brought  the 
support  oblations  and  the  tithes  and  the  dedicated  things;  and  Conaniah  the  Levite 
Levites  acted  as  steward  in  charge  of  them,  and  Shimei  his  brother  was  second  in 
charge.  ^^And  Jehiel,  Azaziah,  Nahath,  Asahel,  Jerimoth,  Jozabad,  EHel, 
Ismachiah,  Mahath,  and  Benaiah,  were  overseers  under  the  direction  of 
Conaniah  and  Shimei  his  brother,  by  the  appointment  of  Hezekiah  the  king, 
and  Azariah  the  ruler  of  the  house  of  God.  ^^And  Kore  the  son  of  Imnah 
the  Levite,  the  porter  at  the  east  gate,  was  in  charge  of  the  freewill  offerings  of 
God,  to  distribute  the  oblations  of  Jehovah  and  the  most  holy  things.  ^^And 
under  him  were  Eden,  Miniamin,  Jeshua,  Shemaiah,  Amariah,  and  Shecaniah, 
in  the  cities  of  the  priests,  faithfully  to  distribute  to  their  kinsmen  by  divisions, 
to  the  great  and  small  alike,  ^''to  each  with  liis  male  descendants™  from  three 
years  old  and  upward — that  is,  to  every  one  who  entered  the  temple  of  Jehovah, 
as  the  duty  of  each  day  recjuired  for  their  service  in  their  respective  offices  ac- 
cording to  their  divisions.  ^^And  this  is  the  hst  of  the  priests,  and  that  of  the  Levites 
included  the  people  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  in  their  office  by  their  divisions. 
i^And  in  the  list  were  reckoned  all  their  little  ones,  their  wives,  their  sons,  and  their 
daughters  through  all  the  congregation ;  for  thej'  devoted  themselves  faithfully  to  the 
holy  things.  ^^But  for  the  sons  of  Aaron,  the  priests  who  were  in  the  territory  of  the 
conxmon  pasture-lands  of  their  cities — in  every  city  there  were  men  who  were  desig- 
nated by  name  to  assign  portions  to  all  the  males  among  the  priests  and  to  all  among 
the  Levites  who  were"  on  the  lists." 

His  ^^Thus  Hezekiah  did  in  all  Judah;  and  he  did  that  which  was  good  and 

in  the^  right  and  faithful  before  Jehovah  his  God.     21  ^j^j  every  work  that  he  began 
work  of  J  [J  ^}je  service  of  the  house  of  God  and  on  the  basis  of  the  law  and  com- 
mandments, in  order  to  seek  his  God,  he  did  with  all  his  heart. 


Annals  of  Judah 
His  II    Kgs.     18 

mate-      7  \nd  Jehovah  was 

"f^.       with    him;    in  all 

perity      that  he  undertook 

he   prospered;   and 

he  rebelled  against 


32  27A.nd  Hezekiah  had  riches  and  honor  in  fullest 
measure;  and  he  provided  for  himself  treasuries  for  silver 
and  gold  and  precious  stones,  and  for  spices  and  for 
shields  and  for  all  kinds  of  valuable  objects,  ^Sstore- 
houses  also  for  the  increase  of  grain  and  new  wine  and 


'  II  Chr.  311°  gQ  Q]j      The  Heb.  has  an  impossihle  construction. 

^  II  Chr.  31"  Restoring  the  Heb.  by  the  aid  of  the  Gk. 

■>  II  Chr.   31'^  Again  followin?  the  Gk. 

°  II  Chr.  31'^-i5  This  rather  obscure  note  was  evidently  appended  later  and  was  intended 
to  reconcile  the  statement  in  "^  with  later  current  usage  and  to  supply  the  details  which  were 
not  furnished  in  the  original  record. 


294. 


II  Kgs.  18~] 


REIGN   OF   HEZEKIAH 


[II  Chr.  3^28 


Annals  of  Judah  |  Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


the  king  of  Assj'ria 
and  was  no  longer 
subject    to  him. 

^He  drove  back 
the  Philistines  to 
Gaza  and  con- 
quered its  terri- 
t  o  r  y  from  the 
watch  -  tower  to 
the  fortified  city. 


oil,  and  stalls  for  all  kinds  of  animals,  and  folds  for  flocks. p 
^^Moreover  he  provided  for  himself  cities  and  abundant 
possessions  of  flocks  and  herds,  for  God  had  given  him 
very  much  property.  ^^This  same  Ilezekiah  also  stopped 
the  upper  spring  of  the  waters  of  Gihon  and  brought 
tjiem  straight  down  on  the  west  side  of  the  city  of  David. 
And  Hezekiah  prospered  in  all  his  undertakings.  ^^How- 
ever  in  the  matter  of  the  ambassadors  of  the  princes  of 
Babylon,  who  sent  to  him  to  inquire  of  the  wonder  that 
was  done  in  the  land,  God  left  him,  to  try  him,  that  he 
might  know  all  that  was  in  his  heart. 


§  121.  Hezekiah's  Illness  and  Recovery,  II  Kgs.  20'-i^  Is.  SS^-*'  ". 

n  Chr.  32=1-26 


22 


Heze- 
kiah's 
prayer 
and 
Jeho- 
vah's 
mes- 
sage 
through 
Iraiah 


Isaiah  Stories 

II  Kgs.  30  ^In  those  days  Hezekiah  was  mor- 
tally ill.  And  Isaiah  the  prophet,  the  son  of  Amoz, 
came  and  said  to  him.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  '  Set  thy 
house  in  order;  for  thou  wilt  die  and  not  recover.' 
-Then  he  turned  his  face  to  the  wall  and  prayed  to 
Jehovah,  saying,  ^Remember  now,  O  Jehovah,  I 
beseech  thee,  how  I  have  walked  before  thee  in 
truth  and  with  a  perfect  heart  and  have  done  that 
which  pleaseth  thee.  And  Hezekiah  wept  loudly. 
■^Now  before  Isaiah  had  left  the  courtyard'^  the 
word  of  Jehovah  came  to  him,  saying,  ^Turn  back 
and  say  to  Ilezekiah  the  prince  of  my  people, '  Thus 
saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  David  thy  father,  "  I 


Chronicler's  Ecclesias- 
tical History 

II  Chr.  33  24ln  those 
days  Hezekiah  was  mor- 
tally ill,  and  he  prayed 
to  Jehovah.  And  he 
answered  him  and  gave 
him  a  sign.  -'^But  Heze- 
kiah rendered  not  again 
according  to  the  benefit 
done  to  him,  for  his 
heart  was  lifted  up  with 
pride,  and  so  wrath  came 
upon  him  and  upon 
Judah    and  Jerusalem. 


p  II  Chr.  322«  So  Gk.    Heb.,  flocks  for  folds. 

§  121  The  various  events  recounted  in  ll  Kgs.  20  are  practically  contemporary,  for  accord- 
ing to  '-  the  embassy  of  Merodach-Baladaii  was  sent  at  the  time  of  Hezekiah's  illness.  Its  object 
was  evidently  to  induce  Hezekiah  to  join  him  in  a  coalition  against  Assyria.  Three  times  this 
Babylonian  prince  conspired  against  tlie  common  foe:  in  721-0,  711-0  and  702  u.r.  The  third 
revolt  was  put  down  in  a  few  months,  but  it  is  possible  tliat  the  embassy  was  sent  to  kindle 
the  general  insurrection  which  liroke  out  in  702  in  the  cast  and  west.  At  least  it  is  certain  that 
the  events  recorded  in  20  antedated  those  in  18"  19'",  which  belong  to  the  years  701  or  (iOO  n.c. 
The  reference  in  ''al.so  implies  that  Hezekiah's  ilhie.ss  antedated  the  deliverance  of  701  n.r.  The 
promi.se  of  fifteen  more  years  accords  best  with  the  date  702-1  (701-15  =  G8C,  the  close  of 
Hezekiah '.s  reign;  cf.  .\ppendix,  IX). 

The  chronological  note  in  18"-'  in  its  present  position  dates  Hezekiah's  accession  71.')  n.r., 
while  181"  distinctly  states  that  it  was  727.  The  former  date  is  best  supported  by  the  liiblical 
and  contemporary  evidence.  For  a  detailed  discussion  of  the  problem  here  presented,  cf.  Ap- 
pendix II. 

The  prophet  Isaiah,  not  Hezekiah,  is  the  hero  of  these  stories.  He  figures  in  very  much 
the  same  role  as  Elijah  and  Elisha  in  the  cycles  of  stories  that  in  later  generations  were  associated 
with  their  names.  They  probably  come  from  the  same  prophetic  circles.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  20. 
Another  story  from  the  same  cycle  is  apparently  found  in  '-''■'.     Cf.  note  §  122. 

The  account  of  the  sign  in  II  Kgs.  20""  has  Iteen  greatly  revised,  or  else  is  entirely  second- 
ary. The  version  in  Is.  38''  *  is  briefer  and  probably  original.  Tlie  insertion  in  38-' •  ^-  appears 
to  be  later. 

''II  Kgs.  20*  Following  the  marginal  reading  of  the  Heb.,  which  is  supported  by  all  the 
versions. 


295 


II  Kgs.  205] 


THE   ASSYRIAN   PERIOD 


[II  Chr.  3226 


Isaiah  Stories 

have  heard  thy  prayer,  I  have  seen  thy  tears; 
now  I  will  heal  thee:  on  the  day  after  to-morrow 
thou  canst  go  up  into  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  ^And 
I  will  add  to  the  length  of  thy  life  fifteen  years,  and 
I  will  deliver  thee  and  this  city  from  the  hand  of 
the  king  of  x\ssyria,  and  I  will  defend  this  city  for 
mine  own  sake  and  for  the  sake  of  my  servant  Da- 
vid." ''■  ''Then  Isaiah  said,  Let  him  take  a  cake  of 
figs,  and  place  it  on  the  boil,  that  he  may  recover.  ^ 


The 

sign 
that  he 
should 
be 
healed 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesias- 
tical Historij 

26Notwithstanding  Hez- 
ekiah  humbled  himself 
as  regards  the  pride  of 
his  heart,  together  with 
the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 
salem, so  that  the  wrath 
of  Jehovah  came  not 
upon  him  in  the  days 
of  Hezekiah. 


Is.  38  ^And  this  shall 
be  your  sign  from  Jeho- 
vah, that  Jehovah  will  do 
this  that  he  hath  prom- 
ised; behold,  I  will  bring 
back  the  shadow  as  many 
steps  as  the  sun  has  gone 
down*  on  the  step-clock 
of  Ahaz,  even  ten  steps. 
So  the  sun  turned  back 
ten  steps  upon  the  steps* 
by  which  it  had  gone 
down. 


Secondary  Version  of  Isaiah  Stories 

II  Kgs.  30  ^And  Hezekiah  said  to  Isaiah, 
What  shall  be  the  sign  that  Jehovah  will  heal 
me  and  that  I  will  go  up  into  the  temple  of  Je- 
hovah the  day  after  to-morrow  ?  ^And  Isaiah 
said,  This  shall  be  the  sign  from  Jehovah,  that 
Jehovah  will  do  the  thing  that  he  has  promised: 
shall  the  shadow  go  forward  ten  steps,"  or  back 
ten  steps  ?  ,  ^''And  Hezekiah  answered,  It  is  an 
easy  thing  for  the  shadow  to  go  ahead  ten  steps; 
rather  let  the  shadow  turn  back  ten  steps.  ^^Then 
Isaiah  the  prophet  cried  to  Jehovah;  and  he 
brought  back  the  shadow  ten  steps  on  the  steps 
by  which  it  had  gone  down  on  the  step-clock 
of  Ahaz. 


Heze- 
kiah's 


§  122.  The  Embassy  of  Merodach-Baladan,  II  Kgs.  20^'^-^\  Is.  39 
Isaiah  Stories 


II  Kgs.  20  i^At  that  time  Merodach-Baladan^  the  son  of  Baladan  king 
recep-     of  Babylon  sent  eunuchs^  with  a  present  to  Hezekiah ;  for  he  had  heard  that 
tionof    Hezekiah  had  been  sick.     ^^And  Hezekiah  was  glad^  because  of  them,  and 
bassy     showed  them  all  his  treasure-house,  the  silver,  the  gold,  the  spices,  the  pre- 
cious oil,  and  his  armory  and  all  that  was  found  among  his  treasures;  there 


•■11  Kgs.  20^  The  parallel  in  Is.  SS"  omits,  for  mine  own  sake  and  for  the  sake  of  my  ser- 
vant David. 

=  II  Kgs.  20''  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Lat.,  and  the  parallel  in  Is.  SS^i,  which  was  probably  originally 
taken  from  the  Heb.  The  present  Heb.  reads,  and  Isaiah  said,  Take  a  cake  of  figs.  And  they 
took  and  laid  it  on  the  boil  and  he  recovered. 

'  Is   38*  Correcting  two  minor  errors  in  the  Heb. 

"II  Kgs.  20''  Heb.,  The  shadow  has  gone  forivard,  but'"  implies  an  alternative,  and  the 
Targ.  supports  the  slight  emendation  of  the  Heb.  which  is  followed  above. 

§  122  This  incident  is  closely  connected  with  the  preceding  narrative  and  evidently  comes 
from  the  later  Isaiah  stories,  for  it  reflects  the  age  when  not  the  Assyrians  but  the  Babylonian; 
were  the  world-conquerors.     Cf.  Introd.,  p.  20. 

"  20''^  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Syr.,  Targ.,  anfl  several  Heb.  codices.  Received  Heb.,  Berodach. 
The  Bab.  form  of  the  name  is,  Marduk-abal-iddina. 

w  20'-  Heb.,  letters.  But  the  next  vs.  indicates  that  persons  were  sent,  and  a  probable 
correction  of  the  Heb.  gives  the  above  reading. 

^  20'3  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Syr.,  Lat.,  several  codices,  ana  ttie  parallel,  Is.  39-. 


296 


EMBASSY   OF   MERODACH-BALADAN     [II  Kgs.  2013 
Isaiah  Stories 

was  nothing,  in  his  palace  nor  in  all  his  dominion,  that  Hezekiah  did  not 
show  them. 

^^Then  Isaiah  the  prophet  came  to  King  Hezekiah  and  said  to  him,  \Miat  Isaiah's 
did   these  men   say  ?   and  from  whence,  pray,  do  they  come  to  you  ?     And  '^^n  of" 
Hezekiah  said.  They  have  come  from  a  far  country,  from  Babylon.     ^^And  ^^ 
he  said.  What   have   they   seen  in  your  palace .'     And   Hezekiah   answered,  iancap- 
They  have  seen  all  that  is  in  my  palace;  there  is  nothing  among  my  treas-  ^-'^'^^ 
ures  that  I  did  not  show  them.     ^^Then  Isaiah  said  to  Hezekiah,  Hear  the 
word   of   Jehovah:       ^''The  days  are  quickly  coming,  when  all  that  is  in 
your  palace  and  that  which  your  fathers  have  stored  up  to  this  day  shall  be 
carried  to   Babylon — nothing  shall  be  left,'  saith  Jehovah.     ^^And   of  your 
sons  who  shall  issue  from  you,  whom  you  shall  beget,  shall  they  take  away, 
to  be  eunuchs  in  the  palace  of  the  king  of  Babylon.     ^^Then  Hezekiah  said 
to  Isaiah,  Good   is   the  word  of  Jehovah  which  you  have  spoken.     For  he 
thought,  As  long  as  I  live  there  shall  be  peace  and  stability  !  ^ 

§  123.  Sennacherib's  Invasion  of  Judah,  II  K<rs.  18'-'  '«,  II  Clir.  32^-8 
Annals  of  Judah 

II  Kgs.  18  i3Xow 
in  the  fourteenth  year 
of  King  Hezekiah,''  Sen- 
nacherib king  of  Assyria 
came  up  against  all  the 
fortified  cities  of  Judah 
and  took  them.  ^^And 
Hezekiah  king  of  Judah 
sent  to  the  king  of  As- 
syria to  Lachish,  saying, 
I  have  offended;  with- 
draw from  me;  whatever 
you  lay  on  me  I  will 
bear.  And  the  king  of 
Assyria  made  Hezekiah 
king  of  Judah  pay  three 
hundred  tulcuts  of  silver 
and    thirty     talents     of 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  33  ^After  these  things  and  this  evi- 
dence of  fidelity,  Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria 
came,  entered  into  Judah,  and  besieged  the  for- 
tified cities  and  thought  to  conquer  them  for  him- 
self. ^\nd  when  Hezekiah  saw  that  Sennacherib 
had  come  and  that  his  purpose  was  to  attack 
Jerusalem,  ^he  took  counsel  with  his  generals 
and  his  mighty  warriors  to  stop  up  the  waters  of 
the  fountains  which  were  outside  the  city.  And 
they  helped  him,  *and  many  people  were  detailed 
to  stop  up  all  the  fountains  and  the  brooks,  that 
flowed  through  the  midst  of  the  land,  for  they 
said,  Why  should  the  kings  of  Assyria  come 
and  find  much  water  ?  ^Ile  also  took  courage 
and  built  up  all  the  wall  that  was  broken  down 
and  on  it  reared  towers. «  and  also  outside  the 
second  wall,  and  strengthened  IVIillo  in  the  city 
of  David,  and  made  weapons  and  shields  in  abun- 


"  20"  So  Gk.  and  tlie  parallel,  Is.  39^.  The  concluding  explanatory  clause  is  pryobabl 
from  a  later  editor. 

§  12li  This  brief  .section  gives  a  very  different  impression  of  the  history  during  Hezekiah's 
reign  from  that  presented  by  the  editor  in  '.  In  conci.«e,  annalistic  form  it  tells  of  the  (hs.istrous 
effects  of  Hezekiah's  rebellion  against  Assyria.  The  representation  is  in  close  agreement  with 
the  testimony  of  Sennacherib's  inscription.  Cf.  Appendix  IX.  It  is  undoubtedly  historical 
and  is  in  all  probaV)ility  a  verbatim  quotation  from  the  .Judean  annals. 

The  later  tradition  preserved  by  the  Chronicler  transforms  this  disaster  into  brave  resist- 
ance, insuired  by  the  courageous  words  of  Hezekiah.  All  references  to  the  humiliating  tribute 
are  omitted.      Evidently  it  is  idealized  rather  than  real  history  that  is  iierc  recorded. 

''II   Kgs.   18'^  This  ohroiiological  note  may  ha\e  been  adde  I  by  tiie  late  prophetic  editor 
but  it  a|)pears  to  be  based  on  earlier  authentic  fiata.     Cf.  .Appendix  II. 

■^  II  Chr.  32''  So  Lat.   Heb.,  he  went  up  on  the  towers. 


297 


II  Kgs.  18^4] 


THE  ASSYRL\N  PERIOD 


[II  Chr.  325 


Annals  of  Judoh 

gold.  ^^And  Ilezekiah 
gave  him  all  the  silver 
that  was  found  in  the 
temple  of  Jehovah  and 
in  the  treasures  of  the 
royal  palace.  ^^At  that 
time  Hezekiah  stripped 
the  doors  of  the  temple 
of  Jehovah  and  the  pil- 
lars, which  Hezekiah*^ 
king  of  Judah  had  over- 
laid, and  gave  [the  gold] 
to  the  king  of  Assyria. 

§  124.  Sennacherib's  Demand  and  Isaiah's  Prophetic  Counsel,  11  Kgs.  18"- 
19^',  20=°=',  Is.  36,  37,  U  Chr.  32^-'^-  ^^-  ^3 


Sen- 
nache- 
rib's 
arro- 
gant 
de- 
mand 
that 
Jeru- 
salem 
be  sur- 
ren- 
dered 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

dance.  ^And  he  set  military  officers  over  the 
people  and  gathered  them  together  to  him  in  the 
broad  place  at  the  gate  of  the  city,  and  spoke  re- 
assuringly to  them,  saying,  ^Be  strong  and  cour- 
ageous; do  not  be  afraid  nor  terrified  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  king  of  Assyria  nor  of  all  the  multitude 
that  is  with  him,  for  a  greater  is  with  us  than  with 
him.  ^With  him  is  an  arm  of  flesh,  but  with  us 
is  Jehovah  our  God  to  help  us  and  to  fight  our 
battles.  And  the  people  rested  themselves  upon 
the  words  of  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah. 


Hezekiah  History 

II  Kgs.  18  i"Then 
the  king  of  Assyria  sent 
the  commander  -  in  - 
chief,  and  the  chief  of 
the  eunuchs,  and  a  high 
oflicial*'  from  Lachish 
with  a  great  army  to 
King  Hezekiah  at  Jeru- 
salem. And  they  went 
up,  and  when  they  ar- 


Isaiah  Stories 

IIKgs.  199bThen 
Sennacherib  sent 
messengers  again  to 
Hezekiah,  saying, 
^^T  h  u  s  shall  you 
speak  to  Hezekiah 
king  of  Judah,  '  Let 
not  your  God  in 
whom  you  trust  de- 
ceive   you    with    the 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical 
History 

II  Chr.  32  9After  this 
Sennacherib  king  of  As- 
syria sent  his  servants  to 
Jerusalem,  while  he  him- 
self with  all  his  forces  lay 
before  Lachish,  to  Heze- 
kiah king  of  Judah  and  to 
all  Judah  who  were  at  Jeru- 
salem, saying,  ^^Thus  saith 
Sennacherib    king    of   As- 


•*  II  Kgs.  18^^  Probably  in  the  original  the  name  of  some  other  king  was  found  here. 

§  124r  II  Kgs.  IS''  introduces  a  quotation  from  a  source  distinct  from  the  annals.  Not 
only  does  another  spelling  of  the  king's  name  appear  throughout,  but  the  representation  and 
style  are  very  different.  Furthermore  the  passage,  IS^-IS*^,  contains  what  seems  to  be  ex- 
tracts from  three  sources.  The  natural  sequel  to  IS'^-IQ'*^  is  19'*'' 3".  Sennacherib's  letter  in 
1910-13  ig  simply  an  epitome  of  the  message  already  delivered  more  effectually  by  the  high  official, 
182S-35  piig  threat,  in  almost  the  same  terms,  is  repeated  three  times  in  19''  -*''•  ^.  "The  second 
extract  is  found  inl  9*33,  tjje  taunt-song  and  sign  in  2i-3i  being  probably  a  prophecy  of  Isaiah 
inserted  here  from  some  other  source.  The  therefore  at  the  beginning  of  ^  finds  its  natural 
antecedent  in  20b. 

The  two  narratives  of  the  message  of  Sennacherib,  of  Hezekiah's  dismay,  of  Isaiah's  in- 
spiring counsel,  and  of  the  great  deliverance  have  so  many  points  in  common  that  they  are  prob- 
ably duplicate  versions  of  the  same  incident.  It  has  been  urged,  however,  that  they  refer  to 
distinct  events:  199b-2o.  32-S5  jg  Sennacherib's  sudden  retreat  in  701  B.C.,  and  18'"-199^'  ^-  3? 
to  a  later  expedition,  not  long  before  681,  when  he  was  murdered  by  his  son.  'The  first  nar- 
rative, however,  does  not  fit  naturally  into  the  situation  in  701  B.C.  A  recently  discovered  in- 
scription confirms  the  evidence  already  published  that  between  691  and  689  Sennacherib  made  a 
second  western  campaign  with  a  view  to  conquering  Egypt,  and  that  these  two  variant  narra- 
tives relate  to  an  incident  in  that  expedition.     Cf.  Appendix  IX. 

The  narrative  in  18''-19'^*'  38.  37  ijg^  many  more  details  and  is  in  accord  with  the  historical 
situation  implied  by  the  contemporary  annals  and  by  the  inscriptions  of  Sennacherib.  Heze- 
kiah is  the  central  figure.  Isaiah  is  only  introduced  briefly  at  the  close.  The  names  of  Heze- 
kiah's ministers,  in  183',  and  of  the  As.syrian  officials  and  many  circumstantial  details  are  given. 

"  II  Kgs.  18^'  Heb.,  the  tartan  and  rabsaris  and  rahshakeh.  The  first  and  third  of  the  titles 
appear  to  be  of  Assvrian  origin.  The  first,  tarlanu,  is  the  regular  title  of  the  commander  of  an 
Assyrian  army.  In  the  parallel  in  Is.  36  only  the  rabshakeh  is  mentioned.  The  other  titles  may 
have  been  added  in  Kgs.  by  a  later  scribe  inspired  by  antiquarian  interest,  but  the  parallel  in 
Chr.  is  e\-idently  based  on  the  present  text  of  Kgs. 


298 


II  Kgs.  IS^s  1910]     SENNACHERIB'S   DEMAND 


[II  Chr.  3210 


Hezckiah  History 

r  i  V  e  d  ^  at  Jerusalem, 
they  came  and  stood  by 
the  conduit  of  the  upper 
pool,  which  is  on  the 
way  to  the  fuller's  field. 
i^And  when  they  called 
for  the  king,  Eliakini 
the  son  of  Hilkiah,  who 
was  prefect  of  the  pal- 
ace, and  Shebnah  the 
scribe,  and  Joah  the 
son  of  Asaph  the  chan- 
cellor came  out  to  them. 
i^And  the  high  oflScial 
said  to  them.  Say  now 
to  Hezekiah,  '  Thus 
saith  the  great  king,  the 
king  of  Assyria,  "What 
confidence  is  this  which 
you  cherish .''  "  ^oyou 
indeed  think,  "  A  sim- 
ple word  of  the  lips  is 
counsel  and  strength 
for  the  war  !  "  Now 
on  whom  do  you  trust, 
that  you  have  rebelled 
against  me  ?  -i  Indeed 
you  trust  on  the  staff  of 
this  bruised  reed,  even 
upon  Egypt  which,  if 
a  man  lean  on  it,  will 
go  into  his  hand  and 
pierce  it.  So  is  Pharaoh 
king  of  Egypt  to  all  who 
trust  in  him.  "^-^But  if 
you  say  to  me,  "  We 
trust   in   Jehovah   our 


Isaiah  Stories 

thought,  "  Jerusalem 
shall  not  be  given  into 
the  hand  of  the  king 
of  Assyria."  HYou 
have  already  heard 
what  the  kings  of  As- 
syria have  done  to  all 
lands  in  destroying 
them  completely,  and 
shall  you  be  deHv- 
ered?  l-Have  the 
gods  of  the  nations 
w h i c h  my  fathers 
have  destroyed  deliv- 
ered them  —  Gozan, 
Haran,  Rezeph,  and 
the  people  of  Eden 
who  were  in  Telas- 
sar  ?  i"^Where  is  the 
king  of  Hamath,  and 
the  king  of  Arpad, 
and  the  king  of  Seph- 
arvaim,  of  H  e  n  a , 
andlvvahP'g  i^And 
Hezekiah  received  the 
letter  from  the  hand 
of  the  messengers  and 
read  it.  Then  Heze- 
kiah went  up  to  the 
temple  of  Jehovah 
and  spread  it  out  be- 
fore Jehovah  i^and 
said,  O  Jehovah  the 
God  of  Israel  who 
dwellest  above  the 
cherubim,  thou  art 
the    God,  even  thou 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical 
History 

Syria,  '  On  what  are  you 
trusting  that  you  are 
awaiting  the  siege  in  Jeru- 
salem ?  11  Does  not  Heze- 
kiah mislead  you  in  order 
to  give  you  over  to  die  by 
famine  and  by  thirst,  say- 
ing, "  Jehovah  our  God 
will  deliver  us  out  of  the 
hand  of  the  king  of  As- 
syria "  ?  i-Has  not  the 
same  Hezekiah  taken  away 
his  high  places  and  his  al- 
tars and  commanded  Judah 
and  Jerusalem,  saying,  "Ye 
shall  worship  before  one 
altar  and  upon  it  shall  you 
offer  sacrifice  ?  "  i^Do  you 
not  know  what  I  and  my 
fathers  have  done  to  all  the 
gods  of  the  peoples  of  the 
lands  ?  Were  the  gods  of 
the  nations  of  the  lands  at 
all  able  to  deliver  their  land 
out  of  my  hand  ?  i^Who 
was  there  among  all  the 
gods  of  those  nations  on 
which  my  fathers  laid  their 
ban  who  could  deliver  his 
people  out  of  my  hand,  that 
your  god  should  be  able  to 
deliver  you  out  of  my  hand  ? 
i^Now  therefore  let  not 
Hezekiah  deceive  you  in 
this  way  nor  mislead  you 
nor  believe  him,  for  no  god 
of  any  nation  or  kingdom 


The  passage  was  prc)bal)ly  taken  from  the  oriRinal  Hezekiah  history,  quoted  in  tlie  Judean 
royal  chronicles.  On  the  other  hand,  the  spirit  of  the  second  narrative,  the  larjie  numbers  in^s 
and  the  prominence  of  letters  and  public  prayer  here  and  in  20  (cf.  19"'  "  and  20'"^)  connect  it 
with  the  cycle  of  Isaiah  stories. 

An  editor  of  the  book  of  Isaiah  liaM  also  taken  these  passages  and  introduced  them  in  Chaps. 
36  and  .37.  That  they,  like  the  contents  of  38,  were  suVj.sequently  inserted  into  the  book  of 
Isaiah  is  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that  the  late  prophetic  editorial  additions  were  likewise 
transferred. 

'l"he  Chronicler's  parallel  is  a  very  free  parai)hrase  of  the  two  versions  in  Kga.  and  is  adapted 
to  the  didactic  ends  whic4i  characterize  tlie  midrash. 

'  II  Kks.  18'^  So  Ck.,  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Lat.      I'he  Ilcb.  adds,  and  came  up. 

«  II  Kg.'j.  IQ"^'  ^  For  the  places  mentioned,  cf.  map  opp.  p.  248. 


299 


II  Kgs.  1822,  igi5]      THE   ASSYRIAN   PERIOD 


[II  Chr.  3215 


Hezekiah  History 

God,"  is  not  he  the  one 
whose  high  places  and 
altars  Hezekiah  has 
taken  away  and  has 
said  to  Judah  and  Jeru- 
salem, "  You  shall  wor- 
ship before  this  altar  in 
Jerusalem  ?  "  ^^N  o  w 
therefore  give  pledges 
to  my  master  the  king 
of  Assyria  and  I  will 
give  you  two  thousand 
horses,  if  you  are  able 
on  your  part  to  set  rid- 
ers upon  them.  24]^Q-yy 
then  can  you  repulse 
one^  of  the  least  of  my 
master's  servants  ?  And 
yet  you  trust  in  Egypt 
for  chariots  and  for 
horsemen !  25]SJow  have 
I  come  up  against  this 
place  to  destroy  it 
without  Jehovah's  ap- 
proval ?  Jehovah  it  was 
who  said  to  me,  "  Go 
up  against  this  land 
and  destroy  it."  ' 


Isaiah  Stories 

alone,  over  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the 
earth.  ^^Inchne  thine 
ear,  O  Jehovah,  and 
hear ;  open  thine  eyes, 
O  Jehovah,  and  see 
and  hear  the  words  of 
Sennacherib,  w  h  i  c  h 
he  has  sent  to  defy 
the  living  God.  ^'It 
is  true,  O  Jehovah, 
the  kings  of  Assyria 
have  laid  waste  the 
nations  and  their 
lands  i^and  have  cast 
their  gods  into  the 
fire;  for  they  were  no 
gods,  but  the  work  of 
men's  hands,  wood 
and  stone ;  therefore 
they  have  destroyed 
them.  l^But  now,  O 
Jehovah  our  God, 
save  thou  us,  that  all 
the  kingdoms  of  the 
earth  may  know  that 
thou  Jehovah  art  God 
alone. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical 
History 

was  able  to  deliver  his  peo- 
ple from  my  hand  and  from 
the  hand  of  my  fathers. 
How  much  less  shall  your 
gods  deliver  you  out  of  my 
hand  ?  ' 

I'^And  his  servants  spoke 
yet  more  against  Jehovah 
God,  and  against  his  ser- 
vant Hezekiah.  ^^He  also 
wrote  letters,  railing  against 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel, 
and  speaking  against  him 
to  this  efl'ect,  Just  as  the 
gods  of  the  nations  of  the 
lands,  who  have  not  de- 
livered their  people  out  of 
my  hand,  so  shall  not  the 
God  of  Hezekiah  deliver 
his  people  out  of  my  hand. 
i^And  they  cried  with  a 
loud  voice  in  the  Jewish 
language  to  the  people  of 
Jerusalem  who  were  on  the 
wall  to  frighten  and  terrify 
them,  that  they  might  take 
the  city.  ^^And  they  spoke 
of  the  God  of  Jerusalem,  as 
of  the  gods  of  the  peoples 
of  the  earth,  which  are  the 
work  of  men's  hands. 


Further 
threats 
of  Sen- 
nache- 
rib's 
official 


2'5Tlien  Eliakim  the  son  of  Hilkiah  and 
Shebnah  and  Joali  said  to  the  high  official, 
Speak,  I  pray  thee,  to  thy  servants  in  the 
Aramaic  language,  for  we  understand  it; 
but  do  not  speak  with  us  in  the  Jewish  lan- 
guage in  the  hearing  of  the  people  who  are 
on  the  wall.  27j3y^  ^}^g  ]jig|^  official  said  to 
them.  Has  my  master  sent  me  to  your  mas- 
ter and  to  you  to  speak  these  words  ?  Is  it 
not  rather  to  the  men  who  sit  on  the  wall, 
that  they  shall  eat  their  own  dung  and  drink 


20Tlien    Isaiah    the    son    of  Jeho- 
Amoz  sent  to  Hezekiah  saying,  ^^g.^ 
Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  sage 
Israel,  '  What  thou  hast  asked  earning 
of    me    regarding    Sennacherib     ^^^'''^ 
king  of  Assyria,  I  have  heard.' 
2iThis  is  the  word  that  Jehovah 
hath  spoken  concerning  him: 

'  Thee   she   despises,   at   thee  is 
laughinfj — 
The  virgin,  daughter  of  Zion ! 


•"  II  Kgs.  18^*  Heb.  adds,  satrap,  but  the  construction  is  impossible  and  the  word  was  prob- 
ably added  by  a  later  scribe. 


300 


II  Kgs.  1827]        ISAL\H"S   PROPHETIC    COUNSEL        [II  Kgs.  I921 


Hezekiah  History 

their  own  water  together  witli  you  ?  ^SXhen 
the  high  official  stood  and  cried  with  a  loud 
voice  in  the  Jewish  language  and  spoke, 
saying,  Hear  the  message  of  the  great  king, 
the  king  of  Assyria,  ^oxhus  saith  the  king, 
'  Let  not  Hezekiah  deceive  you ;  for  he  will 
not  be  able  to  deliver  you  out  of  myj  hand. 
^^Xeither  let  Hezekiah  make  you  trust  in 
Jehovah,  saying,  "  Jehovah  will  surely  de- 
liver us,  and  this  city  shall  not  be  given  into 
the  power  of  the  king  of  Assyria." '  ^^Heark- 
en  not  to  Hezekiah,  for  thus  says  the  king 
of  Assyria,  '  ]Make  your  peace  with  me  and 
come  over  to  me;  thus  shall  each  one  of 
vou  eat  from  his  own  vine  and  his  own  fig- 
tree  and  drink  the  waters  of  his  own  cis- 
tern, ^^until  I  come  and  take  you  away  to 
a  land  like  your  own  land,  a  land  full  of 
grain  and  new  wine,  a  land  full  of  bread 
and  vineyards,  a  land  full  of  olive-trees  and 
honey,  that  you  may  live  and  not  die.  But 
hearken  not  to  Hezekiah,  when  he  misleads 
you,  saying,  "  Jehovah  will  deliver  us." 
^^Has  any  of  the  gods  of  the  nations  ever 
delivered  his  land  out  of  the  power  of  the 
king  of  Assyria  ?  -^^Where  are  the  gods  of 
Hamath  and  Arpad  ?  Where  are  the  gods 
of  Sepharvaim,  Hena,  and  Ivvah  ?  Where 
are  the  gods  of  the  land  of  Samaria"  that 
they  have  delivered  Samaria  out  of  my 
power  ?  •^•^Who  are  they  among  all  the  gods 
of  the  countries,  that  have  delivered  their 
country  out  of  my  power,  that  Jehovah 
should  deliver  Jerusalem  out  of  my  power  ? ' 


Isaiah  Stories 

Behind  thee  she  is  wagging  her 
head'— 
The  daughter  of  Jerusalem ! 
^^Whom    hast    thou    reviled    and 
blasjjhemed  ? 
Against     whom     raised     thy 
voice  ? 
Yea,  and  Hfted  up  thine  eyes  on 
high  ? 
Against  Israel's  Holy  One  ! 
^^By  thy  minions  hast''  thou  reviled 
the  Lord  ; 
And    hast    said,    "  With    my 
many  chariots, 
I,  even  I,  ascended  the  mountain 
heights. 
The  ravines  of  Lebanon  ; 
And  I  have  cut  down  its  tallest 
cedars, 
Its  choice  cypresses. 
And  I  press  into  its  farthest  halt- 
ing-place. 
Into  its  densest  thickets. 
-^I,  even  I,  dig  wells  [in  the  desert]. 
And  drink  strange  waters. 
And  with  the  soles  of  my  feet 
have  I  dried  up 
AH  the  rivers  of  Egypt." 
^^Hast  tiiou  not  heard,  I  prepared 
it  long  ago. 
In  the  days  of  old  I  formed  it ; 
now  I  have  brought  it  to  pass; 
Hence  thy  task  is  to  turn  fortified 
cities  into  ruined  heaps, 
2* And  their  inhabitants,  helpless, 
are  terrified  and  put  to  shame. 
They  are  like  the  wild  plants,  the 
tender  grass,  and  the  blades 
on  the  roofs  and  the  ujilands,' 
Before  me  is  thy  rising  uj)"'  -'and 
thy   lying   down,  thy  going 
out  and  thy  coming  in, 
I  know  tiiy  raging  against  me" 
-''*and    thine    arrogance    has 
come  to  my  ears. 
Therefore    I    will   put    my    ring 
tiirough    tiiy  nose,   and    my 
bridle  between  thy  lips. 
And  will  make  \hcc  return  by  the 
way  in  wiiicii  thou  hast  come. 


r.-. 


1092'', 


'  II  Kgs.  19-'   A  Kcsture  of  mockery.     Cf.  Lain.  2''',  .Job  Hi 
i  II  Kgs.   1829  So  Luc.  Svr.,  Lat.,"  and  Tarn.     Heb..  Iris. 
''  II  Kgs.  19^  So  Ck.,  Luc,  and  Lat.     Heb.  has  the  tenses  of  the  future. 
'   II  Kgs.  19^'  Making  a  [jlausible  correction.     Heb.,  blasted  corn. 
™II   Kgs.  19''*  Slightly  re\-ising  the  Heb. 

■  II  Kgs.  IH^  So  Luc,  and  demanded  by  the  context.     The  Heb.  has  lost  the  first  part 
of  the  .sentence. 

"  II  Kgs.  19^^  Omitting  the  dittography,  becnu.ie  thou  ragcst  against  me. 

301 


II  Kgs.  1836] 


THE   ASSYRIAN   PERIOD 


[II  Kgs.  1929 


Heze- 
kiah's 
mes- 
sage to 
Isaiah 
ami  the 
proph- 


Hezekiah  History 

^^Then  the  people  were  silent  and  answered  him 
not  a  word;  for  the  king's  command  was,  Answer 
him  not.  37J3^^  Eliakim  the  son  of  Hilkiah,  the 
prefect  of  the  palace,  and  vShebna,  the  scribe,  and 
Joah  the  son  of  Asaph,  the  chancellor,  came  to  Hez- 
ekiah  with  torn  clothes  and  told  him  the  words  of 
the  high  official.  19  ^x\nd  as  soon  as  King  Heze- 
kiah  heard  it,  he  tore  his  clothes  and  covered  him- 
self with  sackcloth  and  went  into  the  temple  of 
Jehovah.  ^And  he  sent  Eliakim,  who  was  prefect 
of  the  palace,  and  Shebna  the  scribe  and  the  eldest 
of  the  priests,  covered  with  sackcloth,  to  Isaiah  the 
prophet  the  son  of  Amoz.  ^^^nd  they  said  to  him. 
Thus  saith  Hezekiah,  '  This  is  a  day  of  trouble  and 
of  discipline  and  of  contumely ;  for  the  children  are 
come  to  birth  and  there  is  no  strength  to  her  who 
is  in  travail.  P  ^It  may  be  Jehovah  thy  God  will 
hear  all  the  words  of  the  high  official,  whom  his 
master  the  king  of  Assyria  has  sent  to  defy  the  liv- 
ing God,  and  will  rebuke  the  words  which  Jehovah 
your  God  has  heard;  therefore  lift  up  your  prayer 
for  the  remnant  that  is  left.'  ^And  when  the  ser- 
vants of  King  Hezekiah  came  to  Isaiah,  ^Isaiah 
said  to  them,  The  following  answer  shall  you  take  to 
your  master,  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  "  Be  not  afraid 
of  the  words  that  thou  hast  heard,  with  which  the 
servants  of  the  king  of  Assyria  have  blasphemed 
me.  "Behold  I  will  put  a  spirit  in  him  so  that  he 
shall  hear  tidings  and  shall  return  to  his  own  land, 
and  I  will  cause  him  to  fall  by  the  sword  in  his  own 
land." '  ^So  the  high  official  returned  and  found 
the  king  of  Assyria  warring  against  Libnah,  for 
he  had  heard  that  he  had  departed  from  Lachish. 
9aBut  that  one  had  heard  regarding  Tirhakah  king 
of  Ethiopia,  Behold,  he  has  come  out  to  fight  against 
you 


^^Then  Sennache- 
rib king  of  Assyria 
went  away  and  re- 
turned and  dwelt  at 


Isaiah  Stories 

29And  this  shall  be 
your  sign:  you  shall  eat 
this  year  that  which 
grows  of  itself,  and  in 
the  second  year  that 
which  springs  from  the 
same,  but  in  the  third 
year  you  can  sow  and 
reap  and  plant  vine- 
yards and  eat  the  fruit. 
30And  the  remnant  that 
escapes  of  the  house 
of  Judah  shall  again 
take  root  downward 
and  bear  fruit  upward. 
3iFor  out  of  Jerusalem 
shall  go  forth  a  remnant 
and  from  Mount  Zion  a 
band  who  shall  escape; 
the  zeal  of  Jehovah  of 
hosts  shall  accomplish 
this.'    32'j'jjgj.gfQj.g  thus 

saith  Jehovah  concern- 
ing the  king  of  Assyria, 
'  He  shall  not  come  into 
this  city,  nor  shoot  an 
arrow  therein;  neither 
shall  he  come  before  it 
with  shield  nor  cast  up 
a  mound  against  it.  ^Sfiy 
the  same  way  that  he 
came  shall  he  return, 
but  he  shall  not  come 
into  this  city,'  saith  Je- 
hovah. 34'  YoT  I  will 
defend  this  city  to  save 
it  for  mine  own  sake, 
and  for  the  sake  of  Da- 
vid my  servant.' 


35Now  that 
night  the 
Messenger  of 
Jehovah  went 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  33  20And  Hezekiah  the 
king  and  Isaiah  the  prophet,  the  son 
of  Amoz,  prayed  because  of  this  and 
cried  to  heaven,     ^i^nfj  Jehovah  sent 


The 
divine 
assur- 
ance 
that 
Jeru- 
salem 
would 
be  de- 
livered 
and  As- 
syria 
over- 
thrown 


p  II  Kgs.  193  So  Gk.,  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Lat. 

302 


Heb.,  to  bring  forth. 


n  Kgs.  1936  35]       SENNACHERIB'S   INVASION 


[II  Chr.  3221 


Hezekiah  History 

Nineveh.  3" And  once 
while  he  was  wor- 
shipping in  the  tem- 
ple of  Nisroch  his 
god,  his  sons,  Adram- 
melek  and  Sharezer, 
smote  him  with  the 
sword;  and  they  es- 
caped into  the  land 
of  Ararat.  And  Esar- 
haddon  his  son  be- 
came king  in  his 
place. 


Isa  iah 
Stories 


forth  and 
smote  in  the 
camp  of  the 
Assyrians,  a 
hundred  and 
eighty  thou- 
sand. And 
when  people 
arose  early 
the       next 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 


20  20N0W  the  other  acts 
of  Hezekiah,  and  all  his 
bra\-e  deeds  and  how  he 
made  tlie  pool,  and  the 
conduit,  and  brought 
water  into  the  city,  are 
they  not  recorded  in  the 
Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of 
Judah?  2'And  Hezekiah 
slept  with  his  fathers ;  and 
Manasseh  his  son  became 
king  in  his  place. 


a  Messenger,  who  cut  off  all  the 
mighty  warriors,  with  the  leaders  and 
generals  in  the  army  of  the  king  of 
Assyria.  So  he  returned  with  shame 
to  his  own  land.  And  when  he  en- 
tered the  temple  of  his  god,  his  own 
offspring  slew  him  there  with  the 
sword.  --Thus  Jehovah  saved  Heze- 
kiah and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusa- 
lem from  the  hand  of  Sennacherib 
the  king  of  Assyria  and  from  the  hand 
of  all  others  and  gave  them  resf^  on 
every  side.  -3\n(j  many  brought 
gifts  to  Jehovah,  to  Jerusalem  and 
precious  things  to  Hezekiah  king  of 
Judah,  so  that  from  that  time  on  he 
was  highly  esteemed  by  all  peoples. 
32Now  the  other  acts  of  Hezekiah  and  his  good 
deeds  are  recorded  in  the  vision  of  Isaiah  the 
prophet  the  son  of  Amoz'"  in  the  Book  of  the  Kings 
of  Judah  and  Israel.  33\j)(i  Hezekiah  slept  with 
his  fathers  and  they  buried  him  in  the  ascent  to 
the  sepulchres  of  the  sons  of  David,  and  all  Judah 
and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  showed  him  honor 
at  his  death.  And  Manasseh  his  son  became  king 
in  his  place. 


morning, 
there  were 
only  dead 
bodies. 


§  125.    Reactionary  Reigns  of  Manasseh  and  Amon,  11  Kgs.  21,  II  Chr.  33 

Late  Prophetic  Narratives 

II  Kgs.  21  ^Manas-seh  was  twelve  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and 
he  reigned  fifty -five  years  in  Jerusalem;  and  his  mother's  name  was  Heph- 
zibah.  -And  he  did  that  which  displeased  Jehovah,  according  to  the  abom- 
inable practices  of  the  nations  whom  Jehovah  cast  out  before  the  Israelites. 
^For  he  built  again  the  high  places  which  Hezekiah  his  father  had  destroyed, 
and  he  erected  altars  for  Baal  and  made  an  asherah,  as  Ahab  king  of  Israel 
had  done,  and  worshipped  all  the  host  of  heaven  and  served  them.     ^And 


Hea- 
then 
sym- 
bols 
and 
cults 
intro- 
duced 
by  Ma- 
nasseh 


0  n  Chr.  3222  So  Gk.  and  Lat.     Heb.,  ffuided  them. 

'  n  Chr.  3232  The  title  of  Isaiah's  prophecies.     Cf.  Is.  V. 

5  12.5  The  allusions  to  the  Chronicles  of  Judah  in  "^'  -^  indicate  that  the  author  of  this  sec- 
lion  had  earlier  sources  before  him.  The  facts  in  3'''  were  floiibtless  taken  from  them  or  from 
the  .ludean  annals.  The  section  '■«,  however,  as  a  whole,  is  clearly  from  tiie  late  prophetic 
editor.  From  this  time  on  he  stood  so  ne.ar  the  facts  that  his  testimony  is  almost  equivalent 
to  that  of  a  contemporary  witness.  Vss.  "''',  on  the  other  hand,  reflect  the  e.vilic  point  of  view. 
Cf.  Introd..  p.  21.     They  were  evidently  added  by  the  latest  editor  of  Krs. 

The  Chronicler  quotes  the  first  nine  verses  practically  verbatim.  To  these  he  adds  a  tradi- 
tion regarding  Manasseh 's  captivity  and  certain  other  facts  about  his  building  enterprises  which 
appear  to  be  derived  from  some  earlier  source. 

303 


II  Kgs.  21^]  THE   ASSYRIAN   PERIOD 

Late  Prophetic  Narratives 

he  built  altars  in  tlie  temple  of  Jehovah,  of  which  Jehovah  said,  In  Jerusalem 
will  I  put  my  name.  ^And  he  built  altars  for  all  the  host  of  heaven  in  the  two 
courts  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah.^  ^And  he  made  his  son  to  pass  through  the 
fire  and  practised  augury  and  witchcraft  and  appointed  mediums  and 
wizards;  he  did  much  evil  in  the  sight  of  Jehovah  to  provoke  him  to  anger. 

Late  Prophetic,  f  Exilic  J  Addition 

Dese-         "And  he  set  the  graven  image  of  an  asherah,  that  he  had  made,  in  the 

of^the"   temple  of  which  Jehovah  said  to  David  and  to  Solomon  his  son.  In  this  house 

temple   and  in  Jerusalem,  which  I  have  chosen  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  will  I 

put  my  name  forever,  ^and  I  will  not  cause  the  feet  of  Israel  to  wander  any 

more  out  of  the  land  which  I  gave  their  fathers,  if  only  they  will  faithfully 

do  as  I  have  commanded  them,  and  according  to  all  the  law  that  my  servant 

Moses  commanded  them.    ^But  they  did  not  hearken,  and  Manasseh  seduced 

them  to  do  more  evil  than  did  the  nations  which  Jehovah  destroyed  before 

the  Israelites. 

Jeho-         i^And  Jehovah   spoke  by  his  servants  the  prophets,   saying,   ^^Because 

vah  s      Manasseh  king  of  Judah  hath  done  these  abominations,  and  hath  done  more 

nounce-  wickedly  than  all  that  the  Amorites  have  done,  who  were  before  him,  and 

the         hath  made  Judah  also  sin  with  his  idols;  ^-therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  the 

captJA'-  ^o*^  o^  Israel,  I  am  now  about  to  bring  such  evil  on  Jerusalem  and  Judah, 

ityof      that  whoever  heareth  of  it,  both  his  ears  shall  tingle.     ^^And  I  will  stretch 

Judah 

over  Jerusalem  the  measuring  line,  as  over  Samaria,  and  tlie  plummet,* 
as  over  the  house  of  Ahab,  and  I  will  wipe  Jerusalem  as  a  man  wipeth  a 
dish,  wiping  and  turning  it  upside  down.  ^^And  I  will  cast  off  the  remnant 
of  mine  inheritance  and  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies,  that 
they  may  become  a  prey  and  a  spoil  to  all  their  enemies,  ^^ecause  they  have 
done  that  which  is  displeasing  to  me,  and  have  provoked  me  to  anger,  since 
the  day  their  fathers  came  forth  from  Egypt,  even  to  the  present. 

^^Moreover  Manasseh  shed  much  innocent  blood  until  he  had  filled  Jeru- 
salem from  one  end  to  the  other,  besides  his  sin  with  which  he  made  Judah 
sin,  in  doing  that  which  displeased  Jehovah. 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

His  II  Chr.   33  ^^And  Jehovah  spoke  to  Manasseh  and  to  his  people,  but 

ity,  re-"  they  gave  no  heed.  ^ ^Therefore  Jehovah  brought  against  them  the  com- 
pent-  manders  of  the  army  of  the  king  of  Assyria,  who  took  Manasseh  in  chains 
and  res- and  bound  him  with  fetters  and  carried  him  to  Babylon,  ^^g^t  when  he 
t°on"  was  in  distress,  he  besought  Jehovah  his  God,  and  humbled  himself  greatly 
before  the  God  of  his  fathers.     ^^And  he  prayed  to  him,  and  he  was  entreated 


"  n  Kgs.  215  cf  J  Kgs.  63G^  20'*,  where  the  temple  appears  to  have  had  but  one  court.  Vs.  ^  la 
a  duplicate  of  *  and  clearly  comes  from  an  exilic  or  post-exilic  writer. 

'  II  Kgs.  21'^  Symbols  of  a  divine  judgment,  executed  in  accord  with  the  strict  principles 
of  justice.     Cf.  Am.  7^-  *. 

304 


REACTIONARY   REIGN   OF   MANASSEH  [II  Chr.  33i3 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

of  him  and  heard  his  supphcation  and  brought  him  back  to  Jerusalem  into 
his  kingdom.     Then  Manasseh  knew  that  Jehovah  was  indeed  God. 

^^Now  after  this  he  built  an  outer  wall  to  the  city  of  David,  on  the  west 
side  of  Gihon  in  the  valley,  even  to  the  entrance  at  the  Fish  Gate,  so  that 
he  encircled  Ophel ;  and  he  made  it  very  high.  lie  also  placed  vahant 
commanders  in  aU  the  fortified  cities  of  Judah. 

^°And  he  took  away  the  foreign  gods  and  the  idol  out  of  the  temple  of 
Jehovah  and  all  the  altars  that  he  had  built  in  the  mount  of  the  temple  of 
Jehovah  and  in  Jerusalem  and  cast  them  out  of  the  city.  ^"^And  he  rebuilt 
the  altar  of  Jehovah  and  offered  on  it  sacrifices  of  peace-offerings  and  of 
thank-offering,  and  commanded  Judah  to  serve  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel. 
^"Nevertheless  the  people  sacrificed  still  in  the  high  places,  but  only  to  Je- 
hovah their  God. 


His 
build- 
ing 
enter- 
prises 

His 

later 
relig- 
ious 
re- 
forms 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  21  i"Now  the 
other  acts  of  Manasseh  and 
all  that  he  did,  and  his  sin 
that  he  committed,  are 
they  not  recorded  in  the 
Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of 
Judah  t  ^^And  Manasseh 
slept  with  his  fathers  and 
was  buried  in  the  garden 
of  his  own  palace,  in  the 
garden  of  Uzza;  and  Amon 
his  son  became  king  in  his 
place. 


i^Now  the  other  acts"  of  Manasseh  and  his 
prayer  to  his  God,  as  well  as  the  words  of  the 
seers  who  spoke  in  the  name  of  Jehovah,  the 
God  of  Israel,  are  already  recorded  in  the  his- 
tory of  Israel.  ^^His  prayer  also  and  how  it 
was  heard  and  all  his  sin  and  his  guilt  and  the 
sites  on  which  he  built  high  places  and  set  up 
the  asherahs  and  the  graven  images,  before  he 
humbled  himself,  are  already  recorded  in  the 
history  of  his  seers. '^'  -'^So  Manasseh  slept  with 
his  fathers  and  they  buried  him  in  the  garden 
of  his  palace;^  and  Amon  his  son  became  king 
in  his  place. 


Late  Prophetic  Narratives 

'^Amon  was  twenty-two  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  Amon'a 


two  years  in  Jerusalem;  and  his  mother's  name  was  Meshullemeth  the  daughter  rei'ig. 
of  Ilaruz  of  Jotbah.  20.Yj^^|  jjg  (]jj  \\x^\^  which  displeased  Jehovah,  as  did  '"'!? 
Manasseh  his  father.  2i\nfJ  he  walked  in  all  the  way  in  which  his  father 
had  walked  and  served  the  idols  that  his  father  served,  and  worshipped  them, 
22and  he  forsook  Jehovah,  the  God  of  his  fathers,  and  walked  not  in  the  way 
of  Jehovah. 

^•Wnd  the  servants  of  Amon  cons})ired  against  him  and  put  the  king  to  His 
death  in  his  palace,     ^'^^ui  the  people  of  the  land  slew  all  who  had  conspired  s^atfon 
against  Amon;  and  the  people  of  the  land  made  Josiah  his  son  king  in  his 
place,     '^^^ow  the  otluT  acts  of  Amon  which  he  did,  are  they  not  recorded 
in  the  Chronicles  of  the   Kings  of  Judah  .^      20^\,i,l  1,^  ^y^s;  buried   in  his 
sepulchre  in  the  garden  of  Uzza;  and  Josiah  his  son  became  king  in  his  place. 

"11  Chr.  33'8  Heb.,  amono  the  acts. 

•'  II  rhr.  .33''  Making  a  slight  correction  in  the  Heb.     Gk.,  seera. 

"  II  Chr.  33-"  So  Gk.  and  the  parallel  in  Kgs. 

305 


II  Kgs.  221] 


THE   BABYLONIAN  PERIOD 


III 

THE  BABYLONIAN  PERIOD:  FROM  JOSIAH  TO  THE  RISE  OF 
CYRUS,  II  Kgs.  22I-2530,  II  Chr.  34"^-362i,  Jer.  26,  34,  36-3914,  40-44,  52 


Jo- 

siah's 

benign 

policy 


§  126.  Discovery  of  the  Book  of  the  Law  in  the  Days  of  Josiah,  II  Kgs. 

22'-2°,  II  Chr.  341-28 

Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  23  1  Josiah  was  eight  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he 
reigned  thirty-one  years  in  Jerusalem;  and  his  mother's  name  was  Jedidah 
the  daughter  of  Adaiah  of  Bozkath.  '^Xud  he  did  that  which  pleased  Je- 
hovah "and  walked  in  all  the  way  of  David  his  father  and  turned  not  aside 
to  the  right  or  to  the  left. 


His 

early 
relig- 
ious 


Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  34  ^Now  in  the  eighth  year  of  his  reign,  while  he  was  yet  young, 

he  began  to  seek  after  the  God  of  David  his  father,  and  in  the  twelfth  year 

,         he  beffan  to  purge  Judah  and  Jerusalem  from  the  high  lilaees  and  the  asherahs 
rci  oriD  s  ~  *       ^  ~     I 

and  the  graven  and  molten  images,  ^^nd  they  broke  down  the  altars  of  the 
Baals  in  his  presence,  and  the  sun-images  that  stood  above  them  he  hewed 
down,  and  the  asherahs,  and  the  graven  and  molten  images  he  broke  in 
pieces  and  made  dust  of  them  and  strewed  it  on  the  graves  of  those  who  had 
sacrificed  to  them.     ^And  he  burnt  the  bones  of  the  priests  upon  their  altars 


The  Babylonian  Period. — The  history  of  the  earlier  part  of  this  most  important  period 
is  recorded  in  greater  detail  than  that  of  any  other  in  the  life  of  the  Israelitish  race.  Regarding 
the  great  reformation  of  Josiah,  the  temple  records  quoted  in  Kgs.  are  the  chief  source,  supple- 
mented by  the  contemporary  sermons  of  Zephaniah  and  Jeremiah.  For  the  remainder  of  the 
period  the  citations  from  the  annals  of  Judah  and  the  historical  statements  of  the  late  prophetic 
editor  are  richly  supplemented  by  the  biography  of  Jeremiah,  which  has  been  combined  with 
his  prophecies.  Many  contemporary  data  are  also  found  in  his  addresses  and  those  of  his 
younger  colleagues,  Habakkuk  and  Ezekiel.  Cf.  Vol.  III.  The  Babylonian  inscriptions,  and 
especially  those  of  Nebuchadrezzar,  make  it  possible  for  the  historian  also  to  study  the  events 
from  the  point  of  view  of  the  conquerors.  Regarding  the  period  of  the  Babylonian  exile  Israel's 
historians  are  silent,  because  there  were  few  events  and  because  they  were  too  tragic  to  be  recorded. 

§  126  Vss.  '■  -  are  clearly  from  the  late  prophetic  editor,  but  with  ^  begins  a  narrative  in 
which  the  style  and  interest  are  very  similar  to  those  in  the  citation  from  the  temple  records 
in  12.  The  theme,  the  discovery  of  the  book  of  the  law  in  connection  with  certain  repairs  of 
the  temple,  would  appeal  most  naturally  and  the  details  in  ^-"  would  be  familiar  to  one  connected 
with  the  temple.  Most  of  the  narrative  has  the  characteristics  of  a  jiractically  contemporary 
record.  At  the  same  time  the  events  recorded  are  so  important  that  it  was  almost  inevitable 
that  the  account  should  be  much  revised  and  supplemented  by  later  editors.  The  character 
and  language  of  many  clauses  and  verses  indicate  that  this  has  been  done.  It  must,  however, 
be  remembered  that  the  original  narrative  was  also  written  under  the  influence  of  the  newly 
discovered  book  of  the  covenant,  which  powerfully  influenced  and  largely  determined  the  style 
of  the  later  editors,  so  that  the  presence  here  of  late  prophetic  or  Deuteronomic  expressions  is 
not  conclusive  evidence  that  the  passages  containing  them  are  later  editorial  additions.  For 
this  reason  a  definite  analysis  is  especially  difficult  and  there  is  room  for  considerable  difference 
of  opinion.  Fortunately  the  editorial  additions  also  have  almost  the  value  of  contemporary 
authority,  so  that  we  may  feel  confident  that  we  have  on  the  whole  a  faithful  record  of  the  way 
in  which  the  new  law-book,  represented  by  the  body  of  our  present  book  of  Dt.,  was  brought  to 
the  attention  of  *the  king  and  made  the  basis  of  the  great  reformation.  The  Chronicler  has  re- 
vised and  expanded  the  original  narrative  of  Kgs.  by  introducing  tiie  Levites  as  the  collectors 
of  the  money  for  the  repair  of  the  temple,  and  also  by  placing  them  at  the  head  of  the  commis- 
sion which  directed  the  work.  He  moreover  introduces  into  the  eighth  year  of  Josiah's  reign 
the  iconoclastic  reformation  which  the  narrative  of  Kgs.  places  after  the  discovery  of  the  book 
of  the  law  in  his  eighteenth  year. 


306 


DISCOM^RY   OF   THE   BOOK   OF   THE    LAW   [H  Chr.  345 
Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

and  purged  Judah  and  Jerusalem.  ^Also  in  the  cities  of  Manasseh  and 
Ephraim  and  Simeon,  even  to  Xaphtali,  in  their  ruins  round  about,  ~he 
broke  down  the  altars  and  beat  the  asherahs  and  the  graven  ima<Tes  into 
powder,  and  hewed  down  all  the  sun-images  throughout  all  the  land  of  Israel, 
and  then  returned  to  Jerusalem. 


Deliv- 
ery of 
the  new 
book  of 
tlie  law 
to  .lo- 
31  ah 


Temple  Records 

II  Kgs.  33  ^Now  in  the 
eighteenth  year  of  King  Jo- 
siah,  the  king  sent  Shaphan 
the  son  of  Azaliah,  the  son  of 
Meshullam,  the  scribe,  to  the 
temple  of  Jehovah  saying, 
*Go  up  to  Hilkiah  the  high 
priest,  that  he  may  return  the 
full  amount^  of  the  money 
which  is  brought  into  the 
temple  of  Jehovah,  which  the 
keepers  of  the  threshold  have 
gathered  from  the  people 
^and  let  them  dehver  it  into 
the  hands  of  the  workmen 
who  have  the  oversight  of 
the  temple  of  Jehovah;  that 
they  may  give  it  to  the  work- 
men who  are  in  the  temple 
of  Jehovah,  to  repair  the  de- 
cayed parts  of  the  temple — • 
^to  the  carfjenters  and  the 
builders  and  the  masons — as 
well  as  to  buy  timber  and 
hewn  stone  to  repair  the  tem- 
[)le.  '^However,  there  was  no 
reckoning  made  with  them 
regarding  the  money  that 
was  delivered  into  their 
hands,  for  they  dealt  faith- 
fully. 

^Then  Hilkiah  the  high 
priest  said  to  Shaphan  the 
scribe,  I  have  found  the  book 
of  the  law  in  the  temple  of 
Jehovah.  And  Hilkiah  de- 
livered the  book  to  Shaphan, 


^Now  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  reign, 
in  order  to  purge  the  land  and  the  temple,  he 
sent  Shaphan  the  son  of  Azaliah,  and  Maase- 
iah  the  governor  of  the  city,  antl  Joah  the 
son  of  Joahaz  the  chancellor  to  repair  the 
temple  of  Jehovah  his  God.  ^And  they  came 
to  Hilkiah  the  high  priest,  and  delivered  the 
money  that  was  brought  into  the  house  of 
God,  which  the  Levites,  the  keepers  of  the 
threshold,  had  gathered  from  Manasseh  and 
Ephraim  and  from  the  rest  of  Israel,  and  from 
all  Judah  and  Benjamin,  and  returned  to 
Jerusalem,  i^xhey  in  turn  delivered  it  into 
the  hand  of  the  workmen  who  had  the  over- 
sight of  the  temple  of  Jehovah ;  and  the  work- 
men who  worked  on  the  temple  of  Jehovah 
gave  it  to  mend  and  repair  the  temple — ^Ho 
the  carpenters  and  to  the  builders  they  gave 
it,  that  they  might  buy  hewn  stone  and  tim- 
ber for  binders  and  to  make  beams  for  the 
buildings  which  the  kings  of  Judah  had  de- 
stroyed. i^And  the  men  did  the  work  faith- 
fully; and  the  overseers  over  them  were  Ja- 
hath  and  Obadiah,  the  Levites,  of  the  sons 
of  Merari,  and  Zechariah  and  Meshullam,  of 
the  sons  of  the  Kohathites,  to  direct  the  work. 
And  tlie  Levites — all  who  were  skilful  with 
instruments  of  music — ^^were  over  the  bur- 
den-bearers, and  directed  all  the  workmen 
who  did  any  kind  of  service;  and  some  of  the 
Levites  were  scribes,  officers,  and  porters. 

^■^And  when  they  brought  out  the  money 
that  had  been  brought  into  the  temple  of  Je- 
hovah, Hilkiah  the  priest  found  the  book  of 
the  law  of  Jehovah  given  by  Moses.  ^"'And 
Hilkiah  spoke  and  said  to  Shaphan  the  scribe, 
I  have  found  the  book  of  the  law  in  the  tem- 


•  II  Kgs.  22^  Heb.,  bring  to  an  end. 

307 


II  Kgs.  228] 


THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 


[II  Chr.  3415 


His  re- 
ception 
of  it 


Temple  Records 

and  he  read  it.  ^And  Sha- 
phan  the  scribe  went  to  the 
king  and  also  brought  the 
king  word,  saying,  Your  ser- 
vants have  emptied  out  the 
money  that  was  found  in  the 
temple  and  have  dehvered 
it  into  the  hands  of  the 
workmen  who  have  the  over- 
sight of  the  tem])le  of  Jeho- 
vah. ^^And  Shaphan  the 
scribe  told  the  king,  saying, 
Hilkiah  the  priest  has  given 
me  a  book.  And  Shaphan 
read  it  before  the  king. 

11  But  when  the  king  had  heard  the 
words  of  the  book  of  the  law,  he  tore 
his  clothes,  ^^^j^j  |y,g  ^ing  com- 
manded Hilkiah  the  priest  and  Ahi- 
kam  the  son  of  Shaphan,  and  Achbor 
the  son  of  Micaiah,  and  Shaphan  the 
scribe,  and  Asaiah  the  king's  servant, 
saying,  ^^Go,  inquire  of  Jehovah  for 
me  and  for  the  people  and  for  all 
Judali,  concerning  the  words  of  this 
book  that  is  found;  for  great  is  the 
wrath  of  Jehovah  that  is  kindled 
against  us,  because  our  fathers  have 
not  hearkened  to  the  words  of  this 
book,  to  do  just  as  is  written  in  it° 
concerning  us. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

pie  of  Jehovah.  And  Hilkiah  delivered  the 
book  to  Shaphan.  ''^And  Shaphan  carried 
the  book  to  the  king,  and  also  reported  to 
the  king,  saying,  All  that  was  committed  to 
your  servants,  they  are  doing.  ^''And  they 
have  emptied  out  the  money  that  was  found 
in  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  and  have  delivered 
it  into  the  hands  of  the  overseers  and  into 
the  hands  of  the  workmen.  ^^And  Shaphan 
the  scribe  told  the  king,  saying,  Hilkiah  the 
priest  has  delivered  to  me  a  book.  And 
Shaphan  read  out  of  it  before  the  king. 


^^But  when  the  king  had  heard  the 
words  of  the  law,  he  tore  his  clothes. 
^^Then  the  king  commanded  Hil- 
kiah, and  Ahikam  the  son  of  Sha- 
phan, and  Achbor  the  son  of  Mi- 
caiah,^ and  Shaphan  the  scribe,  and 
Asaiah  the  king's  servant,  saying, 
"^Go,  inquire  of  Jehovah  for  me  and 
for  those  who  are  left  in  Israel  and 
in  Judah  concerning  the  words  of 
the  -book  that  has  been  found;  for 
great  is  the  wrath  of  Jehovah  that  is 
poured  out  upon  us,  because  our  fa- 
thers have  not  kept  the  word  of  Je- 
hovah, to  do  just  as  is  written  in  this 
book. 


Hul-  ^'^So  Hilkiah  the  priest  and  Ahikam  and  Achbor  went  to  Huldah  the 

pre-^      prophetess  the  wife  of  Shallum,  the  son  of  Tikvah,  the  son  of  Harhas,  keeper 

diction   of  the  wardrobe,  who  dwelt  in  Jerusalem  in  the  second  quarter,^  and  they 

ingJu-  conversed  with  her.     ^^And  she  said  to  them,  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God 

Josiah    of  Israel:  '  Tell  the  man  who  sent  you  to  me,  ^^"  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  I  am 

now  about  to  bring  evil  upon  this  place  and  upon  its  inhabitants,  even  all 

the  threats  of  the  book  which  the  king  of  Judah  hath  read.     ''Because  they  have 

forsaken  me  and  have  offered  sacrifices  to  otlier  gods,  tliat  they  miglit  provoke  me  to 

anger  with  all  tlie  work  of  their  hands;  therefore  my  wrath  shall  be  kindled  against 

this  place  and  it  shall  not  be  quenched."  '"^ 


^  II  Chr.  34-"  Restoring  the  text  by  the  aid  of  tlae  parallel  in  Kgs.  Heb.,  Abdor  the  son 
of  Micah. 

c  II  Kgs.  22>3  So  Luc.     The  Heb.  omits,  in  it. 

d  II  Kgs.  2214  Cf.  Zeph.  I'o  and  Neh.  IP. 

«  II  Kgs.  22"'  This  verse  abounds  in  the  characteristic  expressions  of  the  late  prophetic 
school. 

308 


DISCOVERY  OF  THE   BOOK  OF  THE   LAW   [H  Kgs.  22i8 
Tem^ole  Records 

^^But  to  the  king  of  Jiidah,  who  sent  you  to  inquire  of  Jehovah,  this  shall 
you  say  to  him,  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  "  As  regards  the 
words  which  thou  hast  heard — ^^because  thy  heart  was  penitent,^  and  thou 
didst  humble  thyself  before  Jehovah,  when  thou  heardest  what  I  spoke 
against  this  place  and  against  its  inhabitants,  that  they  should  become  an 
object  of  dread  and  execration,  and  hast  torn  thy  garments  and  wept  before 
me,  I  also  have  heard  thee,  saith  Jehovah.  ^O'pjjgj.efore  I  will  gather  thee 
to  thy  fathers  and  thou  slialt  be  borne  to  thy  grave  in  peace,  neither  shall 
thine  eyes  see  all  the  evil  which  I  will  bring  upon  this  place."  '  So  they 
brought  back  word  to  the  king. 

§  127.  The  Great  Reformation  under  Josiah,  H  Kgs.  23'",  11  Chr.  34-^-35'9 

Temple  Records 

II  Kgs.  23  ^And  the  king  sent,  and  they  gathered  to  him  all  the  elders  Public 
of  Judah  and  of  Jerusalem.     '^Xnd  the  king  went  up  to  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  aml'"'^ 
and  with  him  all  the  men  of  Judah  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  r'ro- 
as  well  as  the  priests  and  the  prophets  and  all  the  people,  both  small  and  tionof 
great;  and  he  read  in  their  hearing  all  the  words  of  the  book  of  the  covenant  gofie'®^^ 
which  was  found  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah.     ^And  the  king  stood  by  the 

Eillar  and  made  a  covenant  before  Jehovah  to  walk  after  Jehovah  and  to  keep 
is  commands  and  his  testimonies  and  liis  statutes,  with  all  his  heart  and  all  his  soul,e 
to  establish  the  words  of  this  covenant  that  were  written  in  his  book.  And 
all  the  people  confirmed  the  covenant.*^ 


'  II  Kgs.  2218.  19  Luc.  has  the  more  fluent  reading.  Because  thou  hast  heard  my  words  and 
thy  heart  was  penitent  (lit.,  tender). 

§  127  Again  there  is  a  great  difficulty  in  distinguishing  with  assurance  between  the  original 
narrative  and  the  late  prophetic  additions.  Vss.  ^'-  ■''  clearly  reflect  the  exilic  point  of  view  and 
are  intended  to  harmonize  the  subsequent  calamity,  which  overtook  .ludah,  with  the  reforming 
work  of  .Josiah.  The  allusion  in  "'-"*  to  the  very  late  prophetic  tale  in  I  Kgs.  13  is  also  probably 
from  a  later  hand.  To  the  late  prophetic  editor  may  well  be  due  the  succeeding  account  of  the 
extension  of  the  iconoclastic  work  of  .Josiah  from  Bethel  to  the  high  jjlaces  of  Samaria.  As  in 
later  Jewish  times  the  name  of  the  northern  capital  has  here  become  the  designation  of  a  province. 
The  statement  in  -"  that  .Josiah  slew  the  priests  of  the  high  places  is  also  not  consistent  with  the 
general  permission  in  **  for  them  to  come  and  minister  at  the  Jerusalem  sanctuary.  The  move- 
ment, however,  was  in  accord  with  the  spirit  of  tlje  Dculeronomic  code  and  in  keeping  with  the 
fierce  reforming  zeal  of  Josiah  and  the  reformers  who  gathered  about  him.  Vss.  ^'  ^  anticipate  the 
variant  account  of  the  cleansing  of  the  temple  in  "■  "  and  the  treatment  of  the  priests  recorded 
in  *•  '■•.  Otherwise  the  bulk  of  this  important  narrative  appears  to  have  been  taken  from  the 
temple  records  already  quoted.  It  is  most  fortunate  that  this  event,  in  many  ways  the  most 
significant  in  Judah's  religious  history,  is  so  fully  recorded.  Cf.  for  the  character,  history,  and 
content  of  the  Deuteronomic  code  then  iiromulgatod.  Vol.  IV,  Intro<l. 

The  Chronicler  reproduces  the  account  in  Kgs.  of  the  public  promulgation  of  the  new-found 
code  with  practically  no  changes,  excei)t  that  he  expands  the  account  of  its  formal  ratification. 
Itegarding  the  fletaile<l  reforms  he  makes  only  a  brief  general  statement,  for  the  jjicture  which 
the  original  account  gives  of  the  idolatry  of  the  Judahites  w;is  repulsive  to  him. 

The  brief  account  in  Kgs.  of  the  passover  did  not  satisfy  the  ritualistic  taste  of  later  gen- 
erations. Therefore  the  original  version  was  expanded  into  a  midrash,  which  represents  it  as 
having  Vieen  kept  not  acconling  to  the  newly  jiromulgated  law  of  l)t.  or  the  late  priestly  codes, 
but  much  as  in  the  passover  described  in  Ezra  G''-*-,  in  which  the  Levitcs  also  played  a  very  im- 
portant role. 

"  II  Kgs.  2.3'  The  characteristic  expressions  of  the  late  projihetic  editor. 

'■  II  Kgs.  233  The  Chronicler's  version  is,  II  Chr.  34''-,  And  he  enured  all  those  who  were 
found  in  Jerusalem  and  lienjamin  to  confirm  it;  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  did  according 
to  the  covenant  of  God,  the  God  of  their  jatherK. 


II  Kgs.  234]  THE   BABYLONL\N   PERIOD 

Temple  Records 

Josiah's       *And  the  king  commanded   Hilkiah  the  high  priest  and  the  second  priest'  and  the 
prac-       keepers  of  the  threshold  to  bring  out  from  the  temple  of  Jehovah  all  the  vessels  that 
tical         were  made  for  Baal  and  for  Asherah'  and  for  all  the  host  of  heaven;    and  he  burned 
forms      them  without  Jerusalem  in  the  lime-kilns''  by  the  Kidron,  and  carried  their  ashes  to 
inJu-      Bethel.     ■''He  also  deposed  the  idolatrous  priests,  whom  the  kings  of  Judah  had  or- 
dah  and  dained  to  offer  sacrifice  at  the  high  places  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the  places  around 
Jeru-       about  Jerusalem;   those  also  who  offered  sacrifices  to  Baal,  to  the  sun,  the  moon,  and 
salem      ^j^^  planets,'  and  all  the  host  of  heaven.     *^And  he  brought  the  asherah  from  the 
temple  of  Jehovah  outside  Jerusalem  to  the  Prook  of  Kidron  and  burned  it 
at  the  Brook  Kidron,  beat  it  to  dust,  and  cast  its  dust  upon  the  graves  of 
the  common  people.™     ''And  he  broke  down  the  houses  of  the  sacred  prosti- 
tutes who  were  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  where  the  women  wove  tunics'^  for 
the  asherah.     ^And  he  brought  all  the  priests  out  of  the  cities  of  Judah  and 
defiled  the  high  places,  where  the  priests  had  offered  sacrifices,  from  Geba  to 
Beersheba.     And  he  broke  down  the  high  places  of  the  satyrs °,  that  stood 
at  the  entrance  of  the  gate  of  Joshua  the  governor  of  the  city,  which  were 
on  the  left  as  one  enters  the  gate  of  the  city.     ^Nevertheless  the  priests  of 
the  high  places  did  not  come  up  to  the  altar  of  Jehovah  in  Jerusalem,  but 
ate   unleavened    bread  among   their  kinsmen.     ^^He  also  defiled  Topheth, 
which  is  in  the  valley  of  Ben-Hinnom,  that  no  man  might  make  his  son  or 
his  daughter  to  pass  through  the  fire  to  Moloch.     ^^And  he  took  away  the 
horses  that  the  kings  of  Judah  had  given  to  the  sun,  at  the  entrance  of  the 
temple  of  Jehovah,  by    the   chamber  of   Nathan-melech  the    chamberlain 
(which  was  in  the  Parwarim),p  and  he  burned  up  the  chariots  of  the  sun.     ^^And 
the  altars  that  were  on  the  roof  (the  upper  chamber  of  Ahaz)  which  the  kings 
of  Judah  had  made,  and  the  altars  which  Manasseh  had  made  (in  the  two 
courts  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah)<5  the  king  broke  off  and  beat  down'"  from  there 
and  cast  the  dust  from  them  into  the  Brook  Kidron.     ^^And  the  high  places 
that  were  east  of  Jerusalem,  to  the  south  of  the  hill  of  the  destroyer,^  which 
Solomon  the  king  of  Israel  had  built  for  Ashtarte,*  the  abomination  of  the 
Sidonians,  and  for  Chemosh,  the  abomination  of  Moab,  and  for  Milcom,  the 
abomination  of  the  Ammonites,  the  king  defiled.     "And  he  broke  in  pieces  the 
pillars,  and  cut  down  the  asherahs  and  filled  their  places  with  the  bones  of  men. " 

'  II  Kgs.  23*  Heb.,  priests,  but  in  the  light  of  251^  and  the  Targs.,  the  reading  above  seems 
to  have  been  original. 

i  II  Kgs.  23'  Here  the  asherah  appears  to  represent  a  female  deity  corresponding  to  Baal 
{i.e.,  Ashtarte),  but  in  <>  the  reference  is  as  usual  to  the  sacred  poles. 

''II  Kgs.  2.3*  So  Luc,  and  the  corrected  Heb.  text.  The  present  Heb.  has,  fields,  but  the 
word  is  never  used  elsewhere  in  prose. 

'  II  Kgs.  23-5  The  word  probably  means,  lit.,  heavenly  mansions.  The  same  root  is  found 
m  the  fifth  tablet  of  the  Babylonian  Creation  Epic,  He  made  mansions  of  the  great  gods.  These 
mansions  appear  to  have  been  identified  with  certain  planets.  The  identification  accords  per- 
fectly with  the  present  context. 

"II  Kgs.  23'5Cf.  Jer.  26-3. 

°  II  Kgs.  23'  So  Luc,  and  the  transliteration  of  the  Gk.     Heb.,  houses. 

°  II  Kgs.  23«  Slightly  emending  the  Heb. 

p  II  Kgs.  23'^  Possibly  a  Persian  word  meaning,  open  kiosk.  It  was  doubtless  identical 
■with  the  Parbar,  mentioned  in  I  Chr.  26'^,  and  located  to  the  west  of  the  temple.  Cf.  Ezek. 
4]^  12,  15      'Yhe  clause  is  probably  a  later  note. 

ill  Kgs.  23'2  The  reference  to  the  two  courts  rather  than  the  one  of  the  pre-exilic  temple, 
indicates  that  this  also,  like  the  other  topographical  notes,  is  a  later  addition.     Cf.  §  125,  note  *. 

■■  II  Kgs.  23'-  Or,  banished  them.     The  exact  meaning  is  in  doubt. 

=  II  Kgs.  23'3  Or,  destruction.  Possibly  the  name  arose  in  connection  with  the  incident 
recorded  in  II  Sam.  24'«.    Cf.  also  I  Kgs.  IF.     It  was  later  identified  with  the  Mount  of  Ohves. 

*■  II  Kgs.  23'3  Heb.,  as  elsewhere,  Ashtoreth. 

"  II  Kgs.  23'*  This  verse  repeats  2,  ?. 

310 


GREAT   REFOR^L\TIOX   UNDER   JOSIAH    [II  Kgs.  23i5 


Temple  Records 

^^Moreover  the  altar  that  was  at  Bethel,  and  the  high  place  which  Jero- 
boam the  son  of  Nebat,  who  made  Israel  sin,  had  made,  even  that  altar  and 
the  high  place  he  tore  down,  and  broke  in  pieces  its  stones^  and  beat  it  to 

dust  and  burned  the  asherah.  i<'And  when  Josiah  turned  and  saw  the  sepulchres 
that  were  there  on  the  mount,  he  sent,  and  took  the  bones  out  of  the  sepulchres, 
burned  them  upon  the  altar,  and  defiled  it,  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah  which 
the  man  of  God  proclaimed,  who  proclaimed  these  things.  "Then  he  said,  What  is 
yonder  tomb-stone  which  I  see  ?  And  the  men  of  the  city  told  him.  It  is  the  sepul- 
chre of  the  man  of  God,  who  came  from  Judah  and  proclaimed  these  things  that  you 
have  done  agamst  the  altar  of  Bethel.  '*And  he  said,  Let  him  be;  let  no  man  move 
his  bones.  So  they  left  his  bones  undisturbed,  together  with  the  bones  of  the  prophet 
who  came  from  Samaria. 

'^Also  all  the  temples  of  the  high  places  that  were  in  the  cities  of  Samaria,  which  the 
kings  of  Israel  had  made  to  provoke  .lehovah  to  anger,  .losiah  took  away  and  did  to  them 
just  as  he  had  done  at  Bethel.  -"And  all  the  priests  of  the  high  places,  who  were  there, 
he  slew  upon  the  altars  and  burned  men's  bones  upon  them.  Then  he  returned  to 
Jerusalem. 


De- 
struc- 
tion of 
the  al- 
tar and 
tombs 
at 
Bethel 


Of  the 
north- 
ern 
shrines 


2^And  the  king  com- 
manded all  the  people, 
saying.  Keep  the  pass- 
over  to  Jehovah  your 
God,  as  it  is  prescribed 
in  this  book  of  the  cove- 
nant. 22por  such  a  pass- 
over  as  this  had  not  been 
kept  from  the  days  of 
the  judges  who  judged 
Israel,  and  during  the 
days  of  the  kings  of  Is- 
rael and  the  kings  of 
Judah;  -%ut  in  the  eigh- 
teenth year  of  King  Jo- 
siah this  j)assover  was 
kept  to  Jehovah  in  Jeru- 
salem.'' 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  35  ^Josiah  kept  a  passover  to  Jehovah 
in  Jerusalem;  and  they  killed  the  passover  on 
the  fourteenth  of  the  first  month.  ^Xnd  he  set 
the  priests  in  their  offices  and  encouraged  them 
to  perform  the  service  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 
^And  he  said  to  the  Levites  who  taught  all  Israel, 
who  were  holy  to  Jehovah,  Put  the  holy  ark  in 
the  temple  which  Solomon  the  son  of  David  king 
of  Israel  built.  It  shall  no  more  be  a  burden  upon 
your  shoulders.  Now  serve  Jehovah  your  God 
and  his  people  Israel,  ^and  prepare  yourselves 
after  your  fathers'  houses  by  your  divisions  ac- 
cording to  the  directions^'  of  David  king  of  Israel 
and  according  to  the   directions''  of  Solomon  his 


son.  ^And  stand  in  the  holy  place  according  to 
the  divisions  of  the  families  of  your  kinsmen,  the 
laity,  and  let  there  be  for  each  a  part  of  a  levitical 
family.  ®Thus  kill  the  passover  and  keep  your- 
selves holy  and  prepare  it  for  your  kinsmen  that 
they  may  keep  it  as  Jehovah  commanded  through 
Moses. 

'''And  Josiah  distributed  to  the  laity  flocks,  lambs  and  kids — all  of  them  Public 
for  the  passover  ofi"erings — to  all  who  were  present,  to  the  number  of  thirty  \\omoi 
thousand,  and  three  thousand  bullocks — these  were   from   the  king's  pos-  ^he^ 
.sessions.     ^And  his  princes  distributed  as  a  voluntary  gift  to  the  people,  and 
to  the  f)riests,  and  to  the  Levites  Ililkiah  and  Zechariah  and  Jehiel,  the  rulers  p""<=^^ 
of  the  house  of  God,  gave  to  the  j)riests  for  the  passover-offerings  two  thousand 
six  hundred  lambs  and  three  hundred  oxen.     ^Conaniah  also  and  Shemaiah 


"  II  Kgs.  23"  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  has  the  impossible,  burned  the  high  place. 
"11  Chr.  .3.5'  Heb.,  writing. 

»  II  Kks.  23-"'  23  Possibly  these  verses  are  secondary  additions,  for  they  seem  to  reflect  a 
late  point  of  view. 


311 


over 
sacri 
fices 


II  Chr.  359]  THE    BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

and  Netlianeel  his  kinsman,  and  Hashabiah  and  Jeiel  and  Jozabad,  the 
chiefs  of  the  Levites,  distributed  to  the  Levites  for  the  passover-offerings 
five  thousand  lambs  and  five  hundred  oxen. 
Prepa-  ^^So  the  service  was  instituted  and  the  priests  stood  in  their  place  and 
oUhe  the  Levites  by  their  divisions,  according  to  the  king's  command.  ^^And 
pass-  ti^gy  killed  the  passover  and  the  priests  sprinkled  the  blood  from  their  hands, 
while  the  Levites  took  off  the  skins,  ^^^^j  they  removed  the  burnt-offerings, 
that  they  might  give  them  according  to  the  divisions  of  the  families  of  the 
laity,  to  offer  to  Jehovah,  as  it  is  prescribed  in  the  book  of  Moses.  And 
thus  they  did  with  the  oxen.  ^^And  they  roasted  the  passover  on  the  fire 
according  to  the  ordinance;  while  they  boiled  the  holy  offerings  in  pots,  in 
caldrons,  in  pans,  and  carried  them  quickly  to  all  the  laity.  ^^And  after- 
ward they  prepared  for  themselves  and  for  the  priests,  because  the  priests, 
the  sons  of  Aaron,  were  busied  in  offering  the  burnt-offerings  and  the  fat 
pieces  until  night;  therefore  the  Levites  prepared  it  for  themselves  and  for 
the  priests,  the  sons  of  Aaron. 
Manner  ^^And  the  singers,  the  sons  of  Asaph,  were  in  their  place  according  to  the 
serving  Command  of  David  and  Asaph  and  Heman  and  Jeduthun  the  king's  seer. 
^he  And  the  porters  were  at  each  gate;  they  did  not  need  to  depart  from  their  ser- 
vice, for  their  kinsmen  the  Levites  prepared  it  for  them.  ^^So  all  the  ser- 
vice of  Jehovah  was  instituted  the  same  day,  so  that  they  kept  the  passover, 
and  offered  burnt-offerings  on  the  altar  of  Jehovah  according  to  the  com- 
mand of  King  Josiah.  ^'^And  the  Israelites  who  were  present  kept  the  pass- 
over  at  that  time  and  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread  seven  days.  ^^And 
there  was  no  passover  Hke  that  kept  in  Israel  from  the  days  of  Samuel  the 
prophet;  neither  did  any  of  the  kings  of  Israel  keep  such  a  passover  as  Josiah 
kept;  and  the  priests  and  the  Levites  and  all  Judah  and  Israel  were  present, 
together  with  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  ^^i^  \]iq  eighteenth  year  of  the 
reign  of  Josiah  was  this  passover  kept. 

Late  (Exilic)  Prophetic  Summary 

Josiah's      II  Kgs.  33     24]\/[QpgQver  the    mediums,  the  wizards,  the  idols,  and  all 

tothe^   the  abominations  that  were  seen  in  the  land  of  Judah   and  in  Jerusalem, 

'^^        Josiah  put  away,  that  he  might  establish  the  words  of  the  law  which  were 

written  in  the  book  that  Hilkiah  the  priest  found  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 

2^And  before  him  there  was  no  king  like  him  who  turned  to  Jehovah  with 

all  his  heart  and  with  all  his  soul  and  with  all  his  might  according  to  all  the 

law  of  Moses;  neither  after  him  did  any  arise  like  him. 

^^Notwithstanding,  Jehovah  did  not  turn  from  the  fierceness  of  his  great 
wrath,  since  his  anger  was  kindled  against  Judah,  because  of  all  the  provo- 
cations with  which  Manasseh  had  provoked  him.  ^^Qo  Jehovah  said,  I  will 
remove  Judah  also  out  of  my  sight,  as  I  have  removed  Israel,  and  I  will  cast 
off  this  city  which  I  have  chosen,  even  Jerusalem,  and  the  temple  of  which 
I  said,  '  My  name  shall  be  there.'^ 

a  II  Kgs.  23-'--''  Not  only  is  the  general  point  of  view  late,  but  the  idioms  are  those  peculiar 
to  the  late  prophetic  school.  The  references  in  -'  to  the  exile  indicate  that  this  summary  is 
from  the  exilic  editor  of  the  book  of  Kgs.     Cf.  Introd.,  p.  21. 

312 


II  Kgs.  2329] 


JOSIAH'S   DEATH 


[II  Chr.  3520 


§  128.  Josiah's  Death,  II  Kgs.  <2S'~«-^'>,  II  Chr.  35-'>-3(i^ 


Annals  oj  Judah 

Josiah's      II  Kgs.  23  -Hn 

Iftack  the  days  [of  Josiah] 
Necho  Pharaoh-  necho'^ 
king  of  Egypt  went 
up  against  the  king 
of  Assyria  to  the 
River  Euphrates. 
And  King  Josiah 
went  against  him; 
and  Pharaoh-necho 
slew  him  at  Me- 
giddo,  as  soon  as  he 
confronted®  him. 
^''And  his  servants 
carried  him  in  a 
chariot  from  Me- 
giddo  and  brought 
him  to  Jerusalem, 
and  buried  him  in 
his  own  sepulchre. 


Chrou icier" s  Ecclesiastical  History 

II  Chr.  35  20After  all  this,  when  Josiah  had  set  the 
temple  again  in  order,  Necho  king  of  Egypt  went  Tip  to 
fight  at  Carchemish  by  the  Euphrates.  And  Josiah 
went  out  against  him.  ^igyt  \^q  ggnt  ambassadors  to 
him,  saying.  What  have  we  to  do  with  each  other, 
king  of  Judah  ?  I  come  not  against  you  this  day, 
but  against  my  ancestral  enemy,  ^  and  God  has  com- 
manded me  to  make  haste;  do  not  interfere  with  God, 
who  is  with  me,  that  he  destroy  you  not.  --Neverthe- 
less Josiah  would  not  turn  away  his  face  from  him, 
but  presumed  to  attack  him^  and  gave  no  heed  to  the 
words  of  Necho  from  the  mouth  of  God.  So  he  ad- 
vanced to  the  attack  in  the  valley  of  Megiddo.  ^S'p'i^gji 
the  archers  shot  at  King  Josiah,  so  that  the  king  had 
to  say  to  his  servants.  Take  me  away;  fori  am  severely 
wounded.  -"^So  his  servants  took  him  from  the  char- 
iot and  put  him  in  the  second  chariot  that  he  had 
and  brought  him  to  Jerusalem.  There  he  died  and 
was  buried  in  the  sepulchres  of  his  fathers.  And  all 
Judah  and  Jerusalem  mourned  for  Josiah.  ^5  \n(j  Jere- 
miah sang  a  song  of  lamentation  for  Josiah;  and  all  the 
singing  men  and  singing  women  speak  of  Josiah  in 
their  lamentations  to  this  day.  And  they  made  them 
a  custom  in  Israel;  and  now  they  are  written  in  the 
lamentations. 


hi 

reign 


Rec-  ''Now  the  other  acts   of   Josiah    and 

ords  of    all  that   he  did,    are   they   not   recorded 
in  the  Clironicles  of  the  Kings  of  Judah? 

"^"^And  the  people  of  the  land  took 

Jehoahaz   the    son    of    Josiah    and 

anointed  him  and  made  him  king  in 

place  of  his  father. 


26Now  the  other  acts  of  Josiah  and 
his  good  deeds,  according  to  that 
which  is  prescribed  in  the  law  of  Je- 
hovah, 27 and  his  earlier,  as  well  as 
his  later  acts,  are  recorded  in  the 
Book  of  the  Kings  of  Israel  and  Judah. 


§  128  The  account  of  the  tragic  death  of  Judah's  reforminK  king  was  doubtless  found  in 
the  annals  of  Judah  and  is  quoted  by  the  editor  of  Kgs.  lie  lias  prefaced  his  citation  witli  liis 
usual  formula,  which,  however,  logically  follows  ™".  The  (Chronicler's  version  endeavors  to  ex- 
plain why  the  goori  king  was  cut  off  in  his  full  vigor  and  gives  the  earliest  trace  of  the  late  Jewish 
traditions  that  Jeremiah  wrote  Lamentations.  The  story  is  so  vividly  told  and  with  so  many 
details  that  it  seems  probable  that  it  was  derived  from  the  oft-quoted  source  which  he  mentions 
in  27.  The  fact  that  the  death  of  .Josiah  was  still  r)ublicly  celebrated  also  confirms  the  conclusion 
that  the  story  took  form  not  long  after  the  events  recorded. 

b  II  Kgs.  2.3-'  Necho  II,  the  second  king  of  the  twenty-sixth  dynasty.  In  Kgs.  the  name 
is  spelled,  Nechoh.     Cf.  Chron.  chart  after  p.   199. 

«  II  Chr.  .3.5-'  Heb.,  the  house  vilh  which  I  am  at  war.  The  Heb.  text  appears  to  be  defec- 
tive.    Possiblv  the  Gk.  has  the  original,  /  have  come  to  light. 

•1  II  Chr. '3.>"  So  Gk.  ami  many  of  the  versions.  The  Heb.  reading,  (lUf/uised  himself,  is 
probably  due  to  the  error  of  a  copyist  who  had  in  mind  Ahab's  end,  1  Kgs.  22. 

-Il  Kgs.  2329  Heb.,  saw. 


313 


II  Kgs.  2331] 


THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 


Evil 

policy 
of  Je- 
hoahaz 

Terms 
im- 
posed 
by  the 
con- 
queror, 
Necho 


§  129.  Jehoahaz's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  23"",  H  Chr.  SG^-* 

Annals  of  Judah 

II  Kgs.  23  ^ijehoahaz  was  twenty-three  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign  and 
he  reigned  three  montlis  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name  was  Hamutal  the 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  of  Libnah.  ^a^nd  he  did  that  which  displeased  Jehovah 
just  as  his  fathers  had  done.  ^S^j^j  Pharaoh-Necho  put  him  in  bonds  at 
Riblah  in  the  land  of  Hamath,  that  he  might  not  reign  in  Jerusalem/  and 
imposed  on  the  land  a  tribute  of  a  hundred  talents  of  silver  and  tens  talents 
of  gold.  34^n(j  Pharaoh-Necho  made  EHakim  the  son  of  Josiah  king  in 
place  of  Josiah  his  father  and  changed  his  name  to  Jehoiakim.  But  he  took 
Jehoahaz  away  with  him,  and  he  came  to  Egypt  and  died  there.  35\j^(j 
Jehoiakim  gave  the  silver  and  the  gold  to  Pharaoh.  He  had  to  tax  the  land, 
however,  to  give  the  money  demanded  by  Pharaoh:  each  according  to  his 
taxation,  exacted  the  silver  and  the  gold  from  the  people  of  the  land**  in  order 
to  give  it  to  Pharaoh-Necho. 


Evil 
policy 
of 

Jehoia- 
kim 
Con- 
quest 
of  Ju- 
dah by 
Neb- 
uchad- 


§  130.  Jehoiakim's  Reign,  II  Kgs.  233«.  ^\  24»-',  II  Chr.  365-8 

Annals  of  Judah 

II  Kgs.  23  30 Jehoiakim  was  twenty-five  years  old  when  he  became  king  and  he 
reigned  eleven  j'ears  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name  was  Zebidah'  the  daughter 
of  Pedaiah  of  Rumah.  ^^And  he  did  that  which  displeased  Jehovah  just  as  his  fathers 
had  done. 

24  i^In  his  days  NebuchadnezzarJ  king  of  Babylon  came  up,  and  Jehoia- 
kim became  subject  to  him  for  three  years.  '^And  the  king  of  Egypt  came  no 
more  out  of  his  land;  for  the  king  of  Babylon  had  taken,  from  the  Brook  of 
Egypt  to  the  River  Euphrates,  all  that  had  belonged  to  the  king  of  Egypt. '^ 

I'^Then  [Jehoiakim]  again  rebelled  against  him.  ^^jid  Jehovah  sent  against 
him  guerilla  bands  of  the  Chaldeans,  of  the  Arameans,  of  the  Moabites,  and  of  the  Am- 
monites; these  he  sent  against  Judah  to  destroy  it,  according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah, 
which  he  had  spoken  by  his  servants  the  prophets.  ^Surely  at  the  conunand  of  Jeho- 
vah' this  came  upon  Judah  that  he  might  remove  it  out  of  his  sight,  because  of  the  sins 
of  Mana&seh,  according  to  all  that  he  had  done,  ^and  also  because  of  the  innocent 
blood;  and  Jehovah  would  not  pardon.  *Now  the  other  acts  of  Jehoiakim  and  all  that 
he  did,  are  they  not  recorded  in  the  Chronicles  of  the  Kings  of  Judah?  *So  Jehoiakim 
slept  with  his  fathers,  and  Jehoiachin  his  son  became  king  in  liis  place.m 


§  129  As  usual  the  quotations  from  the  state  annals  are  prefaced  with  the  formula  of  the 
late  proi^hetic  editor.     The  Chronicler  has  simply  abridged  the  narrative  of  Kgs. 

f  2333  xhat  he  mir/ht  7iot  reign  in  Jerusalem  is  perhaps  a  gloss  added  from  the  parallel  in 
II  Chr.  36'.     The  first  part  of  **  is,  however,  lacking  in  Chr. 

8  2333  So  Luc.  and  Syr.     Heb.,  one. 

b  233s  The  meaning  of  the  Heb.  appears  to  be  that  the  landed  proprietors  were  assessed 
according  to  the  valuation  of  their  property  and  then  collected  it  from  the  peasants  who  worked 
their  land. 

§  130  III  242  material  apparently  taken  from  the  state  annals  is  epitomized  by  the  late 
prophetic  editor.  The  quotation  in  ^  probably  originally  followed  '".  The  Chronicler  confuses 
Jehoiakim  and  his  son  Jehoiachin,  and  represents  the  former  as  carried  away  captive  to  Babylon, 
II  Chr.  36''.  He  also  adds  in  ^  that,  Nebuchadnezzar  also  carried  away  some  of  the  vessels  of 
the  temple  of  Jehoi'ah  and  put  them  in  his  temple  at  Babylon. 

i  2S»  Or,  Zebuddah.     Cf.  I  Kgs.  A\ 

>  24[  Heb.,  in  Kgs.  and  Dan.,  N ebnchadnezzar,  but  the  more  exact  form,  Nebuchadrezzar, 
appears  in  Jer.     The  original  Bab.  is  Nabu-kudur-ufur. 

^  24''  The  conquest  of  all  Palestine  here  recorded  was  soon  after  the  great  victory  at 
Carchemish  in  604  b.c.  Vs.  ''  logically  follows  immediately  after  '".  The  rebellion  recorded 
in  "^  probably  occurred  in  600  B.C. 

'  243  Gk.,  Luc,  Syr.,  and  Targ.  read,  on  account  of  the  anger  of. 

•^  246  The  Gk.  of  the  parallel  in  II  Chr.  368  adds  what  may  have  been  struck  out  of  Kgs. 
because  of  Jer.  22'',  and  buried  him  in  the  garden  of  Uzza. 


314- 


JEREMIAH'S   PREACHING  [Jer.  26i 

§  131.  Jeremiah's  Preaching  and  Trial,  Jer.  SG'-'^ 
BarucJis  Biographij  of  Jeremiah 

Jer.  36  ^In  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah,  Jere- 
king  of  Judali,  this  word  came  from  Jehovah,  saying,  ^Thus  saith  Jehovah :  prejlc!. 
'  Stand  in  the  court  of  Jehovah's  house,  and  speak  to  all  the  people"  of  Judah.  t'""  "^ 
who  come  to  worship  in  Jehovah's  house,  all  the  words  that  I  command  you  struc- 
to  speak  to  them,  Uo  not  take  away  a  word.     ^Perhaps  they  will  hearken  tLTcity 
and  turn  each  from  his  wicked  way,  that  I  may  repent  of  the  evil  which  I  and 
purpose  to  do  to  them  because  of  the  wickedness  of  their  deeds.     '^And  thou 
shalt  say  to  them,  "  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  If  ye  will  not  listen  to  me,  to  walk 
in  my  law  which  I  have  set  before  you,  ^to  hearken  to  the  words  of  my  ser- 
vants the  prophets,  whom  I  send  to  you,  sending  them  constantly  although 
you  do  not  heed,  "^then  will  I  make  this  temple  like  Shiloh,  and  will  make 
this  city  an  object  of  execration  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth."  '     ^And 
the  priests  and  the  prophets  and  all  the  people  heard  Jeremiah  speaking  these 
words  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 

^And  then  when  Jeremiah  had  finished  speaking  all  that  Jehovah  had  com-  Popu- 
manded  him  to  speak  to  all  the  people,  the  priests  and  prophets  and  all  the  mmc- 
people  took  hold  of  him,  saying.  You  must  die.     ^Why  have  you  prophesied  ment 
in  the  name  of  Jehovah,  saying,  '  This  temple  shall  be  like  Shiloh,  and  this  him  to 
city  shall  be  desolate,  without  habitation  ?  '     And  all  the  people  were  gathered    ^'^^  ^ 
about  Jeremiah  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 

^•^And  when  the  princes  of  Judah  heard  these  things,  they  came  up  from  His 
the  king's  palace  to  the  temple  of  Jehovah;  and  they  sat  at  the  entrance  of  gponse 
the  new  gate  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah.     ^^Then  the  priests  and  the  prophets  t"|'i.e 
spoke  to  the  princes  and  to  all  the  people  saying,  This  man  is  guilty  of  a  ar- 
capital  offence,  for  he  has  prophesied  against  this  city  as  you  have  heard"'  ment' 
with  your  own  ears.     ^"Then  Jeremiah  addressed  the  princes  and  all  the 
people,  saying,  It  was  Jehovah  who  sent  me  to  prophesy  against  this  temple, 
and  against  this  city  all  the  words  that  you  have  heard.    ^^Now  therefore 
reform  your  ways  and  your  acts,  and  obey  the  voice  of  Jehovah  your  God; 
and  Jehovah  will  repent  of  the  evil  that  he  has  pronounced  against  you. 
^*But  as  for  me,  see,  I  am  in  your  hand;  do  with  me  as  appears  to  you  to 
be  good  and  right.     ^^Only  be  assured  that,  if  you  put  me  to  death,  you  will 
bring  innocent  blood  upon  yourselves  and  upon  this  city  and  upon  its   in- 
habitants, for  assuredly  Jehovah  hath  sent  me  to  you  to  speak  all  these 
things  in  your  ears. 

§  1.31  This  is  the  first  of  those  important  incidents  in  the  life  of  .Tcremi ah  recorded  in  the 
book  of  Jeremiah,  the  basis  of  which  proljahly  came  directly  from  the  pen  of  his  faithful  scribe 
Baruch.  Not  only  do  they  clearly  and  vividly  present  the  experiences  and  trials  of  the  |)atriotic 
prophet,  but  they  also  supplement  the  meaRre  narrative  in  Kgs.  at  certain  of  the  most  important 
epochs  in  .ludah's  history.     Cf.  7''''  for  the  fuller  versif)n  of  .leremiah's  sermon. 

The  Gk.  has  a  much  briefer  version  of  the  extracts  from  the  hioKraphy  of  .lorcmiah.^  In 
many  ca.ses  this  doubtless  approximates  more  closely  to  the  oricinal  than  the  fuller  lleb.  Where 
the  Gk.  is  obviously  correct  or  is  strongly  .supported  by  the  context,  it  has  been  followed  and 
the  reasons  briefly  indicated  in  the  notes.  Otnerwi.se  where  the  evidence  is  not  conclusive  the 
Heb.  text  has  been  adopted.     For  a  fuller  discussion  of  the  text  of  .)er.,  cf.  \'ol.  Ill  in  toco. 

"  26'^  So  Gk.    Heb.,  cities,  was  i)robably  introduced  by  a  scribe  familiar  with  11". 

"  20"  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  adds,  all. 

315 


Jer.  2616]  THE    BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

Baruclis  BiograjjJvj  of  Jeremiah 

Cita-  I6f  hen  the  princes  and  all  the  people  said  to  the  priests  and  to  the  prophets, 

tioji  of  rpj^jg  j^g^j^  jg  j^^Q^  guilty  of  a  capital  offence,  for  he  has  spoken  to  us  in  the  name 
prece-  of  Jehovah  our  God.  i"Thereupon  certain  of  the  elders  of  the  land  arose 
estab-  and  spoke  to  all  the  assembly  of  the  people,  saying,  ^^Micah  the  Morashite 
by'di'e  prophesied  in  the  days  of  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah;  and  he  spoke  to  all  the 
prophet  people  of  Judah,  saying,  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts: 

"  Zion  shall  be  plowed  as  a  field, 
And  Jerusalem  shall  become  stone-heaps. 
And  the  temple-momit  wooded  heights."  'p 

i^Did  Hezekiah <i  and  all  Judah  indeed  put  him  to  death  ?  Did  they  not 
fear  Jehovah  and  appease  Jehovah,  so  that  Jehovah  repented  of  the  evil 
which  he  had  pronounced  against  them  ?  But  we  are  on  the  point  of  doing 
great  injury  to  ourselves. 

§  132.  Martyrdom  of  the  Prophet  Uriah,  Jer.  262»-2* 

BanicJis  Biography  of  Jeremiah 
Fate  of       Jer.  26  20Now  there  was  also  a  man  who  prophesied  in  the  name  of 
who*^     Jehovah,  Uriah    the  son   of   Shemaiah   of  Kiriath-jearim;    and  he  prophe- 
proph-    sigj  aeainst  this  citv  and  against  this  land  in  the  same  terms  as  did  Jere- 

GSlGcl  O  »  O 

the  miah.  ^l^nd  wdien  Jehoialdm  the  king'"  and  all  the  princes  heard  his  words, 
same  as  ^j^^  j^j^^^  sought  to  put  him  to  death;  but  when  Uriah  heard  it  he  was  afraid 
i^iah  and  fled  and  went  to  Egypt.  22^j^(j  Jehoiakim  the  king  sent  men  to  Egypt, 
Elnathan  the  son  of  Achbor  and  certain  men  vnth  him  to  Egypt.'  ^"^And  they 
brought  Uriah  from  Egypt,  and  took  him  to  Jehoiakim  the  king,  and  he 
slew  him  with  the  sword  and  cast  his  dead  body  into  the  graves  of  the  com- 
mon people.  24}3^t  the  influence  of  Ahikam  the  son  of  Shaphan  was  in 
favor  of  Jeremiah  that  they  should  not  give  him  into  the  hands*  of  the  people 
to  put  him  to  death. 

§  133.  First  and  Second  Collections  of  Jeremiah's  Sermons,  Jer.  36 

Baruclis  Biography  of  Jeremiah 
The  Jer.  36  ^Now  in  the  fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah  king  of 

com-  Judah,  the  following  message  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  ^Take  a 
mand  book-roU  and  write  on  it  all  the  words  that  I  have  spoken  to  thee  regarding 
cord  his  Jerusalem  and  Judah^  and  all  the  nations,  since  the  day  I  spoke  to  thee, 

earlier _^___ 

proph- 
ecies P  26'*  Cf.  the  prophecy  quoted  in  Mic.  S^^. 

1  26'^  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  adds  the  unnecessary,  kino  of  Judah,  probably  from  '8. 
§  132  This  exceedingly  suggestive  incidental  note  was  probably  also  taken  from  Baruch's 
biography  of  Jeremiah,  and  was  intended  to  illustrate  the  martyr's  fate  which  Jeremiah  so  nar- 
rowly escaped. 

^  26-'  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds,  and  all  his  mighty  warriors. 

s  26-'-  Not  found  in  the  Gk.  and  evidently  a  later  addition.     In  36'^.  25  Elnathan  appears 
as  a  friend  of  Jeremiah, 
t  26"  Heb.,  hand. 

§  133  This  valuable  account  of  the  origin  and  fate  of  the  first  and  second  editions  of  Jere- 
miah's work  is  also  probably  from  the  pen  of  his  faithful  scribe.  It  is  really  the  only  detailed 
bit  of  literary  history  in  the  O.T.,  and  for  that  reason  is  exceedingly  illuminating.  The  im- 
mediate motive  which  influenced  the  prophet  to  this  act  was  probably  the  appearance  of  the 
Chaldeans  (about  604  b.c.)  on  the  political  horizon. 
"  362  gQ  Qji_    xhe  Heb.  has,  regarding  Israel. 

316 


COLLECTION   OF   JEREML\H'S   SERMONS      [Jer.  36^ 
Baruch's  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

from  the  time  of  Josiah,  even  to  this  day.  ^Perhaps  the  liouse  of  Judah  will 
give  heed  to  all  the  evil  which  I  purpose  to  do  to  them,  so  that  they  will 
turn  each  from  his  evil  way,  that  I  may  forgive  their  iniquity  and  their  sin. 

"^Then  Jeremiah  called  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah;  and  Baruch  wrote  at  the  His 
dictation  of  Jeremiah  all  the  words  of  Jehovah,  which  he  had  spoken  to  him,  ^^^nd 
upon  a  roll  of  a  book.     ^And  Jeremiah  commanded  Baruch,  saying,  I  am  t" 
prevented,  I  cannot  go  to  the  temple  of  Jehovah.     ^Therefore  you  go  and  to  read 
read  in  the  roll,  which  you  have  written  at  my  dictation,  the  words  of  Jehovah  ijef,'"^ 
in  the  hearing  of  the  people  in  Jehovah's  house  upon  the  fast-day.     And  tiie 
also  you  shall  read  them  in  the  hearing  of  all  the  people  of  Judah  who  have 
come  from  their  cities.     "Perhaps  they  will  present  their  supplication  before 
Jehovah^'  and  will  turn  each  from  his  evil  course,  for  great  is  the  anger  and 
the  wrath  that  Jeliovah  has  pronounced  against  this  people.     ^And  Baruch 
the  son  of  Neriah  did  just  as  Jeremiah  the  prophet  commanded  him,  reading 
out  of  the  books  the  word  of  Jehovah  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah. 

^Now  in  the  fifth  year  of  Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah  king  of  Judah,  in  The 
the  ninth  month,  all  the  people  in  Jerusalem  and  all  the  people  who  came  J-eaJi. 
from  the  cities  of  Judah  to  Jerusalem   proclaimed  a  fast  before  Jehovah,  ing 
^^hen  Baruch  read  in  the  hearing  of  all  the  people  out  of  the  book  the 
words  of  Jeremiah  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah  in  the  chamber  of  Gemariah 
the  son  of  Shaj)liau,  the  chancellor  in  the  upper  court  at  the  entry  of  the  new 
gate  of  Jehovah's  house. 

^^And  when  Micaiah  the  son  of  Gemariah,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  had  heard  The 
all  the  words  of  Jehovah  out  of  the  book,  ^"he  went  down  into  the  royal  [fef'ore*^ 
palace  to  the  chancellor's  chamber  and  there  were  sitting  all  the  princes,  j^'''^'!"" 
Elishama  the  chancellor,  and  Delaiah  the  son  of  Shemaiah,  Elnathan  the  the 
son  of  Achbor,  Gemariah  the.  son  of  Shaphan,  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Ilananiah,  ^^^'-^^^ 
and  all  the  princes.     ^'^Then  Micaiah  made  known  all  the  words  that  he 
had  heard,  when  Baruch  read  the  book  in  the  liearing  of  the  people.     ^^Then 
all  the  princes  sent  Jehudi  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  the 
son  of  Cushi,  to  Baruch,  saying.  Take  in  your  hand  the  roll  from  which  you 
have  read  in  the  hearing  of  all  the  people,  and  come  here.     So  Baruch  the 
son  of  Neriah  took  the  roll  in  his  hand,  and  came  to  them.     ^''Then  they 
said  to  him,  Sit  down  now  and  read  it  in  our  hearing.     So  Baruch  read  it  in 
their  hearing.      ^'''But  when   they  had  heard   all   the  words,   they  turned  in 
alarm  to  one  another,  and  said  to  Baruch,  We  nuist  surely  (ell  the  king  of  all 
these  words.     ^''And  they  asked  Baruch,  saying.  Tell  us  now,   '  Plow  did 
you  write  all  these  words  ?  '^'^     ^^Then   Baruch   answered    them,  Jeremiah 
dictated^  all  these  words  to  me  and  I  wrote  them  with  ink-'^  in  the  book. 
I'-'Then  the  princes  said  to  Baruch,  Go,  hide  yourself,  you  and  Jeremiah, 
and  let  no  man  know  where  you  are. 


V  3fl'  Heb.,  their  supvh'rnlion  will  fall  before  Jehovah,  i.e.,  they  will  approach  Jeliovah 
in  a  penitent,  humble  atlitiide. 

"  '.W  So  Ok.     A  scribe  has  added  in  the  Heb.,  at  his  dictation. 

' '.W*   Helj.,  adlitil  did  irilh.  Iiin  i/ioiith-. 

•  .'iO"*  The  exact  irieaniriK  of  the  phrase  translated,  with  ink,  is  doubllul.  The  ongmal  text 
may  have  read,  with  my  hand.     The  Gk.  omits. 

317 


Jer.  3620]  THE    BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

Baruch's  Biogra'phi/  of  Jeremiah 

The  20j3yt  tijpy  ^ent  in  to  the  king  in  his  apartment,^  after  they  had  laid 

^^^^'^     up  the  roll  in  the  chamber  of  Elishama  the  chancellor,  and  they  told   all 
tempt     these ^  words  in  the  hearing  of  the  king,     ^i^hen  the  king  sent  Jehudi  to 
profit    bring  the  roll,  and  he  brought  it  out  of  the  chamber  of  Ehshama  the  chan- 
and^       cellor.     And  Jehudi  read  it  in  the  hearing  of  the  king  and  of  all  the  princes 
com-      who  stood  beside  the  king.     '^'^Now  the  king  was  sitting  in  the  winter  house^ 
toTr-     with  a  heated  brazier''  burning  before  him.     ^s^^j  ^.^gn  Jehudi  had  read 
"^ro  het  three  or  four  double  columns,  the  king  cut  it  with  the  paperknife,^  and  threw 
it  into  the  fire  that  was  on  the  brazier,  until  the  entire  roll  was  consumed 
in  the  fire  that  was  on  the  brazier,     ^igut  they  were  not  alarmed  nor  tore 
their  garments — neither  the  king  nor  any  of  his  servants  who  heard  all  these 
words.     25]yi;Qreover,   although   Elnathan   and  Delaiah  and   Gemariah  be- 
sought the  king  not  to  burn  the  roll,  he  would  not  hear  them.     26'p]^gn  the 
king  commanded  Jerahmeel  the  king's  son  and  Seraiah  the  son  of  Azriel 
and  Shelemiah  the  son  of  Abdeel  to  seize  Baruch  the  scribe  and  Jeremiah 
the  prophet,  but  Jehovah  kept  them  concealed. 
Com-  27xhen  after  the  king  had  burned  the  roll,  that  is,  alls  the  words  which 

mand^    Baruch  wrote  at  the  dictation  of  Jeremiah,  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to 
pare       Jeremiah  as  follows,  ^STake  again  another  roll  and  write  in  it  all  the  words 
enroll'    that  were  in  the  first  roll,  which  Jehoiakim  the  king  of  Judah  burned. 
Proph-       29^nd  concerning  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah  thou  shalt  say,  '  Thus  saith 
thedi-   Jehovah,  "Thou  hast  burned  this  roll  saying:  Why  hast  thou  thus  written 
struc-     therein :  The  king  of  Babylon  shall  assuredly  come  and  destroy  this  land  and 
Judah    shall  remove  from  there^  man  and  beast  ?  "     ^^xherefore  thus  saith  Jehovah 
rdgn-^^  concerning  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah,  "  He  shall  have  none  left  to  sit  upon 
ing         the  throne  of  David  and  his  dead  body  shall  be  exposed  to  the  heat  by  day 
and  to  the  frost  by  night.     ^^And  I  will  visit  upon  him  and  his  descendants 
and  his  servants  their  iniquity,  and  I  will  bring  upon  them  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Jerusalem  and  the  men  of  Judah,  all  the  evil  that  I  have  pronounced 
against  them,  but  which  they  heeded  not."  ' 
Prepa-       ^^-phen  Jeremiah  took  another  roll  and  gave  it  to  Baruch  the  scribe  the 
of  an"^     son  of  Neriah,  who  wrote  on  it  at  the  dictation  of  Jeremiah  all  the  words  of 
en-        the  book  which  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah  had  burned  in  the  fire.     x\nd  there 
second    were  also  added  to  them  many  other  similar  words. 

edition 


»>  362"  Heb.,  court;  but  from  22  it  would  appear  that  the  place  originally  designated  was  the 
inner  apartment  of  the  palace. 

<=  36-"  So  Gk.  and  Targ.     Heb.  omits,  these. 

<*  36-  So  Gk.      Heb.  adds  from  ",  in  the  ninth  month,  i.e.,  December. 

"  36--  Correcting  the  corrupt  Heb.,  with  the  aid  of  the  Gk. 

'36-3  Heb.,  knife  of  the  scribe  or  chancellor. 

K  36^^  So  Gk.  which  adds,  all,  and  omits  the  awkward,  and,  of  the  Heb. 

•>362^  Heb.,  cause  to  rest  from  there. 


318 


THE   FIRST    CAPTIVITY  [II  Kgs.  248 

§  134.  The  First  Captivity  (597  b.c),  H  Kgs.  2¥-^\  11  Chr.  36" ■  i" 
Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.   24  ^Jehoiachin  was  eighteen  years  old  when  he  became  king,  Evil 
and  he  reigned  in  Jerusalem  three  months.     And  his  mother's  name  was  ofj'g^ 
Nehushta  the  daucrhter  of  Elnathan  of  Jerusalem.     ^And  he  did  that  which  h"ia- 
displeased  Jehovah  just  as  his  father  had  done. 

I'^At  that  time  the  servants  of  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon  came  Capture 
up  against  Jerusalem,  and  the  city  was  besifeged.  ^^And  Nebuchadnezzar  "usalem 
kine  of  Babvlon  came  to  the  city,  while  his  servants  were  besieging  it;  ^-and  °-^'^  ^^^ 

o  •  *'  ^  o     o       '  ucpor- 

Jehoiachin  the  king  of  Judah  went  out  to  the  king  of  Babylon,  together  with  tation 
his  mother,  and  his  servants,  his  princes,  and  his  chamberlains.     And  the  hoia-' 
king  of  Babvlon  took  him  captive  in  the  eighth  year'  of  his  reign.      "\nd  lie  ^^''^.i^ 
carried  away  from  there  all  the  treasures  of  the  house  of  Jehovah  and  the  treasures  of  ruling 
the  royal  palace  and  cut  in  pieces  all  the  vessels  of  gold  which  Solomon  king  of  Israel  had  classes 
made  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  as  Jehovah  had  said.   '^And  he  carried  away  as  captives 
all  Jerusalem  and  all  the  princes  and  all  the  mighty  warriors,  even  ten  thousand,  and 
all  the  craftsmen  and  the  smiths;  none  remained,  except  the  poorest  people  of  the  land. 

^^.Vnd  he  carried  away  Jehoiachin  to  Babylon;  and  the  king's  mother  and 
the  king's  wives,  and  his  chamberlains,  and  the  chief  men  of  the  land,  he 
carried  into  captivity  from  Jeru.salem  to  Babylon.  ^^And  all  the  men  of 
ability,  even  seven  thousand,  and  the  craftsmen  and  the  smiths  a  thousand, 
all  of  them  strong  and  ready  for  war;  these  the  king  of  Babvlon  took  captive 
to  Babylon.  ^"xV.nd  the  king  of  Babylon  made  ]Mattaniah,  Jehoiachin's  uncle, 
king  in  his  place,  and  changed  his  name  to  Zedekiah. 

§  135.  Zedekiah's  Reign  and  Rebellion  against  Babylon,  II  Kgs.  24'8-25-, 

Jer.  52'  \  U  Chr.  SG"'" 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  24  ^^Zedekiah  was  twenty-one 
years  old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he 
reigned  eleven  years  in  Jerusalem;  and  his 
mother's  name  was  Hamutal  the  daughter  of 
Jeremiah  of  Libnah.  ^^And  he  did  that 
which  displeased  Jehovah,  just  as  Jehoiakim 
had  done.  ^Op^j.  through  the  anger  of  Jeho- 
vah it  came  over  Jerusalem  and  Judah  until 
he  had  cast  them  out  of  his  presence. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical 
History 

II  Chr.  36  "Zedekiah 
was  twenty-one  years  old 
when  he  began  to  reign,  and 
lie  reigned  eleven  years  in 
Jerusalem.  ^-And  lie  did 
that  which  displeased  Jeho- 
vah his  God ;  lie<lid  not  hum- 
ble himself  before  Jeremiah 
the  projihet  who  spoke  the 
wordsJ  of  Jehovah. 


§  1.34  The  remainder  of  II  Kgs.  is  from  the  late  prophetic  historian  who  was  himself  prob- 
ably a  witness  of  many  of  the  events.  Vss.  "•  "  and  ■''■  "'  contain  two  variant  accounts  of  the 
first  deportation.  The  oricinal  continuation  of '^  was  clearly '^  The  larger  round  number 
in  '*  also  indicates  that  this  is  the  latei  popular  version  of  the  event.  The  event  it.self  was  so 
repugnant  to  the  Chronicler,  loyal  as  he  was  to  Jerusalem  and  to  the  temple,  that  he  gives  only 
a  very  brief  summary  of  the  main  facts.  .  , 

'  2412  According  to  Jer.  5228,  in  the  seventh  year  of  Nebuchadrezzar,  i.e.,  598,  instead  of 
697,  B.C.  ,        ,      .      ,_         ,  . 

$  1.3.T  The  late  prophetic  editor's  summary  in  Kgs.  has  been  quoted  verbatim  by  a  'ate 
editor  of  .Jer.  (.52'  ').  The  Chronicler  again  improves  the  occasion  to  point  out  the  sins  which 
re8ulte<l  in  the  final  great  national  disaster. 

>  II  Chr.  30'^  lleb.,  from  the  mouth  of. 

319, 


II  Kgs,  2420] 


THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD  [II  Chr.  36i3 


Late  Prophetic  Summary 

And  Zedekiah  rebelled 
against  the  king  of  Bab- 
ylon. 2  5  ^  Then  in  the 
ninth  year  of  his  reign,  in 
sI'egiT  the  tenth  day  of  the  tenth 
month,  Nebuchadnezzar 
king  of  Babylon  came, 
together  with  all  his  army, 
against  Jerusalem  and 
besieged  it  and  they 
erected  a  siege  wall  about 
it.  ^So  the  city  was  be- 
sieged to  the  eleventh 
year  of  King  Zedekiah. 


His 

rebel- 
lion 
afiainst 
Baby- 
lon and 


siege 
.Jeru- 
salem 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

^^And  he  also  rebelled  against  King  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, who  had  made  liim  swear  by  God. 
But  he  stiffened  his  neck  and  hardened  his  heart 
against  turning  to  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel. 
^^Moreover  all  the  chiefs  of  the  priests  and  the 
people  proved  utterly  faithless  after  the  manner 
of  all  the  abominations  of  the  nations,  and  they 
polluted  the  temple  of  Jehovah  which  he  had  hal- 
lowed in  Jerusalem.  ^^And  Jehovah,  the  God 
of  their  fathers,  constantly  sent  to  them  by  his 
messengers,  because  he  had  compassion  on  his 
people  and  on  his  dwelling-place.  ^*^But  they 
mocked  the  messengers  of  God,  despised  his 
words  and  scoffed  at  his  prophets,  until  the  wrath 
of  Jehovah  was  aroused  against  his  people  so 
that  there  w^  as  no  remedy. 


§  136.  Perfidy  of  the  Hebrews  During  the  Siege,  Jer.  34 
Baruch's  Biography  of  Jeremiah 
Pre-  Jer.  34  ^The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  while  Nebuchad- 

d'ction    nezzar  king  of  Babylon  and  all  his  army  and  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  that  were  un- 
Jeru-       '^^^^  '^^^  ''"^^^  ^^^^  ^    *''^  peoples  were  fighting  against  Jerusalem  and  against  all  its  cities,'' 
salem     saying,    -Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  '  Go,  and  speak  to  Zedekiah 
FauVut  khig  of  Judah  and  tell  him,  "  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Behold  I  will  give  this  city 
^?'}®r     into  the  power  of  Babylon  that  he  may  burn  it  with  fire.     ^And  thou  shalt  not 
life  be     escape  out  of  his  hand,  but  shalt  surely  be  taken  and  delivered  into  his  hand, 
^^^'^^      and  thine  eyes  shall  behold  the  eyes  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  speak 
with  thee  mouth  to  mouth,  and  thou  shalt  go  to  Babylon."  '     ^Yet  hear  the 
word  of  Jehovah,  O  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah;  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah  concern- 
ing thee,  "  Thou  shalt  not  die  by  the  sword.     ^Peacefully  shalt  thou  die  and 
like^  the  funeral  pyres™  for  thy  fathers,  the"  kings  before  thee,  so  shall  they 
make  a  funeral  pyre  for  thee;   and  they  shall  lament  thee,  saying:  Alas, 
O  Lord  !  for  I  have  spoken  the  word,"  saith  Jehovah.'     ^Tl^gn  Jeremiah 
the  prophet  spoke  all  these  w^ords  to  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  in  Jerusalem, 
"while  the  king  of  Babylon's  army  w^as  besieging  Jerusalem  and  all  the  cities 
of  Judah  that  were  left,  namely  Lachish  and  Azekah,  for  these  remained 
among  the  cities  of  Judah  as  fortified  cities. 


§  136  This  chapter  was  doubtless  taken  from  the  biography  of  Jereniiah  which  is  attributed 
to  Baruch.     The  original  text  has  probablv  been  expanded  at  certain  points. 

k  34'b  The  original  chronological  statement  is  found  in  \  Vs.  ^^  is  a  later  addition,  as  the 
later  spelling,  Nebuchadnezzar,  and  the  inflated  style  indicate. 

'  34s  So  Gk.  and  Syr.     The  Heb.,  with,  is  clearly  an  error. 

™  345  Heb.,  burnings. 

■>  345  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  adds,  former,  which  is  tautological  and  e^-idently  due  to  a  later 
scribe. 

320 


PERFIDY   OF   THE   HEBREWS  [Jku.  348 

Baniclis  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

^The  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  after  King  Zedekiah  Re-en- 
had  made  a  covenant  with  all  the  people  who  were  at  Jerusalem,  to  proclaim  ^i',e,irof 
a  general  liberation,  °  ^that  each  should  let  his  male  and  female  slaves  so  the  llb- 

.  erated 

free  in  case  they  were  Hebrews  or  Hebrewesses;  that  none  out  of  Judah  should  Hebrew 
be  a  slave. P  I'^And  all  the  princes  and  all  the  people  who  had  entered  into  '^'^^'^^ 
the  covenant — that  each  should  let  his  male  and  female  slaves  go  free,  that 
none  should  make  slaves  of  them  any  more — obeyed  and  let  them  go.  ^^But 
afterward  they  changed  their  minds  and  made  the  male  and  female  slaves, 
whom  they  had  let  go  free,  return,  and  brought  them  into  subjection  as  male 
and  female  slaves. *i 

^-Therefore  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  saying.  The 
^^Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel;  '  I  made  a  covenant  with  your  ji'Ji'j^i" 
fathers  in  the  day  that  I  brought  them  forth  from  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  ment 
the  house  of  bondage,  saying,  ^4"  At  the  end  of  seven  years  ye  shall  each  ingtiie 
set  free  his  brother  who  is  a  Hebrew,  who  has  been  sold  to  thee  and  has  jegg  r'ui- 
served  thee  six  vears,  and  thou  shalt  let  him  m  free  from  thee,"  but  vour  eis  of 

•  ^  Judah 

fathers  neither  hearkened  to  me  nor  inclined  their  ear.  ^^And  ye  had 
now  turned  and  done  that  which  is  pleasing  to  me,  in  proclaiming  freedom 
each  to  his  neighbor,  and  ye  made  a  covenant  before  me  in  the  temple  which 
is  called  by  my  name.  ^^But  ye  have  changed  your  mind  and  profaned  my 
name,  and  made  each  his  male  and  female  slaves,  whom  ye  had  let  go  free 
at  their  pleasure,  return;  and  have  brought  them  into  subjection,  to  be  male 
and  female  slaves  again.'  ^''Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah,  '  Ye  have  not 
hearkened  to  me,  to  proclaim  freedom,  each  to  his  brother  and  to  his  neigh- 
bor— now  I  proclaim  to  you  a  freedom,'  saith  Jehovah,  '  to  become  the  prey 
of  the  sword,  the  pestilence,  and  the  famine;  and  I  will  make  you  an  object 
of  terror  to  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth.  ^^And  I  will  deliver  over  the 
men  who  have  transgressed  my  covenant, ■■  who  have  not  performed  the  words 
of  the  covenant  which  they  made  before  the  calf  which  they  cut  in  two  and 
passed  between  its  parts:^  ^^the  princes  of  Judah,  and  the  princes  of  Jeru- 
salem, the  eunuchs,  and  the  priests,  and  all  the  people  of  the  land,  who 
passed  between  the  parts  of  the  calf — -"I  will  even  give  them  into  the  hand 
of  their  enemies  and  into  the  hand  of  those  who  seek  their  life,  and  their 
dead  bodies  shall  be  food  for  the  birds  of  the  heavens  and  the  beasts  of  • 
the  earth.  -'And  I  will  give  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  and  his  princes  into 
the  hand  of  their  enemies  and  into  the  hand  of  those  who  seek  their  life, 
and  into  the  power  of  the  king  of  Babylon's  forces  who  have  gone  away 
from  you.  —j^^.i^f^^i^j^  j  ^.ju  command,'  saith  Jehovah,  '  and  cause  them 
to  return  to  this  city,  and  they  shall  besiege  it  and  take  it  and  burn  it  with 
fire;  and  I  will  make  the  cities  of  Judah  an  uninhabited  desolation.' 


"  34»  So  Ok.  The  Hcb.  adds,  lo  them.  The  liberation,  as  in  Kzek.  46",  means  the  freeing 
of  all  slaves  after  six  years  of  service. 

p  34'->  So  f  !k.     The  Heb.  is  very  awkward  and  makes  little  sense. 

1  .34"n.  "  The  Ok.  has  a  mueh  briefer  an<l  sitntilor  text,  oinittinR  '"'>•  "».  Its  brevity  ap- 
pears to  be  chiefly  due  to  a  copyist's  error,  while  the  Ileb.,  owing  to  another  mistake,  repeats, 
obeyed,  in  ""■. 

'.34'"  This  verse  is  tautolopiical;  the  second  relative  clause  may  well  be  an  addition. 

•  34'8  Cf.  Geo,  2P«  '<'  and  especially  15»-". 

321 


Jer.  37I]  THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

§  137.  Jeremiah's  Imprisonment  and  Deliverance,  Jer.  37,  38'-^'%  SO^^-is 
BarucJis  Biographij  of  Jeremiah 

Popu-  Jer.  37  ^So  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Josiah  became  king  in  the  place  of  Coniah 
regard"  the  son  of  Jehoiakim,  whom  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon  made  king 
of  Jere-  jj^  ^j^g  land  of  Judah;  "but  neither  he  nor  his  servants  nor  the  people  of  the 
warn-  land  hearkened  to  the  words  of  Jehovah,  which  he  spoke  by  the  prophet 
^^^^       Jeremiah. 

Zede-         ^And  Zedekiah  the  king  sent  Jehucal  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  and  Zephaniah 

reqiwst  the  SOU  of  Maaseiah,  the  priest,  to  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  saying,  Pray  now 

^°^         to  Jehovah  our  God  for  us.     '^Now  in  that  time  Jeremiah  went  in  and  out 

miah's    among  the  people,  for  they  had  not  put  him  in  prison.     ^And  Pharaoh's 

prayers  ^^.^^y  j^^^j  come  forth  from  Egypt,  and  the  Chaldeans  who  were  besieging 

Jerusalem  had  received  a  report  regarding  them,  and  had  abandoned  the 

siege  of  Jerusalem. 

His  pre-      ^Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  saying,  ^Thus 

of'^the     saith  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel,  '  Thus  shall  ye  say  to  the  king  of  Judah, 

t^int      ^^^  ^^^^  y^^  ^'^  °^^  ^^  inquire  of  me,  "  Behold,  Pharaoh's  army,  which  has 

of  Je-     come  out  to  help  you,  shall  return  to  Egypt  into  their  own  land.     ^Then 

[em's      the  Chaldeans  shall  come  back  and  fight  against  this  city  and  shall  take  it 

'^^'   _     and  burn  it  with  fire."  '      ^Thus  saith  Jehovah,   '  Do  not  deceive  yourselves 

tion       with  the  idea  that  the  Chaldeans  will  depart  from  you;   for  they  shall  not 

depart.      ^^For  though  ye  had  smitten  the  whole  army  of   the  Chaldeans 

that  fight  against  you,  and  there  remained  but  wounded  men  among  them, 

yet  would  these*  rise  up  each  in  his  tent,  and  burn  this  city  with  fire.' 

Jere-  ^^But  when  the  army  of  the  Chaldeans  had  abandoned  the  siege  of  Jeru- 

f^iseiy    salem  for  fear  of  Pharaoh's  army,  ^^Jeremiah  went  forth   from  Jerusalem 

accused  ^q  gQ  j^^q  ^jjg  land  of  Benjamin  to  receive  his  inheritance  there  among  the 

tempt-   people.     ^^And  when  he  was  in  the  Gate  of  Benjamin,  a  captain  of  the 

desert    guard  was  there,  by  the  name  of  Irijah  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  the  son  of 

Hananiah.     And  he  laid  hold  on  Jeremiah  the  prophet,   saying,  You   are 

going  over  to  the  Chaldeans.     ^^Then  Jeremiah  said,  It  is  false;  I  am  not 

going  over  to  the  Chaldeans.     He,  however,  paid  no  heed  to  Jeremiah  but^ 

brought  him  to  the  princes.     ^^And  the  princes  were  angry  with  Jeremiah 

and  smote  him  and  put  him^  in  the  house  of  Jonathan  the  chancellor,  for 

they  had  made  that  the  prison. 

His  ^^And  thus  Jeremiah  came  into   the  house  of  the   cistern  and  into  the 

fnter-     cells;  and  Jeremiah  remained  there  many  days.     ^''Then  Zedekiah  the  king 

wuS      ^^"*  ^^^  summoned  him;  and  the  king  questioned  him  secretly  in  his  palace 

the        and  said,  Is  there  any  word  from  Jehovah  ?     And  Jeremiah  said,  There  is, 

'°*       and  added.  You  shall  be  delivered  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon. 

^^Moreover  Jeremiah  said  to  King  Zedekiah,  What  crime  have  I  commit- 

§  137  The  chief  source  of  these,  narratives  is  the  biography  already  frequently  quoted 
Possibly  the  speeches  in  37*-'"  and  39'^-'*  are  later  additions.  Coiiiah  in  37'  is  the  private  name 
of  Jehoiachim. 

'  37"'  So  the  Gk.     The  Heb.  has  lost  the,  these. 

u  3714  xhe  Heb.  repeats,  took  hold  of,  by  mistake  from  ". 

■^  37'^  So  Gk.     A  later  scribe  has  added,  in  prison,  but  this  anticipates  the  latter  part  of  the 
verse. 

322 


JEREMIAH'S   IMPRISONMENT  [Jeh.  37I8 

Bamch's  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

ted  against  vou  or  your  sen-ants  or  this  people,  that  you  have  put  me  in 
prison?  ^^Where  now  are  your  prophets,  who  prophesied  to  you.  saying, 
'The  king  of  Babylon  shall  not  come  against  you  nor  against  this  land?' 
20And  now  hear,  O  my  lord  the  king;  let  my  petition,  I  pray,  be  presented 
before  you,  that  you  may  not  let  me  be  taken  back  to  the  house  of  Jona- 
than the  chancellor,  lest  I  die  there. 

-^Then  Zedekiah   the  king  commanded  and  they  committed   Jeremiah  in  the 
to  the  court  of  the  guard,  and  they  gave  him  daily  a  loaf  of  bread  from  the  \y^^^  ° 
bakers'  street,  until  all  the  bread  in  the  city  was  gone.     Thus  Jeremiah  re-  guard 
mained  in  the  court  of  the  guard. 

38  iRut  when  Shephatiah  the  son  of  Mattan,  and  Gedahah  the  son  of  The 
Pashhur,  and  Jucal  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  and  Pashhur  the  son  of  Malchijah,  oHhe^ 
heard  the  words  that  Jeremiah  spoke  to  all  the  people,  saying,  ^Thus  saith  nobles 
Jehovah,  '  He  that  abideth  in  this  city  shall  die  by  the  sword,  by  the  famine, 
and  by  the  pestilence;  but  he  who  goes  over  to  the  Chaldeans  shall  live  and 
his  hfe  shall  be  to  him  as  booty ,^  and  he  shall  hve  ' ;  ^also,  Thus  saith  Jehovah, 
'  This  city  shall  surely  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  army  of  the  king  of  Bab- 
ylon and  he  shall  take  it,'  ^the  princes  said  to  the  king.  Let  this  man  be  put 
to  death,  since  he  weakens  the  hands  of  the  soldiers  who  remain  in  this  city 
and  the  hands  of  all  the  people,  in  speaking  such  words  to  them;  for  this 
man  seeks  not  the  welfare  of  this  people  but  the  hurt. 

^Then  Zedekiah  the  king  said.  See,  he  is  in  your  hands,  for  the  king  was  Jere- 
not  able  to  do  anything  against  them.^      ^Thereupon  they  took  Jeremiah  "'f^^ 
and  cast  him  into  the  cistern  of  jNIalchijah  the  king's  son,  that  was  in  the  1"?^ "  ^ 
court  of  the  guard,  and  let  Jeremiah  down  with  cords.     And  in  the  cistern  to  die 
there  was  no  water,  but  mire,  and  Jeremiah  sank  in  the  mire. 

'Now  when  Ebed-melech  the  Cushite,  a  eunuch,  who  was  in  the  royal  His 
palace  heard  that  they  had  put  Jeremiah  in  the  cistern,  while  the  king  was  ^y*'"® 
sitting  in  the  gate  of  Benjamin,  ^Ebed-melech  went  out  of  the  royal  palace  ^'^\'^\ 
and  spoke  to  the  king,  saying,  ^INIy  lord  the  king,  these  men  have  done  wrong 
in  all  that  they  have  done  to  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  whom  they  have  cast 
into  the  cistern;  and  he  must  soon  die  in  the  place  where  he  is,  because  of 
the  famine,  for  there  is  no  more  bread  in  the  city.     ^*^Then  the  king  com- 
manded Ebed-melech  the  Cushite,  saying.  Take  from  here  three^  men  with 
you   and  draw  up  Jeremiah  the  prophet  from  the  cistern  before  he  dies. 
^^So  Ebed-melech  took  the  men  with  hi;n  and  went  into  the  royal   palace 
below  the  treasury  and  took  from  there  rags  and  worn-out   garments,  and 
let  them  down  by  cords  to  Jeremiah  in  the  cistern.     i2\n(l  Ebed-melech 
the  Cushite  said  to  Jeremiah,  Put  now  these  rags  and  worn-out  garments 
below  your  armpits  under  the  cords.     And  Jeremiah  did  so.     ^■'Then  they 


"  38^  Cf.  21',  which  contains  the  same  prediction. 

»  38'  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  The  Heb.  has,  you,  but  the  words  are  very  unnatural  on  the  lips 
of  the  king. 

y  .38'"  Heb.,  thirtu,  but  there  is  no  reason  why  so  many  should  be  detailed  at  a  time  when 
the  city  was  greatly  in  need  of  defenders.  The  thirty,  instead  of  three,  is  apparently  due  to  a 
natural  copyist's  error. 

323 


Jer.  3813]  THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

Baruch's  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

drew  up  Jeremiah  with  the  cords  and  took  him  out  of  the  cistern.     And 
Jeremiah  remained  in  the  court  of  the  guard. 
The  i^Then  Zedekiah  tlie  king  sent  and  took  Jeremiah  the  prophet  to  him  into 

inqm^-     the  third^  entry  which  leads  into  the  temple  of   Jehovah.     And  the   king 
ries  and  gaid  to  Jeremiah,  I  should  like  to  ask  you  something,  conceal  nothing  from 
anceof   me.     ^^Theu  Jeremiah  said  to  Zedekiah,  If  I  declare  it  to  you,  will  you 
tion^''"  promise  not  to  put  me  to  death  ?     And  if  I  give  you  counsel,  you  will  not 
hearken  to  me.     ^^Then  Zedekiah  the  king  swore  secretly  to  Jeremiah,  say- 
ing. As  Jehovah  liveth,  who  has  given  us  this  life,  I  will  not  put  you  to  death, 
neither  will  I  give  you  into  the  hand  of  these  men  who  are  seeking  your  life. 
Jere-  ^"Then  Jeremiah  said  to  Zedekiah,  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  hosts, 

reiter-    the  God  of  Israel,  '  If  thou  wilt  give  thyself  up  to  the  princes  of  the  king  of 
ated       Babylon,  then  thy  life  shall  be  preserved  and  this  city  shall  not  be  burned 
tion        with  fire,  and  thou  shalt  live,  together  with  thy  household.     ^^But  if  thou 
surren-  '^ilt  not  give  thyself  up  to  the  princes  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  then  this  city 
del"         shall  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  who  will  burn  it  with  fire, 
would     and  thou   shalt  not  escape  from  their  hand.      ^^Then  Zedekiah  the  king 
the°       said  to  Jeremiah,  I  am  afraid  of  the  Jews  who  have  gone  over  to  the  Chal- 
king      deans,  lest  they  deliver  me  into  their  hand  and  they  mock  me.     ^^But  Jere- 
city       miah  said,  They  shall  not  deliver  you.     Obey,  I  beseech  you,  the  voice  of 
Jehovah,  in  that  which  I  speak  to  you;  so  it  shall  be  well  with  you.     2lJ3^^; 
if  you  refuse  to  give  yourself  up,  tliis  is  the  revelation  that  Jehovah  has  showed 
me:   ^^BeJ^old,  all  the  women  who  are  left  in  the  king  of  Judah's  palace 
shall  be  brought  forth  to  the  princes  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  singing, 

They  have  betrayed  thee;  they  have  overcome  thee, 

Thy  familiar  friends ! 
They  have  caused  thy  feet  to  sink  in  the  mire. 

They  turn  back  l''^ 

^^They  shall  also  bring  out^y  all  your  sons  to  the  Chaldeans.     You  yourself 

shall  not  escape  out  of  their  hand,  but  shall  be  taken  by  the  hand  of  the  king 

of  Babylon;  and  this  city  shall  be  burned*'^  with  fire. 

Secrecy      ^^Theu  said  Zedekiah  to  Jeremiah,  Let  no  man  know  of  these  words, 

hil^'iie    ^^  y^^^  may  die.     ^'^But  if  the  princes  hear  that  I  have  talked  with  you,  and 

inter-     couie  to  you,  and  say  to  you,  '  Declare  to  us  now  what  you  have  said  to 

the  king — hide  it  not  from  us,  otherwise  we  will  put  you  to  death — also  what 

the  king  said  to  you,'  ^'^then  say  to  them,  '  I  presented  my  petition  before 

the  king,  that  he  would  not  make  me  return  to  Jonathan's  house,  to  die 

there.'     2' Then  all  the  princes  came  to  Jeremiah  and  inquired  of  him;  and 

he  told  them  these  words  just  as  the  king  had  commanded.     So  they  ceased 

2  38"  Or  slightly  revising  the  text,  of  the  thirty.     Of.  §  34. 

=='  38--  This  is  the  song  of  lamentation  which  the  women  are  graphically  represented  as  sing- 
ing over  Zedekiah,  who  was  led  on  by  his  princes  and  advisers  to  rebel  against  liabylon  and  then 
abandoned  by  them  to  his  tragic  fate.  The  metre  is  the  familiar  three  beats  followed  by  two, 
which  gives  the  effect  of  a  final  sob. 

yy  38-3  Heb.  adds,  your  wives,  but  these  have  already  been  included  in  the  stateinent  in  '^. 

^  38^  So  Gk.,  Syr.,  and  ^arg.     Heb.,  vou  shall  cause  to  be  burned. 

324 


view 


JEREMIAH'S   DELIVERANCE 


[Jer.  3827 


Baruch's  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

questioning  him,  for  the  matter  was  not  reported.  SSajj^t  Jeremiah  remained 
in  the  court  of  the  guard  until  the  day  that  Jerusalem  was  captured. 

39  ^^Now  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jeremiah,  while  he  was  shut  up  in  The 
the  court  of  the  guard,  saying,  ^'^Go,  and  speak  to  Ebed-melech  the  Cushite.  ^^Zm^ 
saying,  '  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  "  Behold,  I  will  'seJ 
bring  my  words  upon  this  city  for  evil  and  not  for  good;  and  they  shall  be  senicei 
fulfilled  before  your  eyes  in  that  day.     ^"But  I  will  deliver  thee  in  that  day,"  pbed- 
saith  Jehovah,  "  and  thou  shalt  not  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  men  of  nielech 
whom  thou  art  afraid.     ^^For  I  will  surely  save  thee  and  thou  shalt  not  fall 
by  the  sword,  but  thy  life  shall  be  as  booty  to  thee,  because  thou  hast  put 
thy  trust  in  me,"  saith  Jehovah.' 


138.  The  Final  Capture  of  Jerusalem  and  the  Deportation  of  its  Inhab- 
itants (586  B.C.),  II  Kgs.  253-21,  jej.    3828b_39io^  gge-so^  U  Chr.  36"-' 


Flight, 
capt- 
ure, 
and  fi- 


BarucJis  Biography  of  Jere- 
miah 

Jer.  38  28bXowwhen  Je- 
rusalem was  taken,  39  '{'m 
the  ninth  j'ear  of  Zedekiah  king 
'^fy'^Y^  of  .ludah,  in  the  tenth  month, 
ekah  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon 
and  all  his  armj'  came  against 
Jerusalem  and  besieged  it.  -'In 
the  eleventh  year  of  Zedekiah  on 
the  ninth  day  of  the  fourth 
month,  a  breach  was  mads  in  the 

city)  -^all  the  princes  of  the 
king  of  Babylon  came  and 
sat  in  the  middle  gate,  Ne- 
bushazban  the  chief  of  the 
eunuchs,  and  Nergal-shar- 
ezer  the  chief  of  the  magi- 
cians,*^ with  all  the  rest  of  the 


Late  Prophetic  Sum- 
mary 

II  Kgs.  2o  30n  the 

ninth  day  of  the  fourth^ 
month,  when  the  fam- 
ine was  severe  in  the 
city,  so  that  there  was 
no  bread  for  the  people 
of  the  land,  "^a  breach 
was  made  in  the  city, 
and  the  king  and  all  the 
warriors  fled"  by  night 
through  the  gate  be- 
tween the  two  walls, 
which  was  by  the  king's 
garden,  while  the  Chal- 
deans   were    besieging 


Chroiiicler's  Eccle- 
siastical History 

IIChr.36i"Then 

[Jehovah]  brought 
against  them  the 
king  of  the  Chal- 
deans, who  slew 
their  young  men 
with  the  sword  in 
their  holy  temple, 
and  had  no  com- 
passion on  young 
man  or  virgin,  old 
man  or  hoar y  - 
headed  —  he  gave 
them  all  into  his 
hand.      ^^And   all 


138  The  late  prophetic  editor's  account  of  the  final  events  in  the  history  of  .Jerusalem  is 
found  in  II  Kgs.  2.5'-'.  This  has  been  quoted  with  one  or  two  minor  expansions  in  Jer.  ,')2'-30. 
Vss.  '•'•  "  of  II  Kgs.  25  depart  from  the  narrative  style,  which  characterizes  tiie  rest  of  the  descrip- 
tion, and  manifest  an  interest  in  the  details  of  the  temple  ornamentation,  which  indicates  that 
they  were  added  by  a  priestly  scribe,  who  had  in  mind  the  descriptions  of  the  temple  found  in 
I  Kgs.  7,  and  especially  13-20. '40-44  Another  scribe  has  on  the  basis  of  the  same  earlier  pa-'ssages 
still  furtiier  expanded  the  parallel  in  Jer.  r>2-o--^.  The  parallel  passage  in  Baruch's  biography 
of  Jeremiah  has  been  .supplemented  by  a  chronological  note  in  .39' •  -',  which  interrupts  the  co:u- 
nectif)n  between  38-'*'^  and  39^  and  bv  an  abridgment  in  .'^9''"  of  the  parallel  narratives  of  1 1  Kgs. 
2.5-^-'-  and  Jer.  .52.  To  the  quotation  in  Jer.  .52  from  1 1  Kirs.  25  the  editor  of  I  he  book  of  Jereiniah 
has  added  in  -^-^o  a  .summary  of  tliose  carried  away  in  connection  with  the  final  captivity.  The 
numbers  are  given  in  such  detail  and  the  account  is  so  independent  of  the  narrative  in  Kgs.  that 
it  is  probable  that  it  represents  an  authentic,  although  distinct  tradition. 

The  Chronicler  simjjly  makes  a  general  statement  which  reveals  his  peculiar  interest  in  the 
temple  and  in  the  moral  lessons  which  this  tragic  chaiiter  of  Israel's  history  forcibly  illustrates. 

''II  Kgs.   2.5''  Restoring,  the  lourth.  from  the  parallel  in  Jer.  .'JO-. 

•=  II  Kgs.  2.5'   Restoring  the  defective  Mel),  text  by  the  aid  of  the  parallel  in  Jer.  .39'. 

''Jer.  .39''  The  Heb.  text  evidently  sutTcred  greatly  in  transmission.  Nergal-sharezer  is 
found  at  the  beginning  of  the  list  anrl  again  at  the  end.  \'s.  '■'  evidently  ret .ains  t lie  original 
reading  which  ha-s  been  followed  above.  Nphosarxrchim  is  restored  to  Nchiisluizlmn.  Sniiifiar 
may  be  .-i  scribal  error  for  Hab-mag  (chief  of  the  magicians).  The  Gk.  hay,  on  the  whole,  a  better 
text  than  the  Heb. 

325 


Jer.  393]     THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD    [II  Kgs.  2.54,  u  Qhr.  3G18 


De- 
struc- 
tion of 
Jeru- 
salem 
and  de- 
porta- 
tion of 
many 
of  its 
inhabi- 
tants 


Baruclis  Biograj)hy  of  Jere- 
miah 

princes  of  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon. 

*And  when  Zedekiah  the  king 
of  Judah  and  all  the  warriors  saw 
them,  they  fled  and  went  forth 
out  of  the  city  by  night  by 
the  way  of  the  king's  garden, 
through  the  gate  between  the 
two  walls,  and  went  out  toward 
the  Arabah.  *But  the  army  of 
the  Chaldeans  pursued  after 
them  and  overtook  Zedekiah  in 
the  plains  of  Jericho.  Then  they 
took  and  brought  him  up  to 
Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Baby- 
lon to  Riblah  in  the  land  of 
Hamath;  and  he  passed  judg- 
ment upon  him.  ''And  the  king 
of  Babylon  slew  the  sons  of  Zed- 
ekiah in  Riblah  before  his  eyes; 
also  the  king  of  Babylon  slew 
all  the  nobles  of  Judah.  'More- 
over he  put  out  Zedekiah's  eyes 
and  bound  him  in  chains,  to 
carry  him  to  Babylon. 


* And  the 
Chaldeans 
burned  the  roy- 
al palace  and 
the  houses  o  f 
the  people  with 
fire  and  tore 
down  the  walls 
o  f  Jerusalem. 
^Then  Nebuza- 
radan  the  com- 
mander of  the 
body-guard 
carried  away 
captive  to  Bab- 
ylon the  rest  of 
the  people  who 
remained  in  the 
city,  the  desert- 
ers also  who 
had  gone  over 
to  him,  and  the 
rest  of  the  ar- 
chitects.'  10  But 
Nebuzaradan 
the  commander 
of  the  body- 
guard left  some 


Late  Prophetic  Sum- 
mary 

the  city  round  about, 
and  went  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Arabah.  ^But 
the  army  of  the  Chal- 
deans pursued  after  the 
king  and  overtook  him 
in  the  plains  of  Jericho, 
after  all  his  army  had 
scattered  from  him. 
^Then  they  took  the 
king  and  carried  him 
up  to  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon to  Riblah;  and  he 
passed  judgment  upon 
him.  "And  they  slew 
the  sons  of  Zedekiah 
before  his  eyes,  and 
put  out  Zedekiah's  eyes 
and  carried  him,  bound 
in  chains,  to  Babylon.® 


^But  on  the  seventh  day  of  the 
month,  which  was  in  the  nine- 
teenth year  of  King  Nebuchadnez- 
zar king  of  Babylon,  Nebuzaradan 
the  commander  of  the  body-guard, 
a  servant  of  the  king  of  Babylon, 
came  to  Jerusalem.  ^And  he  burnt 
the  temple  of  Jehovah  and  the  roy- 
al palace  and  all  the  houses  of  Je- 
rusalem, even  every  great  house 
he  burnt  with  fire.  ^^And  all  the 
troops  of  the  Chaldeans,  who  were 
with  the  commander  of  the  body- 
guard, broke  down  the  walls  round 
about  Jerusalem.  ^^And  the  rest 
of  the  people  who  were  left  in  the 
city  and  the  deserters  who  had  gone 
over  to  the  king  of  Babylon  and 
the  rest  of  the  architects,  s  Ne- 
buzaradan the  commander  of  the 


Chronicler's  Eccle- 
siastical History 

the  vessels  of  the 
house  of  God,  great 
and  small,  and  the 
treasures  of  the 
temple  of  Jehovah, 
and  the  treasures 
of  the  king  and  his 
princes,  all  these 
he  brought  to  Bab- 
ylon. 


^^And  they  burnt 
the  house  of  God  and 
tore  down  the  wall  of 
Jerusalem,  and  burnt 
the  palaces  with  tire 
and  destroyed  all  its 
precious  vessels.  -^And 
those  who  escaped 
from  the  sword  he  car- 
ried away  captive  to 
Babylon,  and  they  be- 
came slaves  to  him  and 
to  his  sons  until  the 
rule  of  the  kingdom 
of  Persia,  2ito  fulfil 
the  word  of  Jehovah 
by  the  mouth  of  Jere- 
miah. Until  the  land 
had  enjoyed  its  sab- 
baths, as  long  as  it  lay 


«  II  Kgs.  25'  The  parallel,  Jer.  5210,  reads.  And  the  king  of  Babylon  slew  the  sons  of  Zede- 
kiah before  his  eyes;  he  also  slew  all  the  princes  of  Judah.     Cf.  Jer.  39^. 
f  Jer.  399  So  the  parallel  II  Kgs.  25"  (Gk.,  cf.  note  g). 
e  II  Kgs.  25"  So  the  Gk.  and  the  parallel,  Jer.  52i5. 

326 


Heb.,  people  who  remained. 
Heb.,  crowd,  or  rabble. 


Jer.  3910,  II  Kgs.  25II]  FINAL  CAPTURE  OF  JERUSALEM  [II  Chr.  3621 
Late  Prophetic  Summary 


Baruch's  Bi- 
ography of 
Jeremiah 

of  the  poor  of 
the  people,  who 
had  nothing,  in 
the  land  of  Ju- 
dah  and  gave 
them  at  that 
time  vineyards 
and  fields. 


body-guard  carried  away  captive. 
^-But  the  commander  of  the  body- 
guard left  some  of  the  poorest  of 
the  land  as  vinedressers  and  farm- 


ers. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesi- 
astical History 

desolate,  it  rested  un- 
til the  seventy  years 
were  complete.*^ 


^^But  the  pillars  of  brass  that  were  in  the  temple  of  Jevhoah,  and  the  Plunder 
stands  and  the  brazen  sea  that  were  in  the  temple  of  Jehovah  the  Chaldeans  "imple 
broke  in  pieces,  and  carried  the  brass  from  them  to  Babylon.  ^'^Also  the 
pots,  the  shovels,  the  snuffers,  the  bowls,  and  all  the  vessels  of  brass,  with 
which  the  temple  service  was  conducted,  they  took  away.  ^^And  the  fire- 
pans and  the  basins,  that  which,  was  of  gold,  the  commander  of  the  body- 
guard took  away  in  gold  and  that  which  was  of  silver,  in  silver.  i^The  two 
pillars,  the  one  sea,  and  the  stands  which  Solomon  had  made  for  the  temple  of  .Jehovah — 
the  brass  of  all  these  vessels  could  not  be  weighed.  '^The  height  of  the  one  pillar  was 
eighteen  cubits,  and  a  capital  of  brass  was  above  it;  and  the  height  of  the  capital  was 
five'  cubits,  with  network  and  pomegranates  round  about  the  capital,  all  of  brass;  and 
like  these  had  the  second  pillar,  with  network. 

^^And  the  commander  of  the  body-guard  took  Seraiah  the  chief  priest  Public 
and  Zephaniah  the  second  priest,  and  the  three  keepers  of  the  threshold,  tim^^of 
^^And  from   the  city  he  took  an  officerJ  who  was  set  over  the  troops;   and  certain 
five  men  who  stood  close  to  the  king,*^  who  were  found  in  the  city,  and  the  cap- 
scribe  of  the  commander-in-chief,  who  mustered  the  people  of  the  land,  and   '^^^ 
sixty  men  of  the  people  of  the  land,  who  were  found  in  the  city.     ^'^And 
Nebuzaradan  the  commander  of  the  body-guard  took  them  and  brought 
them  to  the  king  of  Babylon  at  Riblah.     2i\nd  the  king  of  Babylon  smote 
them  and  put  them  to  death  at  Riblah  in  the  land  of  Hamath.     So  Judah 
was  carried  away  captive  from  its  native  land. 


Editorial  Summary 

Jer.  52  28Xhis  is  the  people  whom  Nebuchadrezzar  carried  away  cap- 
tive: in  the  seventeenth'  year,  three  thousand  and  twenty-three  Jews;  ^^in 
the  eighteenth  year,  of  Nebuchadrezzar  he  carried  away  captive  from  Jeru- 
salem eight  hundred  and  thirty-two  persons;  -^"in  the  twenty-third  year  of 
Nebuchadrezzar,  Nebuzaradan  the  commander  of  the  body-guard  carried 
away  captive  of  the  Jews  seven  hundred  and  forty-five  persons.™  The 
total  number  of  persons  was  four  thousand,  six  hundred. 


Num- 
bers 
carried 
awav  in 
tlic  " 
tlirce 
depor- 
tations 


">  II  Chr.  36=1  The  allusion  is  to  .Jer.  25" •  ",  29",  Lev.  2&»'  3«.  The  exact  worda  are  not 
found  in  Jer.     The  remaininK  ver.ses  of  Chr.  are  taken  from  Ezra  1'-^". 

'  II  Kgs.  2.5'^  Ileh.,  Ihrec,  but  the  parallel,  Jer.  52-'-,  has,  live.     So  also  I  Kgs.  7'*. 

'  II  Kgs.  2.5''  Heb.,  eunuch. 

^  II  Kgs.  2.5"  Ileb.,  who  nmr  the  kino's  face.     .Jer.  .52-''  reads,  seven,  instead  of,  five. 

'  .Jer.  .52'"'  Heb.,  seven.  If  this  is  correct  this  verse  would  refer  to  the  first  captivity  re- 
corded in  II  Kgs.  24''';  but  the  niuubcrs  arc  so  much  smaller  tli.at  it  .seems  probable  that-* 
refers  to  a  later  deportation.  The  difTiculty  prohabl.y  aro.sc  because  a  scribe,  having  in  mind  the 
first  captivit.y,  read,  seven,  for  an  original  seventeen.  The  reference  would  then  be  to  an  early 
deportation  in  .587  11. c.  of  the  .lows  outside  .Jerusalem. 

■"  Jer.  52'"'  Probably  this  third  d('p()rtation  was  after  the  murder  of  Gedaliah,  §  140. 


327 


Jer.  391 1]  THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

§  139.  Jeremiah's  Liberation,  Jer.  39"-408 
Midrash  Regarding  Jeremiah 

Special       Jer.  39  ^^Now  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon  had  given  the  following 
sioiis'      command  concerning  Jeremiah  to  Nebuzaradan  the  commander  of  the  body- 
?"?^'j®      guard,  ^^Take  him,  and  look  well  to  him,  and  do  him  no  harm;  but  do  to 
emiah     him  as  he  shall  direct  you.     ^^So  Nebuzaradan  the  commander  of  the  body- 
guard,  and   Nebushazban   the  chief  of  the  eunuchs,   and  Nergal-sharezer 
the  chief  of  the  magicians,  and  all  the  chief  officers  of  the  king  of  Babylon 
^^sent  and  took  Jeremiah  out  of  the  court  of  the  guard  and  gave  him  into 
the  charge  of  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  that  he  should 
carry  him  home;  so  he  dwelt  among  the  people. 
Set  40  ^The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah  after  Nebuzaradan 

aUowed  the  commander  of  the  guard  had  let  him  go  from  Ramah,  when  he  had 
t° ''"'  taken  him  bound  in  chains  among  all  the  captives  who  were  carried  away 
Gee  la-  to  Babylon.  ^^Yjjfj  llig  commander  of  the  guard  took  Jeremiah  and  said  to 
'^'  him,  Jehovah  your  God  pronounced  evil  upon  this  place;  ^and  Jehovah 
hath  brought  it  and  done  just  as  he  said,  for  you  have  sinned  against  Jehovah 
and  have  not  obeyed  his  voice,  therefore  this  thing  is  come  upon  you.  '^And 
now  behold,  I  loose  you  this  day  from  the  chains  which  are  upon  your  hand. 
If  it  seem  good  to  you  to  come  with  me  to  Babylon,  come,  and  I  will  look 
out  for  you.  But  if  it  seem  undesirable  to  you  to  come  with  me  to  Babylon, 
do  not  come;'^  ^but  go  back  to  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of  Sha- 
phan, whom  the  king  of  Babylon  has  made  governor  over  the  cities  of  Judah, 
and  dwell  with  him  among  the  people,  or  go  wherever  it  seems  right  to  you 
to  go.  So  the  commander  of  the  body-guard  gave  him  provisions  and  a 
present,  and  sent  him  away.  *^So  Jeremiah  went  to  Gedaliah  the  son  of 
Ahikam  to  Mizpah,  and  dwelt  with  him  among  the  people  who  were  left 
in  the  land. 

§  140.  Brief  Rule  and  Death  of  Gedaliah,  11  Kgs.  2522-26^  jer.  40^-4118 
Baruclis  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

Ap-  II   Kgs.   35     22]sfQ^  over  the  people  who  were  left  in  the  land  of  Judah,  whom 

P°i"*"  ,  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon  had  left,  he  made  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  the 
Ged  -°    ®°'^  °^  Shaphan,   governor. 

liah  Jer.  40  ''Then  all  the  commanders  of  the  forces  that  were  in  the  fields, 

Gath-     together  with  their  men,  heard  that  the  king  of  Babylon  had  made  Gedaliah 
the  io-"  the  son  of  Ahikam  governor  in  the  land  and  had  committed  to  him  men, 

eal  , . 

chiefs 

§  139  39'*^  is  the  natural  sequel  of  3,  and,  as  Duhm  has  acutely  noted  (Jeremia,  313),  this 
was  probably  ori<;inally  in  Baruch's  biography  of  Jeremiah  immediately  followed  by  40''.  The 
rest  of  the  section  has  the  marked  characteristics  of  a  later  Jewish  midrash.  It  presents  quite  a 
different  picture  from  that  in  39^*'^,  40".  Jeremiah's  deliverance  is  due  to  a  special  decree  of 
Nebuchadrezzar,  and  instead  of  being  placed  at  once  in  the  care  of  Gedaliah,  he  is  rescued  at 
Ramah  from  the  midst  of  the  chained  captives  bound  for  Babylon.  The  pious  words  of  the 
Babylonian  general  also  recall  similar  speeches  in  the  midrashes  of  Chr.  The  midrash  was 
probably  originally  independent  and  was  later  joined  to  Baruch's  brief  record. 

°  Jer.  40^-  ^^  So  the  Gk.  The  Heb.  has  a  gloss  at  the  end  of  *  which  is  a  practical  duplicate 
of*''  and  four  words  at  the  beginning  of  ■''  which  make  no  sense. 

§  140  This  long  section  in  Jer.  from  the  hand  of  Baruch  is  one  of  the  best  historical  passages 
in  the  O.T.  The  parallel  passage  in  II  Kgs.  2.J-''"-''  is  an  abridgment  of  the  same.  This  the 
editor  of  Kgs.  has  prefaced  with  a  statement  regarding  the  appointment  of  Gedaliah. 

328 


BRIEF   RILE    OF   GEDALIAU  [Jer.  407 

BanicK's  Biographij  of  Jeremiah 

•women,  and  children,  and  of  the  poorest  of  the  land,  such  as  Wv're  not  car- 
ried away  captive  to  Babylon.  ^And  they  came  to  Gedaliah  at  ^Nlizpah, 
Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  and  Johanan,o  tlie  son  of  Kareah  and  Seraiah 
the  sou  of  Tanhumeth,  and  the  sons  of  Ephai  tha  Netoj)hathite,  and  Jezaniah 
the  son  of  the  Maacathite,  together  with  their  men.  ^And  Gedahah  the 
sou  of  Aliikam,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  swore  to  them  and  to  their  men,  saying. 
Do  not  be  afraid  to  serve  the  Chaldeans,  settle  down  and  be  subject  to  the 
kiufi:  of  Babvlon,  and  it  shall  be  well  with  you.  ^^As  for  me,  I  will  dwell  at 
Mizpah,  as  your  representative  to  receiveP  the  Chaldeans  who  shall  come  to 
us,  but  you  gather  for  yourselves  wine  and  fruits  and  oil,  and  put  them  in  your 
vessels  and  dwell  in  your  cities  of  which  you  have  taken  possession.  ^^Like- 
wise  when  all  the  Jews,  who  were  in  Moab  and  among  the  Ammonites  and 
in  Edom  and  in  all  the  countries,  heard  that  the  king  of  Babylon  had  left  a 
remnant  of  Judah,  and  that  he  had  set  over  them  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam, 
the  son  of  Shajjhan,  ^-all  the  Jews  returned  out  of  all  the  ])laces  whither 
they  had  been  driven,  and  came  to  the  land  of  Judali  to  Gedaliah  at  Mizpah, 
and  gathered  wine  and  fruits  in  great  abundance. 

i^But  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah  and  all  the  commanders  of  the  forces  iiis  dis- 
that  were  in  the  fields  came  to  Gedaliah  at  Mizpah,  i*and  said  to  him.  Do  [^f^{\^^ 
von  know  that  Baalis  the  king  of  the  Ammonites  has  sent  Ishmael  the  son  con- 

•/  "  spirjicy 

of  Nethaniah  to  take  your  life  ?  But  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  did  not  to  take 
believe  them.  ^^Then  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah  .spoke  to  Gedaliah  in  '"'*  ''^^ 
Mizpah  secretly,  saying.  Let  me  go  and  slay  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah 
without  any  one's  knowing  it.  Why  should  he  take  your  life  with  the  result 
that  all  the  Jews  wdio  are  scattered  and  the  remnant  of  Judah  should  perish  ? 
l^But  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  said  to  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah,  You 
shall  not  do  this  thing,  for  you  speak  falsely  regarding  Ishmael. 

41  ^But  afterwards  in  the  seventh  month,  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  Ish- 
the  son  of  Elishama,  of  the  royal  line,i  with  ten  men,  came  to  Gedaliah  "reach- 
the  son  of  Ahikam  at  :Mizpah;  and  there  they  were  eating  together  in  :Mizpah.  Jj^'^;^^^^^ 
2Then  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  and  the  ten  men  who  were  with  hini  of  (jed- 
rose  up  and  smote  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  the  son  of  Shaphan  with  the  and  his 
sword  and  thus  slew  him,  whom  the  king  of  Babylon  had  made  governor  '"^n 
over  the  land.     •"^Ishmael  also  slew  all  the  Jews  who  were  with  [Gedaliah]  at 
Mizpah,  and  the  Chaldeans  who  were  found  there.  *■ 

^But  on  the  day  after  he  had  slain  Gedahah,  when  no  one  yet  knew  it.  l^lassa- 
^there  came  men  from  Shecliem,  from  Shiloli,  and  from  Samaria,  eighty  tJ^g" 
men  with  shorn  beards  and  with  their  clothes  torn,  and  with  self-inflicted  ^^'.-^^ 
cuts  bearing  cereal-offerings  and  frankincense  in  their  hand,  to  bring  them 
to  the  temple  of  Jehovah.     ^^And  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  went  forth 
from  Mizpah  to  meet  them,  weeping  as  he  went,  and  when  he  met  them, 


o  Jer.  40«  So  Gk.  and  the  parallel  II  Kgs.  25».     A  scribe  in  t  lie  lleb.  has  rewritten.  Jofuiiuuu 
in  the  form,  Jonathan. 

p  W>  So  Gk.  ,  ,  ,    ,  •     ,1      II   1 

'141'  So  Gk.  and  the  iiarallel  in  II  Krs.  2.5-'.    A  scribe  appears  to  have  added  iii  the  lleb., 

and  the  prince  of  the  l;in(i. 

'  4P  I.e.,  the  boldier.s  left  as  a  guard. 

329 


Jer.  416]  THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

BarucWs  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

he  said  to  them,  Come  to  GedaUah  the  son  of  Ahikam.     ^However,  when 
they  came  into  the  midst  of  the  city,  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  slew  them, 
and  cast  them  into  the  midst  of  the  cistern  with  the  aid  of  the  men  who  were 
with  him.     ^But  ten  men  were  found  among  them  who  said  to  Ishmael, 
Slay  us  not;  for  we  have  stores  hidden  in  the  field,  of  wheat,  barley,  oil,  and 
honey.     So  he  stopped  and  did  not  slay  them  together  with  their  kinsmen. 
^Now  the  cistern  into  which  Ishmael  cast  all  the  dead  bodies  of  the  men 
whom  he  had  slain^  is  the  great  cistern,  which  Asa  the  king  had  made  on 
account  of  the  attack  of  Baasha  king  of  Israel.*     Ishmael  the  son  of  Neth- 
aniah filled  it  with  the  slain. 
Depart-      ^^Then  Ishmael  carried  away  captive  the  rest  of  the  people  who  were  in 
^"jth       Mizpah,  even  the  king's  daughters  and  all  the  people  in  Mizpah,  whom 
cap-       Nebuzaradan   the   commander   of  the  body-guard   had   placed   under   the 

tlVGS  i'     o  1 

charge  of  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam.     Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah" 

arose  and  set  out  to  go  over  to  the  Ammonites. 

Their         ^^But  when  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah  and  all  the  commanders  of  the 

u^e^by'  forces  who  were  with  him  heard  of  all  the  evil  that  Ishmael  the  son  of  Neth- 

^-        aniah  had  done,  ^-they  took  all  the  men  and  went  to  fight  with  Ishmael 

the  son  of  Nethaniah,  and  found  him  by  the  great  pools  that  are  in  Gibeon.^ 

^^And  when  all  the  people  who  were  with  Ishmael  saw  Johanan  the  son  of 

Kareah  and  all  the  commanders  of  the  forces  who  were  with  him,  they  were 

glad.     ^*So  all  the  people  whom  Ishmael  had  carried  away  captive  from 

Mizpah  turned  about  and  came  back  and  went  to  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah.^ 

^^But  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  escaped  from  Johanan  with  eight  men, 

and  went  to  the  Ammonites.     ^^Xhen  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah  and  all 

the  commanders  of  the  forces,  who  were  with  him,  took  the  remnant  of  the 

people  whom  he  had  recovered  from  Ishmael,^  the  men  (soldiers),  the  women, 

the  children,  and  the  eunuchs,  whom  he  had  brought  back  from  Gibeon. 

Prepa-        ^^And  they  went  further  and  dwelt  in  Gedroth*  Chimham,  which  is  near 

for'the    Bethlehem,  in  order  to  set  out  on  the  way  to  Egypt  ^^on  account  of  the  Chal- 

flight      deans,  for  they  were  afraid  of  them,  because  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah 

Egypt    had  slain  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  whom  the  king  of  Babylon  had  made 

governor  over  the  land. 

'  41'  So  Gk.  The  Heb.,  hy  the  side  of  Gedaliah,  is  clearly  due  to  a  mistaken  reading  of  a 
scribe. 

t  419  cf.  I  Kgs.  1522. 

"  411"  go  Luc.  and  certain  codices.     The  Heb.,  carried  them  away  captive,  is  tautological. 

V  411-'  Cf.  II  Sam.  2^\ 

"  41'^  The  Gk.  has  a  much  briefer  text.     The  Heb.  may  well  have  been  expanded. 

==  41">  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  adds  the  awkward  phrase,  the  son  of  Nethaniah  from  Mizpah, 
after  he  had  slain  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam.  It  is  in  all  probability  a  later  scribal  addition 
as  well  as  the  explanatory  word,  soldiers,  which  also  is  not  found  in  the  Gk. 

»  4117  Following  the  Gk.,  Heb.,  Geruth. 


330 


THE   JE^YISH   REFUGEES   IN   EGYPT  [Jer.  42i 

§  1-11.  The  Jewish  Refugees  in  Egypt,  Jer.  42-44 
Baruch's  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

Jer.  42  ^Then  all  the  commanders  of  the  forces  and  Johanan  tlie  son  of  The 
Kareah  and  Azariah*^  the  son  of  Hoshaiah,  and  all  the  people  small  and  0^11?* 
great  came  near,  -and  said  to  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  Permit  us  to  bring  our  people 
petition  before  you  that  you  may  supplicate  Jehovah  your  God  for  us,  even 
for  all  this  remnant,  for  we  are  left  but  a  few  out  of  many — you  yourself  see 
us  here — "^that  Jehovah  your  God  may  show  us  the  way  wherein  we  should 
walk,  and  the  thing  that  we  should  do.     •*Then  Jeremiah  the  prophet  said 
to  them,  I  have  heard  you;  behold  I  will  pray  to  Jehovah  your  God  according 
to  your  words,  and  whatever  Jehovah  shall  answer  you,  I  will  declare  it  to 
you;  I  will  keep  nothing  back  from  you.     ^Then  they  said  to  Jeremiah, 
Jehovah  be  a  true  and  faithful  witness  against  us,  if  we  do  not  according 
to  all  the  word  with  which  Jehovah  your  God  shall  send  you  to  us.     ^Whether 
it  be  good  or  whether  it  be  evil,  we  will  obey  the  voice  of  Jehovah  our  God, 
to  whom  we  send  you,  that  it  may  be  well  with  us,  when  we  obey  the  voice 
of  Jehovah  our  God. 

"And  after  ten  days  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jeremiah.     ^And  he  The 
called  together  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah  and  all  the  commanders  of  the  ^0^-'' 
forces  that  were  with  him  and  all  the  people  small  and  great,  ^and  said  to  mand 
them,  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  to  whom  you  sent  me  to  present  main  in 
your  supplication  before  him:  ^0' If  ye  will  still  abide  in  this  land,  then  will  \:^^^^ 
I  build  you  and  not  pull  you  down,  and  I  will  plant  you  and  not  pluck 
you  up;  for  I  am  sorry  for  the  evil  that  I  have  done  to  you.     '^Be  not  afraid 
of  the  king  of  Babylon,*'  for  I  am  with  you  to  save  you  and  to  deliver  you 
from  his  hand.     ^-And  I  will  grant  you  mercy,  that  he  may  have  mercy 
upon  you  and  let  you  return  to  your  own  land.'     ^^But  if  ye  say,  '  We  will 
not  dwell  in  this  land;  so  that  ye  obey  not  the  voice  of  Jehovah  your  God,' 
^^thinking,  '  No;  but  we  will  go  to  the  land  of  Egypt,  where  we  shall  see  no 
war  nor  hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet  nor  be  hungry,  and  there  will  we  re- 
main; '  ^'^then  hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  O  remnant  of  Judah:  Thus  saith 
Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  '  If  ye  have  indeed  determined  to  enter 
into  Egypt  and  go  to  sojourn  there,  ^*^then  shall  the  sword,  which  ye  fear, 
overtake  you  there  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  and  the  famine,  of  which  ye  are 
afraid,  press  hard  upon  you  there  in  Egypt,  so  that  ye  shall  die  there.    ^'Thus 
all  the  men  who  have  determined  to  go  into  Egypt  to  sojourn  there,  shall 
die  by  the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pestilence,  and  none  of  them 
shall  remain  or  escape  from  the  evil  that  I  will  bring  upon  them.' 

^*For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  '  As  mine  anger  and  Certain 
my  wrath  have  been  poured  out  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  so  shall  |,\';,'^,' 
my  wrath  be  poured  out  upon  you,  when  ye  shall  enter  into  Egypt;  and  ye  ^^^'"'l 

ohe- 

§  141  This  section  is  the  immediate   sequel  of  the  preceding  and  from  the  same  source-  ' 'q"  i„ 
42'-^^  may  be  due  to  a  later  hand,  but  4.'}'-'  assumes  its  contents,  and  the  reasons  for  rcRarding  '  ^^^  ° 
it  and  4.'{"-''  as  midrashic  expansions  of  tlie  original   are  too  subjective  to  be  a('C('|>t('d  as  conclu- 
sive.    The  (Ik.  has  here  preserved  a  briefer  and,  in  some  cases,  doubtless  the  original  text. 

''42'  So  (ik.,  confirmed  by  4.'i-.      Ileb.,  Jeznnidh. 

0  42"  Eliminating  the  repetitious  phra-se,  oj  whom  ye  are  afraid;  be  not  afraid  of  him,  saith 
Jehovah. 

331 


Jer.  W»]  the   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

Barudis  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

shall  be  an  object  of  execration,  of  astonishment,  of  cursing,  and  of  reproach, 

and  ye  shall  never  see  this  place  again.'     ^^Jehovah  hath  spoken  concerning 

you,  O  remnant  of  Judah,  '  Go  ye  not  into  Egypt.'     Know  certainly  that  I 

have  testified  to  you  this  day.     -^op^j,  yQ^  have  deceived  yourselves,  for  you 

sent  me  to  Jehovah  your  God,  saying,  '  Pray  for  us  to  Jehovah  our  God, 

and  just  as  Jehovah  our  God  shall  say,  so  declare  to  us,  and  we  will  do  it.' 

2iAnd  I  have  this  day  declared  it  to  you,  but  you  have  not  obeyed  the  voice 

of  Jehovah  your  God  in  anything  for  which  he  hath  sent  me  to  you.     ^-^Now 

therefore  know  certainly  that  you  shall  die  by  the  sword,  by  famine,  and 

by  pestilence,  in  the  place  whither  you  desire  to  go  to  sojourn. 

Depart-       43  ^But  when  Jeremiah  had  ceased  speaking  to  the'i  people  all  the  words 

alUhe     of  Jehovah  their  God,  with  which  Jehovah  their  God  had  sent  him  to  them, 

people    gygj^  all  tliese  words,  ^Azariah  the  son  of  Hoshaiah,  and  Johanan  the  son 

Egypt    of  Kareah,  and  all  the  proud  men  spoke,  saying  to  Jeremiah,  You  speak 

falsely;  Jehovah  our  God  hath  not  sent  thee  to  say,  '  Ye  shall  not  go  into 

Egypt  to  sojourn  there.'     ^But  it  is  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah  who  stirs  you 

up  against  us,  to  deliver  us  into  the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  that  they  may  put 

us  to  death,  and  carry  us  away  captives  to  Babylon.     "^So  Johanan  the  son  of 

Kareah  and  all  the  commanders  of  the  forces  and  all  the  people  did  not  obey 

the  voice  of  Jehovah,  to  dwell  in  the  land  of  Judah.     ^But  Johanan  the  son 

of  Kareah  and  all  the  commanders  of  the  forces  took  all  the  remnant  of 

Judah,  who  had  returned  from  all  the  nations  whither  they  had  been  driven 

to  sojourn  in  the  land  of  Judah,  *^the  men,  the  women,  the  children,  the 

king's  daughters,  and  every  person  whom  Nebuzaradan  the  commander  of 

the  body-guard  had  left  with  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of  Shaphan, 

and  Jeremiah  the  prophet  and  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah,  ''and  they  came 

into  the  land  of  Egypt;  for  they  did  not  obey  the  voice  of  Jehovah;  and  they 

came  to  Tahpanhes. 

Pre-  ^Then   the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jeremiah  in  Tahpanhes,   saying, 

fiction  9'pa^i.g  great  stones  in  thy  hand,  and  bury  them  in  the  loose  foundation^ 

Egypt's  in  the  brick-covered  place  before  Pharaoh's  palace  door  in  Tahpanhes  in 

quest      the  sight  of  the  men  of  Judah;  ^^and  say  to  them,  'Thus  saith  Jehovah  of 

Nebu-     hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  "  Behold,  I  will  send  and  bring  Nebuchadrezzar  the 

chad-     king  of  Babylon,  my  servant,  and  will  set  his  throne  upon  these  stones  that 

you^  have  buried,  and  he  shall  spread  his  royal  pavilion  over  them.     ^^And 

he  shall  come  and  shall  smite  the  land  of  Egypt;  such  as  are  for  death  shall 

be  given  to  death  and  such  as  are  for  captivity  shall  be  given  to  captivity,  and 

such  as  are  for  the  sword  shall  be  given  to  the  sword.     ^2\nd  he^  will  kindle 

a  fire  in  the  houses  of  the  gods  of  Egypt,  and  will  burn  them  and  carry  them 

away.'^     And  he  shall  wrap  himself  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  as  a  shepherd  puts 

d  431  Omitting  the  all  of  the  Heb.  in  accord  with  the  Gk. 

"  43'  The  Heb.  word  occurs  only  here.  It  is  apparently  connected  with  the  root,  to  slip 
away.  This  suggests  not  the  current  rendering,  mortar,  which  would  make  Jeremiah's  task  an 
almost  impossible  one,  but  the  loose  bed  of  sand  on  which  was  laid  the  brick  pavement,  which 
covered  the  rai.sed  platform  which  strood  before  the  ancient  Egyptian  houses  and  palaces. 

I  431°  So  Gk.     Heb.,  /. 

6  4312  So  Gk.  and  the  context.     Heb.,  /. 

•"  4312  Or  following  an  emendation  suggested  by  Duhm,  and  they  will  stand  desolate. 

332 


THE   JE^YISH   REFUGEES   IN   EGYPT         [Jkr.  4312 

Baruch's  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

on  his  mantle,  and  shall  go  forth  from  there  in  peace.  ^^He  shall  also  break 
the  obelisks  of  lleliopolis  (that  is  in  the  land  of  Egypt)'  and  the  temples  of 
the  gods  of  Egypt  shall  he  burn  with  fire."  ' 

44  ^The  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  concerning  all  the  Jews  who  dwelt  Failure 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  who  dwelt  at  Migdol,  Tahjianhes,  ^Memphis,  and  in  jews^to 
upper  Eg\-pt,^  saying,  -Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  '  Ye  '^'"'"  • 
have  seen  all  the  evil  that  I  have  brought  upon  Jerusalem  and  upon  all  the  sons 
cities  of  Judah;  and  there  they  are  this  day  a  desolation,  and  no  man  dwclleth  [he'past 
in  them,  "^because  of  their  wickedness  which  they  have  committed  to  jjrovoke 
me  to  anger  in  that  they  went  to  offer  sacrifices'^  to  other  gods,  that  they 
knew  not,  neither  they  nor  ye,  nor  your  fathers.  '^However,  I  constantly 
sent  to  them'  all  my  servants  the  prophets,  saying,  "  O,  do  not  this  abomina- 
ble thing  that  I  hate."  °But  they  neither  hearkened  nor  inclined  their  ear  to 
turn  from  their  wickedness,  to  oft'er  no  sacrifice  to  other  gods.  *^And  so 
my  wrath  and  mine  anger  was  poured  forth  and  was  kindled  against  the 
cities  of  Judah  and  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  and  they  were  wasted  and  deso- 
late, as  is  now  the  case.'  "Therefore  now  thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of 
hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  '  Why  do  ye  commit  a  great  crime  against  your- 
selves to  cut  off  from  you  man  and  woman,  infant  and  sucking  child,  out  of 
the  midst  of  Judah  so  that  ye  leave  none  remaining,  ^in  that  ye  provoke 
me  to  anger  with  the  work  of  your  hands,  oft'ering  sacrifice  to  other  gods  in 
the  land  of  Egypt,  whither  ye  have  gone  to  sojourn,  that  ye  may  be  cut 
off,  and  that  ye  may  be  an  object  of  cursing  and  a  reproach  among  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth.'  ^Have  ye  forgotten  the  crimes  of  your  fathers, 
and  the  crimes  of  the  kings  of  Judah,  and  the  crimes  of  their  princes,™ 
which  they  committed  in  the  land  of  Judah  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  ? 
i^They  are  not  humbled  even  to  this  day,  neither  have  they  feared  nor 
walked  in  my  law  nor  in  my  statutes  that  I  set  before  you  and  before  your 
fathers.' 

^ ^Therefore  thus  .saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Behold,  I  set  Fate 
my  face  against  you  for  evil  to  cut  off  ^-fhe  remnant  of  Judah  in  the  land  of  hi^^lie 
Egypt,  and  they  shall  fall  by  the  sword  and  by  famine;  they  shall  die,  small  [.gg"'i,j 
and  great,  and  they  shall  be  an  object  of  execration,  of  astonishment,  of  Egypt 
cursing,  and  of  reproach."     ^'^For  I  will  punish  those  who  dwell  in  the  land 
of  Egypt,  as  I  have  j)unished  Jerusalem,  by  the  sword,  by  famine,  and  by 
pestilence,  ^^so  that  none  of  the  renuiant  of  Judah,  who  have  gone  into  the 
land  of  Eg\'pt  to  sojourn  there,  shall  e.scape  or  be  left  to  return  to  the  land 
of  Judah,  to  which  they  have  a  desire  to  return ;"  for  none  shall  return  except 
fugitives. 


I  43"  This  explanatory  note  is  not  found  in  the  Gk.  and  is  doubtless  due  to  a  later  scribe. 
i   44'   Heb..</ip  countru  of  Pathros. 

■<  44'  So  Ck.     Tlie  Ileb.  adds  the  awkward  gloss,  to  serve. 

'  44'  So  Svr.     Heb.,  you.  .     ^ 

»  44' So  Ok.    Ileb.,  drives.     The  Heb.  also  adds,  and  your  wickedness  and  the  mckednesa 
of  your  vivcH.     It  is  probably  due  to  a  scribe  who  recalled  l^^'-K     It  ill  accords  with  the  context, 
o  44",  12  FollowinE  the  briefer  C;k.  text,  the  Ileb.  is  very  repetitious. 
°  44'*  Omitting  with  the  Gk.  the  clause,  to  dwell. 

333 


Jer.  4415]  THE   BABYLONIAN   PERIOD 

Banicli's  Biography  of  Jeremiah 

Their  ^'^Then  all  the  men  who  knew  that  their  wives  offered  sacrifices. to  other 

mYna-     g^^^  ^^^  ^^'  *^^  women  who  stood  by,  a  great  assembly  (even  all  the  people 
tion  to    who  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Egj-pt  and  in  upper  Egypt)p  answered  Jeremiah,  saying, 
in  their  ^*^In  regard  to  the  demand  that  you  have  made  upon  us  in  the  name  of  Je- 
prac!^^°  hovah,  we  will  not  hearken  to  you.     ^''But  we  will  rather  fulfil  every  word 
tices       that  is  gone  forth  from  our  mouth,  to  offer  sacrifices  to  the  queen  of  heaven 
and  to  pour  out  libations  to  her,  as  we  have  done,  along  with  our  fathers, 
our  kings  and  our  princes,  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusa- 
lem; for  then  we  had  plenty  of  food  and  were  well  and  experienced  no  mis- 
fortune.    ^^But  since  we  left  off  offering  sacrifices  to  the  queen  of  heaven, 
and  pouring  out  libations  to  her,  we  have  wanted  all  things  and  have  been 
consumed  by  the  sword  and  by  the  famine.    ^^And  when  we  offered  sacrifices 
to  the  queen  of  heaven,  and  poured  out  libations  to  her,  did  we  make  cakes'^ 
and  pour  out  libations  to  her  without  the  approval  of  our  husbands  ?'^ 
Calam-       ^O'pj^g^  Jeremiah  said  to  all  the  people,  to  the  men  and  to  the  women, 
the  past  even  to  all  the  people  who  had  given  him  that  answer,  saying,  ^iDid  not 
in  pun-  Jehovah  remember  the  savor  of  the  sacrifices  that  vou  burned  in  the  streets 

ishment 

of  their  of  Jerusalem,  you  and  your  fathers,  your  kings  and  your  princes,  and  the 
I  o  a  ry  pg^pjg  ^jf  ^]^g  land,  and  did  it  not  come  to  his  mind  ?  2- And  so  Jehovah 
could  no  longer  endure,  because  of  the  evil  of  your  doings  and  because  of 
the  abominations  which  you  have  committed ;  therefore  has  your  land  become 
a  desolation  and  an  object  of  astonishment,  and  of  cursing,  without  inhab- 
itant, as  it  is  to-day.  ^^Because  you  have  offered  sacrifices  and  because  you 
have  sinned  against  Jehovah  and  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  Jehovah  nor 
walked  in  his  law,  nor  in  his  statutes,  nor  in  his  testimonies;  therefore  this 
calamity  has  overtaken  you,  as  is  now  the  case. 
The  24^jQj.gQygj.  Jeremiah  said  to  all  the  people,  and  to  all  the  women.  Hear 

ment      the  word  of  Jehovah,  all  Jews^  who  are  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  ^^'  Thus  saith 
"pojj      Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  "  You*  and  your  wives  have  spoken  with 
fiaut      your  mouths,  and  with  your  hands  have  carried  out  this  resolution:  We  will 
^^°^  ®    surely  perform  our  vows  that  we  have  vowed,  to  offer  sacrifices  to  the  queen 
of  heaven,  and  to  pour  out  libations  to  her.     Confirm  then  and  perform 
your  vows ! "  '     ^^^Therefore  hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  all  Jews  who  dwell 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  '  I  have  sworn  by  my  great  name,'  saith  Jehovah,  '  that 
my  name  shall  no  more  be  named  in  the  mouth  of  any  Jew  in  all  the  land  of 
Egypt,  in  the  oath,  "  As  the  Lord  Jehovah  liveth."     ^/ggi^Qj^j^  j  ■^r[]\  ^atch 
over  them  for  evil  and  not  for  good,  and  all  the  men  of  Judah  who  are  in 
the  land  of  Eg>^t  shall  be  consumed  by  the  sword  and  by  the  famine,  until 
there  is  an  end  of  them.      ^^And  they  that  escape  the  sword  shall  return 
from  the  land  of  Eg\'pt  to  the  land  of  Judah,  few  in  number,  and  all  the 

p  4415  Apparently  a  later  explanatory  note. 

I  44^'  So  Gk.  and  Syr.  In  the  Heb.  a  scribe  has  added  an  archaeological  note  which  prob- 
ably means,  to  mould  them,  i.e.,  in  some  symbolic  form. 

r  4419  xhe  verse  indicates  that  the  women  were  the  real  speakers  in  '^-'8.  Possibly  the 
men  were  only  introduced  later  in  i*. 

»  4424  Heb..  all  Judah.     So  also  in  26. 

1 4425  xhe  Gk.  omits,  you,  thus  making  the  wives  the  speakers  in  **. 

334- 


THE   JEWISH   REFUGEES   IN   EG\TT         [Jer.  4428 
Banich's  Biographij  of  Jeremiah 

remnant  of  Judah,  who  have  gone  into  the  land  of  Egypt  to  sojourn  there 
shall  know  whose  word  shall  be  confirmed,  mine  or  theirs.' 

-^'  And  this  shall  be  the  sign  to  you,'  saith  Jehovah,  '  that  I  will  punish  Hoph- 
you  in  this  place,  that  ye  may  know  that  my  words  shall  surely  be  confirmed  f^te  to 
against  you  for  evil.'     ^O'pi^^jg  yaJth  Jehovah,  'Behold,  I  will  give  Pharaoh-  he  a 
hophra  king  of  Eg}'pt  into  the  hand  of  his  enemies  and  into  the  hand   of 
those  who  seek  his  life,  as  I  gave  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  into  the  hand  of 
Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon,  who  was  his  enemy  and  sought  his  life.' 

§  142.  Jehoiachin's  Liberation,  II  Kgs.  25"-3o,  Jer.  5231-34 
Late  Prophetic  Summary 

II  Kgs.  25  27Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  thirty -seventh  year  of  the  cap-  Honors 
tivity  of  Jehoiachin  king  of  Judah,  in  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  the  twelfth  fg^^ed 
month,  Evil-merodach  king  of  Babylon,  in  the  year  in  which  he  became  "P°n. 
king,  lifted  up  Jehoiachin  king  of  Judah  from  prison  to  a  position  of  honor,  chin  in 
28And  he  spoke  kindly  to  him  and  placed  his  seat  above  the  seats  of  the  kings  f^^^' 
who  were  with  him  in  Babylon,  -^and  changed  his  prison  garments.     And 
Jehoiachin  ate  with  him  continually  as  long  as  he  lived.     ^^And  for  his  sup- 
port" a  continual  allowance  was  given  him  by  the  king,  each  day  a  portion, 
as  long  as  he  lived. 


§  142  The  one  political  event  during  the  Babylonian  exile  deemed  worthy  of  record  by  the 
late  i)rophetic  erlitor  was  the  liberation  of  Jehoiachin  in  connection  with  the  favors  granted  his 
subjects  by  Amil-marduk  on  the  occasion  of  his  accession  in  561  b.c.  It  is  a  fitting  close  to  the 
books  of  the  Kings,  for  not  only  does  it  mark  the  close  of  the  history  of  the  Hebrew  kings, 
but  it  also  suggests  the  greater  liberation  and  restoration  which  awaited  the  captive  people. 
Jer.  5231  ■*!  jg  ^  verbatim  quotation  from  Kgs 

"  25'"  Heb.,  allowance. 


335 


ec 


6REECE 


EGYPT 


TMIE 


COMMUNITY 


PERSIA 


P.llliulik  tl 


Ilophr  a 


ii  or  LvouM  «'.»  Am  usia 


Zedc 


kluh 


_/     1I1(;H  PRIKS 


)  IV   «EC»»''.''!.5 


;  ho  Of  PtL  : 


Tacho«[ 


Phil 


Ip 


Mec'tuiieb 


>\'buc 


hadrezzar 


■  c  ' 
r  T 


Evil-      .        , 
Blerodac-hUiiftislUsur 


Mubonldu 


Cy 


I'ROPHKTS     638)  EDICT  OF  CVRUS  CONCERNING  TEMPUE 
VZERUBBABEL  GOVERNOR  OF  JUDAH 


.raiub.y 


&20)  BEGINNING  OF  TEMPLE  BUILDING 
516     COMPLETION  OF  TEMPLE 


Dart 


us  I 


Xc  rxeo  I. 


445  1  W 
432)  Nl 


WALLS  OF  JERUSALEM  REBUILT 

NEUEJUIAII  GOVERNOR — 

EHEMIAH'S  SECOND  VISIT  TO  JERUSALEM 


Artaxe 


398  (t)  EXPEDITION  OF  EZRA 
3y7(T)  THE  GREAT  ASSEMBLY 

INSTITUTION  OF  THE  PRIESTLY  LAW 


Ar 


Alexaiid  cr 


•  ATTi  r  r\e  i»4li« 


Ptoleiuy 


Ptolemy  II. 


"OAK  tCACuC 


I.Soter 


Phlladelphutt 


Ptolemy  III. 


'to  KOHhV, 


Eucrsctes 


Ptuleni.v  IV.PIilloj>iit«r 


I'toUiny  V, 

Plolimy  VI.i 


Ptulfni} 


Kplpbaiieit 


Vll.Phllumrlrr 


rxe8  I. 


Xerxes  II. 


Dari  usil. 


taserxcg  II< 


34T(A80UT)  JEWS  JOIN  SYRIAN  REBELLION 

346  THIRD  DEPORTATION  OF  JEWS.  DESECRATION 


Artaxe 

(Oe 


OF  THE.  TEMPLE 


dITh^^ih 


rxes  III. 


PTOLEMY  MASTER  OF  JUDAH 
ANTIGONUS  MASTER  OF  JUDAH 


237  INVASION  OF  DEMETRIUS    SeleU 


cusl. 


Antlochus  I. 


r  Ml 
1 1 


WAR  BETWEEN  PTOLE- 
lES  AND  SELEUCIDS 


Anttoc 


Sotcr 


hus  II.TheoB 


Seleucus  II 
Seleuciis  III.  I 


218  ANTIOCHUS  III.  CONQUERS 

PALESTINE  AlllloollllS  III, 

517  BATTLE  OF  RAPHIA 


1 96  FINAL  CONQUEST  OF 

PALESTINE  BY  SELEUCIDS 


170  TEMPLE  PLUNDERED 
168  PERSECUTION  OF  JEWS 
167-6  VICTORIES  OF  JUDAS 
165  REPEDICATION  OF  TEMPLE 


(.'iiUiiilcUH 


The  Greut 


Scleii  nis  IV.I'lillopnlor 


Anllorliiif 


lV,K|tlplianet 


ji.\vi.-5U  A:\ii  cu.Mi.  iJ  i>i-\^i-^  (.iiiiu^oi.ociv  ii;o.>i 


iO    J'j 


r..i 


THE   UE-ESTABLISHMEXT  OF  THE   JEWISH 
COMMUNITY    IN   PxVLESTINE 

Ezra-Nehemiah 


THE   RE-ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  JEWISH 
COMMUNITY   IN   PALESTINE 


THE  REBUILDING   OF   THE  TEIVIPLE,  II  Chr.  3622.  23^  Ezra  1,  32- 

622,  Hag.  1,    I  Esdr.  (2),  448-56.  62,  63^  5I-6   (47_715) 


§  1-13.  Cyrus's  Decree  Regarding  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem,  II  Chr.  36".  ^^ 

Ezra  V-\  6'-^  (I  Esdr.  1'-',  C-'^-") 


Com- 
mand 
to  re- 
build 
the 

cemple 
and 
take 
back 
its  ves- 
sels 


Aramaic  Document 

Ezra  6  ^In  the  first  year  of 
Cyrus  the  kmg,  Cyrus  the  king 
made  a  decree:  Concerning  the 
house  of  God  in  Jerusalem — 
this  house  shall  be  rebuilt, 
where  they  offer  sacrifices  and 
bring  him  offerings  made  by 
fire.'^  Its  height  shall  be  sixty 
cubits  and  its  breadth  sixty 
cubits, '^  ^It  shall  he  constructed 
with  three  layers  of  huge  stones 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

1  ^Now  in  the  first  year  of  Cyrus  king  of 
Persia,  that  the  word  of  Jehovah  bv  the 
mouth  of  Jeremiah  might  be  accomplished, 
Jehovah  stirred  up  the  spirit  of  Cyrus  king 
of  Persia,  to  make  a  proclamation  through- 
out all  his  kingdom,  and  also  in  writing, 
as  follows,  2Thus  saith  Cyrus  king  of  Per- 
sia: All  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  hath 
Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel,'^  the  God  of 
heaven,  given  me;  and  he  hath  charged  me 
to  build  him  a  temple  in  Jerusalem,  which 


The  Rebuilding  of  the  Temple. — The  first  six  chapters  of  Ezra  cover  a  period  of  only 
twenty-two  years  from  538-516  b.c.  and,  with  the  exception  of  2  and  4'-»,  all  relate  to  the 
rebuilding  of  the  temple  and  the  restoration  of  its  worship.  The  centre  and  nucleus  of  the  whole 
is  the  Aramaic  account  of  the  experiences  of  the  builders,  found  in  5^-6'3.  This  the  Chronicler 
has  expanded  in  1  and  3.  The  manv  vexed  problems  of  these  chapters  are  illuminated  by  the 
valuable  contemporary  testimonv  found  in  the  books  of  Hag.  anil  Zech.  From  these  and  from 
the  other  evicience  in  Ezra-Neh.  it  seems  clear  that  there  was  no  general  return  of  Jews  from 
Babylon  before  520  n.r.,  and  that  the  rcbuihling  of  the  temple  was  first  seriously  begun  at  that 
time  by  the  Jews  who  had  remained  in  .ludah  and  the  few  who  had  returned  from  the  lands  where 
they  had  found  temporary  rcfugo.  None  the  less  noble  and  significant  was  the  restoration  of 
the  sanctuary  and  service  because  accomplished  amid  great  discouragements  by  (he  struggling 
little  Judean'communitv.  On  the  other  hand,  in  the  light  of  the  subsequent  glory  and  veneration 
which  centred  about  the  temple,  it  was  not  strange  that  this  act  should  be  idealized  in  accord 
with  ideas  peculiar  to  the  later  age. 

§  143  If  the  Aramaic  temple  records  in  .3--6'5  contained  a  continuous  history  of  the  Judean 
community,  from  6''-''  may  be  inferred  what  was  its  version  of  the  decree  of  Cyrus.  It  is  impor- 
tant because  it  represents  the  oldest  fijrm  of  the  tradition.  This  is  again  given  by  the  Chronicler, 
with  his  characteristic  modifications  in  1'-^. 

»  6'  Following  the  rendering  of  Ilaupt  {Ezra-Neh.  SHOT,  p.  36).  This  is  supported  by 
I  Esdr.  6^  anrl  the  corresponding  expressions  of  the  Chronicler  in  ICzra  .3-".  The  .\ram.  of  6'' is 
currently  translated,  the  place  where  thexi  offer  sacrifices,  and  let  its  foundation  be  slronyli/  laid. 
But  this  is  only  a  conjectural  reading.  The  variations  in  the  Gk.  versions  indicate  that  the  cor- 
ruption of  the  text  was  early. 

''6''  The  proportions  are  unusual.  The  Ijroadth  of  Solomon's  temple  was  twenty  cubits 
and  the  height  thirty.  Nothing  is  here  said  of  the  length.  P  ssibly  this  is  due  to  textual  cor- 
ruption. 

0  V  So  in  32  and  the  parallel  I  Esdr.  2^.     The  Aram,  omits,  the  God  of  Israel. 


Ezra  6^]         THE   REBUILDING    OF   THE   TEMPLE  [Ezra  1^ 

Aramaic  Document  Chroniclers  Ecclesiastical  Hislortj 

is  in  Judah.  ^wi^Qgyer  there  is  among  you 
of  all  his  people  who  desires  to  go,^  let  his 
God  be  with  him,  and  let  him  go  up  to 
Jerusalem,  which  is  in  Judah,  and  build 
the  temple  of  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel 
(he  is  God),'' which  is  at  Jerusalem.  "^And 
whoever  is  left,  in  any  place  where  he 
now  resides  as  an  alien,  let  the  men  of 
his  place  assist  him^  with  silver,  with  gold, 
with  goods,  and  with  beasts,  besides  the 
freewill  offering  for  the  house  of  God  which 
is  at  Jerusalem. 


and  one*^'  layer  of  timber.  And 
let  the  expenses  be  paid  out  of 
the  king's  treasury.®  ^Also  let 
the  gold  and  silver  vessels  of 
the  house  of  God,  Avhich  Nebu- 
chadnezzar^ took  from  the  tem- 
ple at  Jerusalem  and  brought 
to  Babylon,  be  restored  and 
brought  again  to  the  temple 
which  is  at  Jerusalem,  each  to 
its  place,  and  you  shall  put 
them  in  the  house  of  God. 


The 
volun- 
teers 


§  144.  The  Return  of  Certain  Jews  with  the  Vessels  of  the  Temple, 

Ezra  15",  5'*.  ^\  I  Esdr.  4*'^.  ^^-  si-se,  02,  es^  51-6 

Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  Historij 

Ezra  1  ^Then  the  heads  of  the  fathers'  houses  of  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
and  the  priests  and  the  Levites,  even  all  whose  spirit  God  had  stirred  to  go 
up  to  build  the  temple  of  Jehovah  which  is  at  Jerusalem  arose.  "^And  all 
those  who  were  about  them  supplied  themJ  with  silver  vessels,  with  gold, 
with  goods,  and  with  beasts,  and  with  precious  things,  besides  all  that  was 
voluntarily  offered. 


^  &  So  Gk.  Aram.,  new.     The  two  Aramaic  words  are  easily  confused. 

«  Q^  Aram.,  house. 

f  13  So  I  Esdr.  25,  Gk.,  and  Luc. 

E  6'  The  more  nearly  correct  spelling  of  this  word  is  found  in  Jer.  and  Ezek.  Cf.  §  130, 
note  '.     The  form  Nebucliadnezznr  is  used  in  Kgs.,  Ezra-Neh.,  Dan.,  and  Esther. 

''  1^  Apijarently  a  gloss,  added  by  a  jtious  scribe,  which  has  been  awkwardly  inserted.  In 
Luc.  it  is  found  at  the  end  of  the  verse. 

'  1''  I.e.,  to  return  to  Jerusalem. 

§  144  It  is  significant  that,  not  only  do  Haggai,  Zechariah,  and  Nehemiah  bear  testimony 
that  there  was  no  general  return  of  the  Jews  from  Babylon  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  Persian 
period,  but  even  the  comparatively  late  Aramaic  temple  records  are  completely  silent  regarding 
it.  They  know  only  of  the  return  of  a  certain  Sheshbazzar  with  the  vessels  of  the  temple,  5^^-  '^. 
Their  version  of  the  viecree  of  Cyrus  speaks  only  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  temple,  not  of  the 
return  of  the  exiles.  That  a  few  did  come  back  is  shown  by  the  presence  of  Zerubbabel  of  the 
royal  house  and  of  Joshua  the  priest,  as  well  as  by  the  direct  reference  in  Zech.  b'"  to  three  men 
who  had  come  from  Babylon,  bringing  the  gifts  of  the  Jewish  exiles  who  remained  behind. 

As  has  been  already  recognized,  I  Estlr.  contains  the  Gk.  translation  of  what  is  manifestly 
at  many  points  a  superior  text  of  Ezra.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  44.  In  3-5  an  older  account  of  the 
return  of  the  Jews  under  Cyrus  has  been  combined  with  the  later  .story  of  the  Three  Young 
Men.  Professor  Torrey  in  the  Jour,  of  Bib.  Lit.,  XXL,  ]5p.  169,  170,  has  called  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  Chronicler's  account  of  the  return  in  Ezra  1  stops  abruptly  and  is  obviously  in- 
complete. Also  in  Ezra  3'  it  is  stated  that  cedar  wood  for  the  temple  was  brought  from  Lebanon 
according  to  the  command  of  Cyrus  the  king,  but  our  Hebrew  book  of  Ezra  contains  no  such 
command.  This  missing  conclusion,  with  the  specific  command  referred  to  in  the  Heb.  ^•ersion 
of  Ezra,  is  found  in  the  composite  narrative  of  I  Esdr.  4^''-5".  It  also  records  the  return  of  Jeshua 
and  Zerubbabel,  which  is  assumed  by  the  Chronicler  in  I^zra  3^  and  5'-  -.  The  characteristic 
language  of  the  Chronicler  is  readily  recognized  and  renders  easy  its  separation  from  the  very 
different  story  of  the  Three  Young  Men.  The  name  C;/rus,  for  which  Darius  has  been  sub- 
stituteil,  as  a  result  of  the  combination  with  the  later  story,  must,  of  course,  be  restored.  This 
missing  fragment  was  doubtless  taken  from  our  present  received  Heb.  text  of  Ezra  when  the 
story  of  tlie  Three  Young  Men,  with  which  it  was  clo.sely  welded,  was  removed.  The  fact  that 
in  his  Gk.  column  Origen  followed  I  Esdr.  (cf.  the  Syro-Hexaplar)  indicates  that  the  present 
accepted  Heb.  text  was  not  established  until  a  comparatively  late  date. 

J  1    Heb     strengthened  their  hands. 


540 


Ezra  5^'^] 


RETURN   OF   CERTAIN  JEWS 


[EZR.A.  1' 


Aramaic  Temple  Records 

Ezra  5  ^"^Now  the  gold 
and  silver  vessels  of  the 
house  of  God  which  Nebu- 
chadrezzar took  from  the 
temple  at  Jerusalem  and 
brought  to  the  temple 
in  Babylon,  those  Cyrus 
the  king  took  out  of  the 
temple  in  Babylon,  and 
they  were  delivered  to  one 
by  the  name  of  Sheshbaz- 
zar,  whom  he  had  made 
governor.  ^^And  he  said 
to  him,  Take  these  vessels; 
go,  put  them  in  the  tem|)le 
at  Jerusalem,  and  let  the 
house  of  God  be  rebuilt  in 
its  place. 


Deliv- 
ery of 
the  ves- 


Chroniclcr's  Ecclesiastical  History 

''Also  Cyrus  the  king  brought  forth  the  vessels 
of  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  which  Nebuchad- 
nezzar had  brought  from  Jerusalem,  and  had  seisof 
put  in  the  temple  of  his  gods.  ^Those  Cyrus  teiii|)le 
king  of  Persia  brought  forth  under  the  charge  ^°  ^^'^^ 
of  Mithredath  the  treasurer,  and  counted  them 
out  to  Sheshbazzar,  the  prince  of  Judah.  ^And 
this  is  the  number  of  them :  thirty^  golden  plat- 
ters, a  thousand^  silver  platters,  twenty-nine 
censers,  ^*^thirty  golden  bowls,  two  thousand,'" 
four  hundred  and  ten  silver  bowls,  and  a  thou- 
sand other  vessels.  ^^All  the  vessels  of  gold 
and  of  silver  were  five  thousand,  four  hundred 
and  sixty-nine.'^  All  these  Sheshbazzar  brought 
up,  with  those  of  the  captivity"  from  Babylon 
to  Jerusalem. 


I  Esdr.  4  '*'''* And  Cyrus  the  king  wrote  letters  ^^to  all  the  governors  of 
the  province  beyond  the  River,''  and  also  to  those  in  Lebanon  he  sent  written 
commands  to  brine:  cedar  wood  from  Lebanon  to  Jerusalem  to  rebuild  the 
city.  ^^And  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  temple  he  ordered  that  twenty  talents 
should  be  given  yearly  until  it  should  be  built;  ^-and  that  ten  other  talents 
should  be  given  yearly  for  the  altar, "^  that  whole  burnt-offerings  might  be 
offered  day  by  day,  according  to  the  command;  ^''further,  that  all  those  going 
up  from  I3abylon  to  build  the  city,  should  have  their  freedom,  both  they 
and  their  children.  And  to  all  the  priests  who  went  up,  ^'^he  commanded 
to  give  portions,  and  the  priestly  garments  in  which  they  minister.  ^^Fur- 
thermore to  the  Levites  he  conunanded  to  give  portions  until  the  day  when 
the  temple  should  be  finished  and  Jerusalem  rebuilt.  •'''He  also  conunanded 
to  give  to  all  those  guarding  the  city  allotments  and  wages. 

6-Then  they  all  praised  the  God  of  their  fathers,  because  he  had  given 
them  "■'^permission  and  freedom^  to  go  up  and  rebuild  Jerusalem  and  the 
temple  that  is  called  by  his  name.  And  they  exulted  seven  days  with  music 
and  rejoicing. 

5  ^After  this  the  chief  men  of  the  fathers'  houses,  according  to  their  tril>es, 
were  chosen  to  go  up,  together  with  their  wives  and  their  son  and  their 
daughters  and  their  men-servants  and  their  maid-servants  and  their  cattle. 


Cyrus's 

piovi- 

sions 

for  the 

re- 

build- 

infr  .and 

service 

of  the 

temple 


■Toy  of 

tlie 

exiles 


Their 
depart- 
ure for 
Jeru- 
salem 


k  19  So  I  Esdr.  2'2  (Swete's  text).     Heb.,  thirtu-     But  compare  the  total  in  ». 
'  P  So  I  Esdr.  2'-.      Heb.,  four  hundred  and  ten. 

m  1'"  So  I  Esdr.  2'-.     The  Heb.  is  unintelliKible.  ,,  ,     , 

n  1"  The  total  of  the  numbers  given  in  the  Heb.  of  »•  '"  is  but  2,499,  while  the  Heb.  liere 
reads  .5,400.     I  i;sdr.  2'--  ",  however,  is  consistent  and  doubtless  original. 

0  1"   Again  following  I  Es<lr.  2'-',  which  ha,s  a  superior  tc\t. 

r>4"'  This  is  the  translation  of  the  A.ssyro-Mabylonian  name  of  the  provinces  west  of  the 
middle   i:u|)hrates.     The  (ik.  (-(luivalent  here,  as  in  i:zra  5'-  ",  ()''•  '■',  is,  Cwlesuria  and  Phoenicia. 

1  4''2  The  Gk.  adds  what  appears  to  be  an  obscure  glo.s9,  to  bring  fijleen. 
'  4"^  Torrey  suggests,  a  remnant  and  residue. 

341 


I  EsDR.  52]      THE   REBUILDING   OF  THE   TEMPLE 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

^And  Cyrus  sent  a  thousand  horsemen  to  go  with  them  until  they  had  brought 

them  back  to  Jerusalem  in  peace.     Then  with  musical  instruments,  drums 

and  flutes,  ^and  loud  rejoicing,  all  their  kinsmen  sent  them  on  their  way,^ 

as  they  went  up. 

List  of        ^These  are  the  names  of  the  men  who  went  up,  according  to  their  tribes, 

turnTng  by  their  genealogy.     ^Of  the  priests  the  sons  of  Phinehas,  the  son  of  Aaron: 

exiles     Jeshua  the  son  of  Jozadak,  the  son  of  Seriah.     And  there  rose  up*  with  him 

Zerubbabel  the  son  of  Shealtiel  of  the  house  of  David,  of  the  family  of  Peres, 

of  the  tribe  of  Judah ;  '^in  the  second  year  of  Cyrus  king  of  Persia  in  the  first 

day  of  the  month  Nisan. 

§  145.  Re-establishment  of  Worship  at  Jerusalem  and  the  Laying  of  the 
Foundation  of  the  Temple,  Ezra  S'-i".  ^i  (I  Esdr.  5<s-73) 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

Renew-      Ezra  3  ^Then  Jeshua  the  son  of  Jozadak,  and  his  kinsmen  the  priests, 

alt'aV'^^  and  Zerubbabel"  the  son  of  Shealtiel  and  his  kinsmen  arose  and  built"^  the 

service    ^Itar  of  the  God  of  Israel,  to  oifer  burnt-offerings  on  it,  as  prescribed  in  the 

serva-    law  of  Moses  the  man  of  God.     ^And  they  set  up  the  altar  in  its  place;  for 

ofThe     fear,  because  of  the  peoples  dwelling  in  the  land,  had  come  upon  them,  but 

feasts     ii^Qj  plucked   up   courage^  and   offered   burnt-offerings   to  Jehovah,   even 

burnt-offerings  morning  and  evening.     ^And  they  kept  the  feast  of  booths 

as  it  is  prescribed,  and  offered  the  fixed  number  of  daily  burnt-offerings 

according  to  the  direction  for  each  day;''  ^and  aftenvard  the  continual  burnt- 


»  5^  The  Gk.  text  is  not  grammatical,  and  is  evidently  corrupt.  Gk. A  3b  reads,  he  (Darius) 
made  them  go  up  with  them.  The  above  restoration  by  Torrey  at  least  reproduces  the  original 
sense. 

t  55  Following  Torrey's  restoration  of  the  original  Heb.,  which  is  mistakenly  read,  Joachim, 
in  the  Gk. 

§  145  Ezra  3'  is  but  the  Chronicler's  variant  of  Neh.  7''^^,  8^,  and  was  transferred  by  him 
from  Neh.  7  with  the  section  in  Ezra  2.  For  the  original  place  of  meeting,  the  broad  space 
before  the  Water  Gate  (Neh.  8'),  confirmed  by  the  parallel  in  I  Esdr.  5^',  he  substituted,  to  Jeru- 
salem, remembering  that  the  walls  had  not  been  rebuilt  in  538  b.c.  Also  the  reference  in  \  to 
the  seventh  month  and  the  implication  that  the  Jews  were  already  living  in  the  cities  outside 
Jerusalem  have  no  meaning  except  in  their  original  context  in  Neli.  From  3  it  is  clear  that  the 
Chronicler  intended  to  represent  the  altar  as  having  been  erected  in  538  B.C.,  immediately  after 
the  return.  From  Jer.  41''  it  would  appear  that  a  form  of  worship  was  observed  at  the  temple 
site  even  after  the  final  destruction  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Babylonians  in  586  B.C.  Hag.  2'<  also 
implies  that  sacrifices  were  offered  on  the  sacred  si>ot.  This  section,  as  a  whole,  is  characterized 
throughout  by  the  peculiar  ideas  and  expressions  of  the  Chronicler.  Into  4  he  has  introduced 
the  .Aramaic  account  of  the  interruption  of  the  building  of  the  city  walls,  cf.  §  149.  Vs. -<  is  in 
Heb.,  has  the  Chronicler's  usual  term,  king  of  Persia,  and  was  clearly  added  by  him  to  connect 
his  quotation  in  '--^  with  the  interruption  of  the  rebuilding  of  the  temple.  The  Aramaic  docu- 
ment evidently  had  a  variant  version  of  the  laying  of  the  foundation  of  the  temple,  for  it  states 
in  5"^,  after  the  account  of  Cyrus's  decree  to  build  the  temple,  thereupon  this  Sheshbazzar  came 
and  laid  the  foundations  of  the  house  of  God  at  Jerusalem,  and  since  that  time  even  until  now 
it  has  been  in  building  and  has  not  yet  been  completed.  From  the  contemporary  testimony  of 
Haggai  it  appears  that  practically  nothing  had  been  done  before  520  B.C.     Cf.   Hag.  2'". 

"  32  The  mention  of  Jeshua  and  Zerubbabel  as  the  leaders  in  the  restoration  of  the  worship 
of  the  temple  instead  of  Sheshbazzar,  as  in  the  Aramaic  records  'S'*),  suggests  that  the  Chronicler 
is  here  simply  projecting  backward  and  idealizing  the  account  of  the  building  of  the  temple 
recorded  in  Hag.  1. 

^'  3-  I  Esdr.  5^*,  made  ready. 

«  33  The  Heb.  text  is  evidently  corrupt,  but  the  parallel  in  I  Esdr.  S'"  is  not  altogether  clear 
and  the  variations  in  the  Gk.  versions  of  the  latter  testify  that  it  also  is  corrupt.  Many  con- 
jectural translations  have  been  offered.  The  above  practically  follows  the  Heb.  of  Ezra  3', 
adding  from  the  Luc.  of  I  Esdr.  5°°  the  evidently  original  phrase,  plucked  up  courage. 

'^  3*  Evidently  the  Chronicler  had  in  mind  the  law  in  Num.  29^^^-^*. 

342 


RE-ESTABLISHMENT   OP   WORSHIP  [Ezra  35 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

offering,  and  the  offerings  of  the  new  moons,  and  of  all  the  sacred  feasts  of 
Jehovah,^  and  for  every  one  who  offered  a  freewill  offering  to  Jehovah.** 
^From  the  first  day  of  the  seventh  month  they  began  to  offer  burnt-offerings 
to  Jehovah;  but  the  foundation  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah  was  not  yet  laid. 

'They  also  gave  money  to  the  masons  and  to  the  carpenters,  and  food,  Prepa- 
and  drink,  and  oil  to  the  Sidonians  and  the  Tyrians  to  bring  cedar-trees  forThe 
from  Lebanon  on  the  sea  to  Joppa,''  according  to  the  grant  that  they  had  temple 
from  Cyrus  king  of  Persia. 

^And  in  the  second  year  of  their  coming  to  the  house  of  God  at  Jerusalem,  Laying 
in  the  second  day  of  the  month,  Zerubbabel  the  son  of  Shealtiel,  and  Jeshua  founda- 
the  son  of  Jozadak,  and  the  rest  of  their  kinsmen  the  priests  and  the  Levites,  tion 
and  all  who  had  come  from  the  captivity  to  Jerusalem,  began  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  house  of  God  on  the  first  day  of  the  second  month  of  the 
second  year'^  after  they  had  come  to  Judah  and  Jerusalem.  And  they  ap- 
pointed the  Levites,  who  were  twenty  years  old  and  over,  to  have  the  over- 
sight of  the  work  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  ^Then  Jeshua  arose  with  his 
sons  and  his  kinsmen,  and  Kadmiel  his  brother  and  the  sons  of  Judah  and 
the  sons  of  Henadad,  with  their  sons  and  their  kinsmen  the  Levites,  to  have 
toofether  the  oversitrht  of  the  workmen  in  the  house  of  God.®  ^*^And  when 
the  builders  had  laid  the  foundation  of  the  temple  of  Jehovah,  the  priests 
stood^  in  their  official  robes  with  trumpets,  and  the  Levites,  the  sons  of  Asaph, 
with  cymbals  to  praise  Jehovah,  according  to  the  directions  of  David  king 
of  Israel.  ^^And  they  sang  responsively  songs  of  praise  and  thanksgiving 
to  Jehovah,  saying,  For  he  is  good,  for  his  loving-kindness  is  ever  over  Israel. 
And  all  the  people  raised  a  great  shout  of  rejoicing,  because  the  foundation 
of  the  temple  of  Jehovah  had  been  laid.  ^^But  many  of  the  priests  and 
Levites  and  heads  of  fathers'  houses  and  the  old  men,  who  had  seen  the 
first  temple,  when  the  foundation  of  this  temple^  was  laid  before  their  eyes, 
wept  loudly,  while  many  shouted  aloud  for  joy,  ^^so  that  the  people  could 
not  distinguish  the  sound  of  the  shout  of  joy  from  the  sound  of  the  weeping 
of  the  people;  for  the  people  shouted  with  a  loud  shout,  and  the  noise  was 
heard  afar  off. 

4  ^Now  when  the  adversaries  of  Judah  and  Benjamin  heard  that  the  Inter- 
children  of  the  captivity  were  building  a  temple  to  Jehovah,   the  God  of  oftiie 
Israel,  -they  drew  near  to  Zerubbabel  and  to  Jeshua^  and  to  the  heads  of  {^^Ij'ji.® 
fathers'  houses,  and  said  to  them.  Let  us  build  with  you;  for  we  worship  ing 
your  God,  as  you  do,  and  we  have  been  sacrificing  to  him  since  the  days  of 

»  3''  Following  the  shorter  text  of  I  Esdr.  5^^.     The  Heb.  is  exceedingly  repetitious. 

bS''  Cf.  Lev.  G'-",  Kx.  29^s-'-,  Num.  28.  I  l':sdr.  5-'''  adds  before  the  offering.s  of  the  new 
moons,  that  of  the  sabbath  as  prescribed  in  Num.  28"'. 

"=  y  The  Chronicler  here  evidently  follows  the  account  of  the  building  of  Solomon's  temple. 
Cf.  I  Kgs.  57-11,  II   chr.  2«-i«. 

•'  3'  Adding  a  statement  regarding  the  exact  date  of  the  laying  of  the  foundation  from 
I  Esdr.  .5^*.  Without  the  statement  that  the  foundation  was  laid  the  Heb.  is  incomplete. 
Vs.  1"  refers  to  this  act. 

•^  3'J  Correcting  the  Heb.,  which  is  obviously  corrupt,  by  tlic  aid  of  the  parallel  in  I  l.sdr. 
5'*.     Any  reconstruction  i.s  doubtful. 

'  3'"  So  Gk.,  I  Esdr.  S''",  Lat.,  and  many  Heb.  manuscripts. 

«  312  I  Esdr.  5'^  omits,  temple. 

i*  42  So  I  Esdr.  5""  and  demanded  by  '.     In  the  Heb.  to  Jeshua  has  dropped  out. 

313 


Ezra  42]  THE   REBUILDING    OF   THE   TEMPLE 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

Esarhaddon^  king  of  Assyria,  wlio  brought  us  here.  ^But  Zerubbabel  and 
Jeshua  and  the  rest  of  the  fathers'  houses  said  to  them,  You  have  nothing 
to  do  with  us  in  building  a  temple  to  Jehovah  our  God;  but  we  ourselves 
will  build  to  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel,  as  Cyrus  the  king  of  Persia  has  com- 
manded us.  ^Then  the  peoples  of  the  land  continually  weakened  the  en- 
ergies of  the  people  of  Judah,  and  frightened  them  out  of  building,  ^and 
kept  hiring  counsellors  against  them  to  frustrate  their  plan,  all  the  days  of 
Cyrus  king  of  Persia,  even  until  the  reign  of  Darius  king  of  Persia. J  ^'^So 
the  work  on  the  house  of  God  at  Jerusalem  ceased;  and  it  ceased  until  the 
second  year  of  the  reign  of  Darius  king  of  Persia.^ 

§  146.  Beginning  of  the  Rebuilding  of  the  Temple  in  the  Days  of  Darius, 

Hag.  1,  Ezra  5^-^  (I  Esdr.  GL  2) 


Prophecy  of  Haggai 


Jeho-  Ha&:.  1  'In  the  second  year  of  Darius  the  king, 

dfsap-  ^^  the  first  day  of  the  sixth  month,  the  word  of 
proval  Jehovah  came  by  Haggai  the  prophet,  saying, 
delay  in  Speak'  to  Zerubbabel  the  son  of  Shealtiel,  gov- 
[ng  the  ernor  of  Judah,  and  to  Joshua  the  son  of  Jehoza- 
temple    ^l^k  the  high  priest,  saying,  2' Thus  saith  Jehovah 

of  hosts,  "  This  people  say:  The  time  has  not  yet 

comeo  to  rebuild  the  temple  of  Jehovah."  '     ^'phg^ 

the  word  of  Jehovah  came  by  Haggai  the  prophet, 

saying,  *Is  it  a  time  for  you  yourselves  to  dwell  in 

your  own  ceiledP  houses,  while  this  temple  lies  in  ruins  ?     ^Now  therefore, 

thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  '  Consider  your  past  experiences. ^     ^Ye  sow 


Chronicler's    Ecclesias- 
tical History 

Ezra  5  'Now  the 
prophets,  Haggai,"^  and 
Zechariah,  the  son 
of  Iddo,"  prophesied 
to  the  Jews  who  were 
in  Judah  and  Jerusa- 
lem, in  the  name  of  the 
God  of  Israel  who  was 
over  them. 


'  42  Neither  the  O.T.  nor  the  Assyrian  inscriptions  record  a  transfer  of  foreigners  into 
Samaria  by  Esarhaddon.  Of  the  events  in  Israelitish  history  immediately  after  090  b.c, 
the  O.T.,  however,  says  little,  so  that  it  is  by  no  means  impossible.  Otherwise  the  event  re- 
ferred to  was  the  deportation  in  the  days  of  Sargon,  II  Kgs.  17-^. 

14"  The  Heh.  also  adds, '',  Atid  in  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Xerxes,  they  wrote  an  ac- 
cusation against  the  inhabitants  of  Judah  and  J erusalem.  Its  aim  is  clearly  to  trace  the  Samar- 
itan hostility  throughout  the  Persian  period.  Whether  it  was  original  with  the  Chronicler  or 
added  by  a  later  scribe,  as  the  fact  that  it  is  not  found  in  I  Esdr.  suggests,  cannot  be  definitely 
determined. 

^  42''  I  Esdr.  S'^  conriects  Ezra  4-^  immediately  with  "■>  as  above. 

§  146  The  brief  and  fragmentary  account  of  the  beginning  of  the  temple  building,  given  by 
the  Chronicler  in  his  introduction  to  the  quotation  from  the  Aramaic  document  in  Ezra  5  and  6 
is  supplemented  by  the  contemporary  sermons  of  Hag.  and  Zech.  From  these  it  is  evident  that 
Haggai  by  his  direct,  practical  exhortations  influenced  the  Jews  to  begin  the  work,  and  then  he 
and  his  colleague  Zechariah  by  their  repeated  addresses  kept  alive  the  enthusiasm  and  devotion 
of  the  temple  builders.  The  historical  element  is  so  prominent  and  important  in  Hag.  1,  that 
this  chapter  is  here  given.  The  first  address  of  Haggai  was  in  September  of  520  b.c.  when  the 
Persian  empire  was  all  aflame  with  rebellions  against  the  new  king  Darius.  Early  in  the  follow- 
ing October  the  work  was  begun.  A  month  later  Haggai  delivered  the  message  of  encourage- 
ment in  2'-s.  In  the  same  month  of  December  Zechariah  gave  his  first  address,  Zech.  1'-'*.  Just 
at  the  close  of  the  year  520  b.c.  the  founrlation  of  the  temple  was  laid  (Hag.  2'8)  and  in  con- 
nection with  this  ceremony  Haggai  delivered  his  last  recorded  sermon,  2'"-23.  Zechariah's  next 
address  was  in  February  of  519  B.C.,  and  the  visions  in  2-0  appear  to  come  from  the  period  pre- 
ceding the  completion  of  the  temple,  which  is  dated  by  the  Chronicler  in  516  b.c. 

•Hag.  11  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  omits,  sayinry,  SpeaA.     But  cf.  2i.  10. -». 

n>  Ezra  5'  So  I  Ivsdr.  6.     The  Aramaic  adds,  the  prophet. 

»  Ezra  5'   In  Zech.  Wthe  son  of  Berechiah.  the  son  of  Iddo.     Cf.  Neh.  12i8. 

»  Hag.  12  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  text  is  confused. 

P  Hag.  1^  Or  simply,  covered,  roofed. 

1  Hag.  1^  Heb.,  your  ways. 

344 


ITS   BEGINNING   IN  THE   DAYS   OF  DARIUS   [ILvg.  l^ 

Prophecy  of  Haggai 

much,  but  bring  in  little;  ye  eat,  but  _ve  do  not  have  enough;  ye  drink,  but 
ye  are  not  filled;  ye  clothe  yourselves,  but  not  so  as  to  be  warm;  and  he  that 
earneth  wages,  earneth  wages  in  a  bag  with  holes.' 

"Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  '  Consider  your  experiences.  *■     ^Go  up  to  Rebuild 
the  mountains,  and  bring  wood  and  rebuild  the  temple;  then  I  will  be  pleased  temple 
with   it,   and   I  will   reveal    mv  jjlorv,'®    saith   Jehovah.     ^'  Ye   looked    for  -*"*' 

'  .       o        «,  '  ^  ^       pros- 

much,  and  it  came  to  little;*  and  when  ye  brought  it  home,  I  blew  upon  it.  iserity 
Why  ?  '  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts.  '  Because  of  my  temple  that  lieth  in  ruins,  follow 
while  ye  are  running  each  to  his  own  house."  ^"^Therefore^  the  heavens 
withhold  the  dew,  and  the  earth  withholdeth  its  fruit.  ^kVnd  I  have  called 
forth  a  drought  upon  the  land  and  upon  the  mountains,  and  upon  the  grain 
and  the  new  wine  and  the  oil  and  upon  that  which  the  ground  bringeth 
forth,  and  upon  men  and  animals,  and  upon  all  the  labor  of  the  hands.' 


Chronicler's  Eccle- 
.siasticnl  Ilistori/ 

-Then  Zerubba- 
bel  the  son  of  Sheal- 
tiel  and  Jeshua 
the  son  of  Jozadak 
arose  and  began  to 
build  the  house  of 
God  which  is  at 
Jerusalem;  and 
with  them  were  the 
j)rophets  of  God, 
supporting  them. 


^-Then  Zerubbabel  the  son  of  Shealtiel  and  Joshua 
the  son  of  Jehozadak  the  high  priest,  with  all  the  rest  of 
the  people,  obeyed  the  command  of  Jehovah  their  God 
and  the  words  of  Haggai  the  prophet,  as  Jehovah  their 
God  had  sent  him  to  them.^  The  people  also  feared 
before  Jehovah."^  ^^And  Jehovah  stirred  up  the  spirit 
of  Zerubbabel  the  son  of  Shealtiel,  governor  of  Judah, 
and  the  spirit  of  Joshua  the  son  of  Jehozadak  the  high 
priest,  and  the  spirit  of  all  the  rest  of  the  people,  so  that 
they  came  and  worked  on  the  temple  of  Jehovah  of 
hosts,  their  God,  ^^in  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  the  sixth 
month,  in  the  second  year  of  Darius  the  king. 

§  147.  Unsuccessful  Opposition  to  the  Building  of  the  Temple,  Ezra  5^-6'^ 

(I  Esdi-.  G-^-7'0 
Aramaic  Document 

Ezra  5  ^M  that  time  Tattenai,'''  the  governor  of  the  province  beyond  inqui- 
tlie  River,  and  Shcthar-bozenai  and  their  associates  came  to  them,  and  spoke  [ifePer- 
thus  to  them,  Who  gave  you  permission  to  build  this  temple  and  to  fuiish  ^^V^^" 

■■  Has.  1''  It  is  possible  that  this  clause  has  crept  into  the  text  through  a  scribal  error  from*. 
It  certainly  interrupts  the  direct  eoninuind. 

"  Hag.  l**  I.e.,  inaugurate  the  Messianic  era  for  which  they  longed. 

t  Hag.   V  So  Gk.      Heb.,   behold. 

"Hag.   I'J  I.e.,  solely  intent  on  building. 

"  Hag.   1'°  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds,  over  you. 

*  Hag.   1'=  So  Gk.,  Syr.,  and  Lat.     The  Heb.  lacksj  to  them. 

»  Hag.  1'2  The  literary  stvle  and  idioms  of  the  first  half  of  '•''  are  foreign  to  Hag.  and  the 
second  has  apparently  been  taken  from  2"'.  Since  the  context  is  consistent  without  it,  it  has 
here  been  omitted.  It  reads,  Then  Ilnfjrjni,  Jehovah's  messenger,  spoke  Jehovah's  message 
to  the  people,  sai/inq,  '/  am  uith  nou,'  saith  Jehovah. 

§  147  Peculiarities  in  point  of  view,  literary  style,  and  vocabulary,  as  well  as  the  f.act  that 
it  is  written  in  Aramaic  conclusively  demonstrate  that  this  section  was  quoted  by  the  Chronicler 
from  the  earlier  Aramaic  document,  cf.  Introd.,  p.  30.  These  he  ha.s  slightly  expanded  in  G". 
and  possibly  in  G"'  '",  although  a  comparison  of  their  contents  with  "  and  II  Chr.  29-' ■  "  reveal 

» S'  This  name  appears  in  various  forms  in  the  different  versions.  Luc,  Thananai, 
I  Esdr.  C-',  and  Josephus,  Sisinnes. 

315 


Ezra  53]         THE   REBUILDING   OF  THE   TEMPLE 

Aramaic  Document 

this  wall  ?^     ■*And"  who  are  the  builders  who  are  carrying  this  through  ? 

^But  the  eye  of  their  God  was  upon  the  elders  of  the  Jews,  so  that  they  did 

not  make  them  cease,  until  a  report  should  come  to  Darius  and  a  written 

decision  concerning  it  be  returned. 

Their         ^The  copy  of  the  letter  that  Tattenai,  the  governor  of  the  province  beyond 

report    ^^^  River,  "^  and  Shethar-bozenai,  and  his  associates  the  rulers^  of  the  province 

Darius    bevoud  the  River,  sent  to  Darius  the  king: 

'To  Darius  the  king,  greeting.  ^Be  it  known  to  the  king  that  we  have 
gone  into  the  province  of  Judah,  to  the  house  of  the  great  God,  and  this  was 
built  with  huge  stones  and  timber  laid  in  the  walls  ;^  and  this  work  is  being 
carefully  done  and  is  prospering  in  their  hands.  ^Then  we  asked  those 
elders,  saying,^  '  Who  gave  you  permission  to  build  this  temple  and  to  finish 
this  wall  ?  '  ^^We  also  asked  them  their  names,  in  order  to  inform  you, 
that  we  mieht  record  the  names  of  the  men  Avho  were  at  their  head.  ^^And 
they  gave  us  the  following  answer,  '  We  are  the  serv^ants  of  the  God  of  heaven 
and  earth  and  are  building  the  temple  that  was  built  many  years  ago,  which 
a  great  king  of  Israel  built  and  finished,  ^^gut  after  our  fathers  had  pro- 
voked the  wrath  of  the  God  of  heaven,  he  gave  them  into  the  hand  of  Nebu- 
chadnezzar king  of  Babylon,  the  Chaldean,  who  destroyed  this  temple  and 
carried  the  people  away  to  Babylon.  ^^Ry^  j^  the  first  year  of  Cyrus  king  of 
Babylon,  Cyrus  the  king  made  a  decree  to  build  this  house  of  God.  ^^And 
the  wold  and  silver  vessels  of  the  house  of  God,  which  Nebuchadnezzar  took 
from  the  temple  at  Jerusalem  and  brought  to  the  temple  in  Babylon,  those 
Cyrus  the  king  took  out  of  the  temjile  in  Babylon,  and  they  were  delivered 
to  one  by  the  name  of  Sheshbazzar,^  whom  he  had  made  governor.  ^^And 
he  said  to  him,  "  Take  these  vessels,  go,  put  them  in  the  temple  at  Jerusalem, 
and  let  the  house  of  God  be  rebuilt  in  its  place."  ^^Then  this  Sheshbazzar 
came,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  the  house  of  God  at  Jerusalem.  And 
since  that  time  even  until  now  it  has  been  building,  and  it  is  not  yet  com- 
pleted.' i~Now  therefore  if  it  please  the  king,  let  search  be  made  in  the 
king's  archives^  at  Babylon,J  whether  it  be  so,  that  a  decree  was  made  by 

variations  from  his  usual  representation.  While  these  chapters  contain  the  most  reliable  and 
valuable  historical  data  in  the  book  of  Ezra,  it  must  be  recognized  that  at  least  the  decrees  have, 
like  the  others  found  in  Ezra,  been  recast  in  .Jewish  moulds.  Cf.,  e.g.,  the  distinctively  late 
prophetic  expression  in  6'-,  God  who  hath  caused  his  name  to  dwell  there  (in  Jerusalem).  On 
the  other  hand,  the  favorable  attitude  of  the  Persian  kings  toward  the  religions  and  sanctuaries 
of  subject  peoples  is  well  established.  Cf.  Appendices  XI,  XII.  There  is  excellent  ground, 
therefore,  for  regarding  these  decrees  as  in  spirit  authentic,  although  the  language  and  pomt  of 
view  of  the  Aramaic  document  in  which  they  were  found  do  not  justify  us  in  dating  it  before  the 
middle  or  close  of  the  Persian  period. 

^  53  Or,  sanctuary;  I  Esdr.  6^-  9,  these  works.  Syr.  and  Targ.,  walls.  Cf.,  for  the  same 
idiom,  4^. 

•=5*  So  I  Esdr.  6*.  The  Heb.  has  at  the  beginning  a  gloss,  uTid  we  (Gk.,  they)  told  them  as 
follows,  which  was  probably  originally  intended  for  9,  where  the  same  expressions  recur. 

d  5*^  1  Esdr.  6",  of  Syria  and  Phcenicia,  which  is  a  more  exact  definition  of  the  province 
beyond  the  River  Euphrates.     Cf.  §  144,  note  p. 

"  5*^  Cf .  49.  The  exact  meaning  of  the  Aram.,  Apharsachites,  is  unknown.  It  is  probably  a 
foreign  word.     I  Esdr.  6''  has,  governors  or  rulers. 

'5*  Or,  its  tcalls  were  covered  with  timber. 

K  59  So  I  Esdr.  6".     Aram.,  and  said  to  them  thus. 

•>  5"  Slightly  correcting  the  Aram,  by  the  aid  of  Luc.  and  I  Esdr.  6I'. 

■  5"  So  I  Esdr.  6-',  and  in  the  parallel  to  6'.   Aram.,  treasure-house. 

'  5'^  At  Babylon,  here  and  in  6S  may  be  a  scribal  addition.     Cf.  6^. 

Sid 


UNSUCCESSFUL   OPPOSITION  [Ezka  5i7 

Aramaic  Document 

Cyrus  to  rebuild  this  house  of  God  at  Jerusalem;  and  let  the  king  send  his 
pleasure  to  us  concerning  this  matter. 

6  ^Then  Darius  the  king  made  a  decree,  and  search  was  made  in  the  Result 
archives  where  the  official  documents  from  Babylon  had  been  deposited.*^  -n^^pf. 
^And  at  Ecbatana,'  the  royal  palace™  in  the  province  of  Media,  a  roll"  was  tigation 
found  and  in  it  was  thus  written:  A  record :°  ^In  the  first  year  of  Cyrus  the  Darius 
king,  Cyrus  the  king  made  a  decree:  '  Concerning  the  house  of  God  at  Jeru- 
salem, let  the  house  be  rebuilt,  where  they  offer  sacrifices  and  bring  him 
offerings  made  by  fire;  its  height  shall  be  sixty  cubits,  and  its  breadth  sixty 
cubits.     ^It  shall  be  constructed  with  three  layers  of  huge  stones  and  one  layer 
of  timber;  and  let  the  expenses  be  paid  out  of  the  king's  treasury.     ^Also 
let  the  gold  and  silver  vessels  of  the  house  of  God,  which  Nebuchadnezzar 
took  from  the  temj)le  at  Jerusalem  and  brought  to  Babylon,  be  restored  and 
brought  to  the  temple  Avhich  is  at  Jerusalem,  each  to  its  place;  and  you  shall 
put  them  in  the  house  of  God.' 

*^Xow  therefore,!^  Tattenai,  governor  of  the  province  beyond  the  River,  His 
Shethar-bozenai,  and  the  rulers  of  the  province  beyond  the  River,  go  away  n"and 
from  there;  ''let  the  work  of  this  house  of  God  alone;  let  the  governor  of  the  t"aiJ 
Jews  andi  the  elders  of  the  Jews  rebuild  this  house  of  God  in  its  place.    ^More-  re- 
over  I  make  a  decree  in  regard  to  what  you  shall  do  for  these  elders  of  the  J^g'^of" 
Jews'"  for  the  building  of  this  house  of  God:  that  out  of  the  kind's  wealth  f'e   , 
from  the  tribute  of  the  province  beyond  the  River  the  expenses  be  exactly 
paid  to  these  men,   and   that  without  delay. ^      ^And  whatever  is  needed, 
both  young  bullocks  and  rams  and  lambs  for  burnt-offerings  to  the  God  of 
heaven,  also  wheat,  salt,  wine,  and  oil,   according  to  the  direction  of  the 
priests  at  Jerusalem,  let  it  be  given  to  them  day  by  day  without  fail,  ^*'that 
they  may  regularly  offer  sacrifices  of  sweet  savor  to  the  God  of  heaven,  and 
pray  for  the  life  of  the  king  and  of  his  sons.     ^^Also  I  have  made  a  decree, 
that  whoever  shall  make  this  command  invalid,  a  beam  shall  be  pulled  out 
from  his  house,  and  he  shall  be  imf)aled  upon  it,*  and  his  house  .shall  for 
this  be  made  a  refuse-heap.     ^-And  the  God  who  hath  caused  his  name  to 
dwell  there  shall  overthrow  all  kings  and  peoples  who  .shall  put  forth  their 

^  6'  Changing  the  order  of  the  .Xrani.,  which  reads,  house  of  the  official  documents  where 
the  treasures  have  been  deposited  at  Babylon,  and  following  the  parallel  in  1  Esdr.  Cf.  5'^  and 
noteJ. 

'  &  Aram.,  Achmetha.  The  later  equivalent  of  the  old  Persian,  Hangmatana,  the  Ekbatana 
of  the  Greek  writers. 

"'  &  The  royal  palace,  lit.,  castle,  is  not  found  in  the  parallel  in  I  Esdr.  6^^  and  may  be  a 
later  aridition. 

"  (i-  The  Jewish  point  of  view  is  here  clearly  revealed.  The  document  would  naturally 
be  a  cuneiform  tablet. 

"  G^  This  appears  to  have  been  the  title  which  stood  at  the  head  of  the  memorandum  wliicli 
follows. 

"  G"  I  Esdr.  0^',  But  he  commanded  Sisinnes  (Tattenai).  This  introduction  to  the  coinniand 
of  Darius,  which  is  introduced  abruptly  at  this  point,  may  be  original,  hut  more  probably  the 
abruptness  is  due  to  the  author's  desire  to  present  in  briefest  form  the  vital  facts. 

'I  6'  Governor  of  the  Jews  is  probably  a  later  addition  from  5'-,  for  elsewhere  simply  the 
elders  are  mentioned  a.s  the  builders,  5^'  "■  ". 

'  0"  I  ]''sdr.  G''  further  adds,  the  servant  of  Jehovah,  Zerubbabel,  the  governor  of  the  Jcirs. 
So  also  in  '<. 

■  G'*  I  Esdr.  G^^'  2"  has  what  appears  to  bo  a  later  exiianded  |)araphrasc  of  this  passage. 

'  G"  Aram.,  as  one  impaled  shall  he  fastened  to  it.  According  to  Herodotus  (111,  159) 
this  form  of  punishment  was  characteristically  Persian. 

317 


Ezra  0^2]        THE   REBUILDING    OF   THE   TEMPLE 

Aramaic  Document 

hand  to  make  invalid  the  command  or  to  destroy  the  house  of  God  at  Jeru- 
salem.    Exactly  will  it  be  executed. 
Com-  ^^Then  Tattenai,  the  governor  of  the  province  beyond  the  River,  and 

of  tJie"^  Shethar-bozenai,  and  their  associates  did  exactly  as  Darius  the  king  had 
temple  given  command.  ^'*And  the  elders  of  the  Jews  built  and  prospered,  through 
the  prophesying  of  the  prophets"  Haggai  and  Zeehariah  the  son  of  Iddo.^  And  they 
finished  the  building  according  to  the  command  of  the  God  of  Israel  and 
according  to  the  decree  of  Cyrus  and  Darius  and  Artaxerxes  king  of  Persia.™ 
^^And  tliis  temple  was  finished  on  the  third  day  of  the  month  Adar,''  which  was  in  the 
sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  Darius  the  king." 

§  148.  Dedication  of  the  Temple  and  the  Observation  of  the  Passover, 

Ezra  6"-22  (I  Esdr.  T-'^) 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

Derli-         Ezra  6  ^"^Then  the  Israelites,  the  priests,  the  Levites,  and  the  rest  of  the 
of  the'    returned  exiles,*^  celebrated  the  dedication  of  this  house  of  God  with  joy. 
temple    i"And  they  offered  at  the  dedication  of  this  house  of  God  a  hundred  bul- 
locks, two  himdred  rams,  four  hundred  lambs,  and  twelve  he-goats  for  a 
sin-offering  for  all  Israel,  according  to  the  number  of  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
^^And  they  set  the  priests  in  their  divisions  and  the  Levites  in  their  courses,^ 
for  the  service  of  God  at  Jerusalem,  as  is  prescribed  in  the  book  of  Moses. 
The  i^And  the  returned  exiles  kept  the  passover  upon  the  fourteenth  day  of 

pass-  the  first  month.  ^op'Qj.  ^jjg  priests  and  the  Levites  had  every  one  of  them 
over  purified  themselves;  all  of  them  were  ceremonially  clean.  And  they  killed 
the  passover  for  all  the  returned  exiles,  and  for  their  brethren  the  priests, 
and  for  themselves.  ^^And  the  Israelites  who  had  come  back  from  the 
captivity,-  and  all  those  who  separated  themselves  from  the  uncleanness  of 
the  peoples  of  the  land,*^^  to  seek  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  ate  ^-and  kept 
the  feast  of  unleavened  bread  seven  days  with  joy;  for  Jehovah  had  made 
them  joyful  and  had  turned  the  heart  of  the  king  of  Assyria^  to  them,  to 
strengthen  their  hands  in  the  work  of  the  house  of  God,  the  God  of  Israel. 

"  6"  So  .51  and  I  Esdr.  1^. 

v  6"  Evidently  added  by  the  Chronicler  or  a  later  scribe.  Cf.  5^  The  entire  verse  may 
be  from  the  same  hand. 

""  6"  This  error  is  also  probably  due  to  the  Chronicler  who  appears  to  have  regarded  Artax- 
erxes as  the  predecessor  of  Darius  I,  under  whom  the  temple  was  completed.     Cf.  §  144. 

^  6"  March-Apiil,  516  b.c. 

a  6'^  This  chronological  note  was  probably  added  by  the  Chronicler,  but  he  may  well  have 
had  authentic  data  at  his  command.  It  is  not  improbable  tliat  he  derived  it  from  the  Aramaic 
document  itself.     Four  years  was  an  ample  allowance  of  time  for  the  rebuildhig  of  the  temple. 

§  148  Although  the  Aram,  continues  to  be  used  through  i**,  it  is  clear  that  this  section  is  from 
the  Chronicler.  The  elders  suddenly  vanish  from  the  story,  and  the  priests  and  Levites  and  a 
great  assembly  made  up,  as  alone  seemed  to  the  Chronicler  fitting,  of  the  children  of  the  captiv- 
ity 16,  19,  2i_  take  their  place.  In  addition  to  the  animal  offerings  in  s",  twelve  he-goats  are 
offered  as  a  sin-offering  in  accordance  with  the  very  late  law  in  Lev.  4'''-2i.  The  Chronicler's 
peculiar  ideas  and  expressions  also  abound.  Cf.  '«  and  I  Chr.  23'-27-,  II  Chr.  35^ ■  *.  As  in  II 
Chr.  3.5'-'^,  he  introduces  in  conclusion  a  solemn  passover  feast,  observed  in  accordance  with  the 
ritualistic  ideals  of  his  own  day. 

b  gi6.  19  Aram.,  children  of  the  captivity. 

<=  6^8  I  Esdr.  7^  adds,  likeirise  the  porter  at  each  door.     This  may  possibly  be  original. 

d  6-'  Here  the  Chronicler  projects  back  the  work  and  standards  of  a  later  age.  These  in- 
cluded not  proselytes  but  Jews  who  had  remainerl  in  ,judah.     Cf.  §  162. 

*  6~  This  historical  slip  is  doubtless  due  to  the  fact  that  to  students  of  the  earlier  prophecies 
Assyria  figured  still  as  the  ancient  foe  and  master  of  Israel — of  course,  the  Chronicler  meant  to 
say,  king  of  Persia. 

348 


THE  JEKUSALEm 
OF  NEHEMIAH. 


NEHEMIAH'S  INTEREST  IN  JERUSALEM      [Neh.  li 


II 

THE  ^yORK  OF  NEHEMIAH  IN  RESTORING  THE  WALLS  OF 

JERUSALEM    AND    IN    REFORMING    THE    JUDEAN 

COMMUNITY,  Ezra  47-23,  Neh.  li-7-5b,  n^  2,  i227_i33i 

(lEsdr.  £16-30,  Qi.  2) 

§  149.    Nehemiah's  Interest  in  the  Afflicted  Judean  Community,  Neh.  V-^^^ 
Nehemiah's  Memoirs 

Neh.  1  ^Now  it  transpired  in  the  month  of  Chislev,^  in  the  twentieth  year''  The 
[of  Artaxerxes],  as  I  was  in  Shushan  the  royal  palace,*^  2tijat  Hanani,<^  one  j^^^^g 
of  my  kinsmen  came,  together  with  certain  men  from  Judah,  and  I  asked  ^f""' 
tlrem  concerning  the  Jews  who  had  escaped,  who  were  left  from  the  cap-  salem 
tivity,  and  concerning  Jerusalem.     ^And  they  said  to  me,  The  survivors  who 
are  left  from  the  captivity  there  in  the  provinces  are  in  great  misfortune  and 
reproach,  and  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  is  broken  down  and  its  gates  have 
been  destroyed  by  fire. 

■^Now  when  I  heard  these  statements  I  sat  down  and  wept  and  mourned  Nehe- 
certain  days;  and  I  fasted  and  made  supplication  before  the  God  of  heaven,  ?^j!.^y^f 
^and  I  said,  I  beseech  thee,  O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  heaven,  the  great  and  tor  his 
terrible  God,  who  keepeth   the  covenant  and   showeth  kindness  to   them  .and  pe- 
who  love  and  keep  his  commands;^  ^let  thine  ears^  now  be  attentive  and  f''"*" 
thine  eyes  open,  to  hear  the  supplication  of  thy  servant,  which  I  am  now  tielp 
making  before  thee,  day  and  night,  for  the  Israelites  thy  servants,  while  I 
confess  the  sins  of  the  Israelites,  which  we  have  siimed  against  thee,  as  I 
also  and  my  father's   house  have  sinned.     '^We  have  dealt  very  wickedly 

The  Work  of  Nehemiah.- — For  the  first  time  in  Israel's  history,  it  is  possible  to  study  an 
important  epoch  in  the  light  of  a  contemporary  record  written  by  the  most  prominent  man  in 
the  life  of  his  ane.  Cf.  Introd.,  pp.  30,  31.  With  the  first  chaiitcr  of  Neh.  the  ])eciiliar  exi>rcs- 
sion  and  conceptions  of  the  later  Jevvisfi  traditions  foiiiul  in  l'>,ra  disappear  and  a  straiRlit- 
forwarcl  narrative,  abound ing  in  exact  details,  takes  their  place.  That  Nehemiah  was  the  pioneer 
who  pre))ared  the  way  for  a  seneral  return  of  the  .lews  from  Babylon  and  for  the  institution  of 
the  new  priestly  law  in  .Judah.  which  is  Ijv  tradition  associated  with  Kzra,  is  demonstrated  by  a 
great  variety  of  evidence.  With  .Jeremiah,  I'.zekiel,  and  the  author  of  Isa.  4()-.'J.5  he  ranks  as 
one  of  the  chief  makers  of  .Judaism.  I'atri(jtic,  enerpcetic,  and  pr,acticai,  he  was  supremely 
fitted  to  lift  the  .Judean  community  out  of  the  slough  of  corruption  and  dcs|)ondency  into  which 
it  ha<l  fallen  and  to  prepare  the  wa.v  for  that  close  union  between  the  reliKLous  le;iders  in  Hal)ylon 
and  the  .lews  of  I'alestine,  wliich  was  necessary  before  there  could  be  any  general  return,  and  to 
blaze  the  way  for  tho.se  fundamental  reforms  which  transformed  tlie  life  and  religion  of  tlie  race. 

§  149  The  superscriijtion  was  either  added  by  the  Chronicler  (cC  10-),  or  else  originally 
stood  at  the  head  of  Nehemiah's  memoirs  which  arc  here  quoted  verbatim,  as  the  vocabulary 
and  literary  style,  very  different  from  those  of  the  Chronicler,  clearly  testif.v.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  30. 
The  chapter  well  illustrates  that  rare  union  of  piety  and  patriotism  which  was  the  dominant 
influence  in  Nehemiah's  life. 

»  1'   November- December. 

''  1'  Probably  thoughtlessly  added  by  a  scribe  from  2',  for  Nisan  precedes  instead  of  follows 
Chislev. 

<^  1'  Lit.,  castle.     Cf.  Dan.  8-,  Esth.  1'.     Susa  was  the  winter  residence  of  the  Persian  kings. 

■'  r^  Cf.  7'-.  Probably  ll.inani  was  an  own  brother  who.sc  house  was  in  .Jerusalem.  If  .so 
this  would  explain  in  part  Nelieniiah's  interest  in  the  Judean  community  and  why  the  deputation 
appealed  directly  to  him. 

"  I-  Cf.   Dt.  72' •  ".'2. 

'  1''  Luc.  rea<l8  consistently  with  the  context,  ears.     But  cf.  ". 

349 


Neh.  17]  THE   WORK   OF  NEHEMIAH 

NehemiaJis  Memoirs 

against  thee,  and  have  not  kept  the  commandments,  nor  the  statutes,  nor 
the  ordinances,  which  thou  didst  command  thy  servant  Moses.  ^Remem- 
ber,  I  beseech  thee,  the  word  which  thou  didst  command  thy  servant 
Moses,  saying,  "  If  ye  trespass  I  will  scatter  you  abroad  among  the  peoples;^ 
^but  if  ye  return  to  me,  and  keep  my  commands  and  do  them,  then,  though 
your  outcasts  were  at  the  ends  of  the  earth,!'  yg^  yy[\\  j  gather  them  thence 
and  will  bring  them  to  the  place  that  I  have  chosen,  there  to  cause  my  name 
to  dwell."  ^^Now  these  are  thy  servants  and  thy  people,  whom  thou  hast 
redeemed  by  thy  great  power  and  by  thy  strong  hand.  HabQ  Lord,  I 
beseech  thee,  let  thine  ear  be  attentive  to  the  supplication  of  thy  servant, 
and  to  the  supplications  of  thy  servants,  who  delight  to  fear  thy  name;  and 
give  success  to  thy  servant  this  day,  and  grant  him  mercy  in  the  sight  of 
this  man.' 

§  150.  Nehemiah's  Leave  of  Absence  and  Arrival  at  Jerusalem,  Neh.  I'l^-a^o 
Nehemiah's  Memoirs 

Nehe-         Neh,  1  ^^^^ow  I  was  cupbearer  to  the  king.     2  ^And  it  came  to  pass  in 
recTuest  t^^  month  of  Nisan,  in  the  twentieth  year  of  Artaxerxes  the  king,  when  I 
and  the  had  charge  of  the  wine,J  that  I  took  up  the  wine  and  gave  it  to  the  king, 
re-         Now  I  had  not  befo retime  been  sad.''     -And  the  king  said  to  me,  '  ^\1iy  is 
spouse    yQuj.  countenance  sad,  since  you  are  not  sick  ?     This  is  nothing  else  but 
sorrow  of  heart.'     Then  I  was  greatly  afraid,  ^and  I  said  to  the  king,  '  Let  the 
king  live  forever:  why  should  not  my  countenance  be  sad,  when  the  city, 
the  place  of  my  fathers'  sepulchres,  lies  in  ruins,  and  its  gates  have  been 
destroyed  by  fire  ?  '     "^And  then  the  king  said  to  me,  '  For  what  do  you 
make  request  ? '     So  I  prayed  to  the  God  of  heaven.     ^And  I  said  to  the 
king,  '  If  it  please  the  king,  and  if  your  servant  has  found  favor  in  your 
sight,  that  you  would  send  me  to  Judah,  to  the  city  of  my  fathers'  sepulchres, 
that  I  may  rebuild  it.'     ^And  the  king  said  to  me  (and  the  queen'  was  also 
sitting  by  him),  '  For  how  long  will  your  journey  be .''     And  when  will  you 
return  ?  '     Then  it  pleased  the  king  to  send  me;  for  I  set  him  a  time.    ''More- 
over I  said  to  the  king.  If  it  please  the  king,  let  official  letters  be  given  me 


8  18  Cf.  Dt.  301-'.  It  jg  suggestive  that  this  prayer  throughout  shows  great  famiharity 
with  Dt.  and  no  acquaintance  with  the  late  priestly  code  and  narratives. 

^  1^  So  Eng.  idiom.  Heb.,  in  the  uttermost  part  of  the  heavens.  Cf.  the  corresponding 
Bab.-Assyr.  expression,  the  four  quarters  of  the  heavens. 

'  I'l  I.e.,  Artaxerxes. 

§  150  In  determining  the  exact  chronology  of  this  period  the  most  important  and  also  un- 
fortunately the  most  difficult  question  to  answer  is,  Which  one  of  the  three  Persian  kings  who 
bore  the  name  of  Artaxerxes  was  Nehemiah's  patron?  The  probabilities  lie  between  Artaxerxes 
I,  464-424  B.C.,  and  Artaxerxes  II,  404-358.  If  Neh.  12io  is  reliable,  the  Eliashib,  who  was  high- 
priest  in  432  B.C.  (Neh.  1.3<-  -'S)_  was  the  grandson  of  Joshua,  who  was  high-priest  in  520  B.C. 
This  would,  therefore,  point  to  the  first  Artaxerxes.  His  general  character  would  also  favor 
this  conclusion.  If  the  Chronicler  or  a  late  scribe  had  definitely  associated  Nehemiah  with  the 
second  or  third  Artaxerxes,  they  would  probably  have  noted  the  fact. 

'  2'  So  Gk.,  lit.,  u'ine  ivas  before  me.     Heb.,  wine  icas  before  him. 

^  21  Making  a  slight  correction  required  to  bring  out  the  sense  evidently  required  by  the 
context.     The  Heb.,  /  ^ras  not  sad  in  his  presence,  is  contradicted  by  "-. 

'  2fi  The  wife  of  Artaxerxes,  Damaspia,  was  probably  here  mentioned  because  of  the  powerful 
influence  which  women  were  known  to  exert  over  the  king. 

'     350 


HIS  LEAVE   OF  ABSENCE  [Neh.  2^ 

Nehemiah's  Memoirs 

to  the  governors  of  the  province  beyond  the  River,  tliat  they  may  let  me 
pass  through  until  I  come  to  Judah,  ^and  a  letter  to  Asaph  the  keeper  of  the 
king's  park,™  that  he  may  give  me  the  timber  to  make  beams  for  the  gates 
of  the  castle, °  which  belongs  to  the  temple,  and  for  the  wall  of  the  city,  and 
for  the  house  that  T  shall  enter.  And  the  king  granted  me  this,  according 
to  the  hand  of  my  God  which  kindly  cared  for  me.° 

^Then  I  came  to  the  governors  of  the  province  beyond  the  River,  and  Nehe- 
gave  them    the   king's   official   letters. p     Now  the  king  had   sent  with  me  IJ^rh-al 
military  officers  and  horsemen.     ^"^And  when  Sanballat  the  Horonitei  and  inJe- 
Tobiah,   the  Ammonite   slave,   heard  of  it,   it  troubled   them   exceedingly,  lem  and 
that  one  had  come  to  seek  the  welfare  of  the  Israelites.     ^^So  I  came  to  t?onof" 
Jerusalem  and  was  there  three  davs.     I2\n(j  j  arose  in  the  night,  together  condi- 
with  a  few  of  my  followers,  and  I  told  no  man  what  my  God  had  put  into  my 
heart  to  do  for  Jerusalem,  neither  was  there  any  beast  with  me,  except  the 
beast  upon  which  I  rode.     ^^And  I  went  out  by  night  through  the  Valley 
Gate,  toward  the  Dragon's  Well  and  to  the  Dung  Gate,^  and  investigated 
carefully  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  which  were  broken  down,  and  where  its 
gates  had  been  destroyed  by  fire.     ^^Then  I  went  on  to  the  Fountain  Gate^ 
and  to  the  King's  Pool,  but  there  was  no  place  for  the  beast  that  was  under 
me  to  pass.     ^^Then  I  went  up  in  the  night  by  the  Brook  Kidron  and  in- 
vestigated carefully  the  wall,  then  I  turned  back  and  entered  by  the  Valley 
Gate,  and  so  returned.     ^^And  the  rulers  did  not  know  where  I  went  or 
what  I  did,  neither  had  I  as  yet  told  it  to  the  Jews  nor  to  the  priests  nor  to 
the  nobles  nor  to  the  rulers  nor  to  the  rest  who  did  the  work. 

i^Then  I  said  to  them,  '  You  see  the  bad  condition  in  which  we  are,  how  Re- 
Jerusalem  lies  in  ruins  and  its  gates  are  destroyed  by  fire.     Come  and  let  onhT 
us  rebuild  the  wall  of  Jerusalem,  that  we  be  no  more  an  object  of  reproach.'  peoi.^le 
l^And  I  told  them  of  the  hand  of  my  God,  which  had  kindly  cared  for  me,  call  and 
as  also  of  the  king's  words  that  he  had  spoken  to  me.     And  they  said,  '  Let  -^^,.3  ^f 
us  rise  up  and  build.'     So  they  strengthened  their  hands*  for  the  good  work.  th||r 
l^But  when  Sanballat,  the  Horonite  and  Tobiah,  the  Ammonite  slave,  and 
Geshem  the  Arabian  heard  it,  they  jeered  at  us  and  despised  us,  and  said, 
'  What  is  this  thing  that  you  are  doing  ?     Will  you  rebel  against  the  king  ?  ' 
20Then  I  answered  and  said  to  them,  '  The  God  of  heaven,  he  will  give  us 
success,  for  we  his  servants  will  proceed  to  build;  but  you  shall  have  no 
portion  nor  right  nor  memorial  in  Jerusalem.' 


"  28  Probably  the  so-called,  Garden  of  Solomon,  south  of  Jerusalem  near  Etam.  Cf. 
Josephus    Ant     VIII    7^ 

"  2s  'Cf.  72  and  I  Mac.  1.3'2,  Acts  213'.  It  was  probably  erected  in  connection  with  the  re- 
buildinK  of  the  temple  in  .520-316  B.C. 

"  2"*  Heb.,  the  uood  hand  0/  m.i/  God  over  me.     Cf.  also  '».  .  ^   •       r  .u    nu 

p  2S.  'J"  These  verses  are  not  indispensable  to  the  context  and  contam  certain  of  the  Chron- 
icler's idioms  which  sugRest  that  they  may  have  been  added  by  him.  .  , 

•I  2'"  Probably  Bothhoron,  northwest  of  Jerusalem,  Iloronaim  m  Moab  has  also  been 
BUggested.     Cf.  Appendix  IV'. 

'  2'^  For  the  course  of  the  ride,  cf.  map  opp.  p.  349.  i-         .  •     tt   t-~, 

•  2^  Probably  the  Gate  of  the  King's  Garden  between  the  two  walls,  mentioned  in  li  ivgs. 
2h\  Jer.  39',  .52'.     Cf.  map. 

'  2'*  I.e.,  look  courage. 

351 


Neh.  3I]  THE   WORK   OF   NEHEMIAH 

§  151.  The  Rebuilding  of  the  Walls,  Neh.  3 

Chronicler's  Version  of  the  List  of  Builders 

Build-  Neh.  3  ^Then  Eliasliib  the  high  priest  rose  up  with  his  kinsmen  the  priests 

the°^  and  built  the  Sheep  Gate;  they  laid  its  beams"  and  set  up  the  doors,  even  to 

north-  ^i^e  Tower  of  the  Hundred,^'  and  to  the  Tower  of  Hananel.     ^And  next  to 

wall  liim  the  men  of  Jericho  built.     And  next  to  them  Zaccur  the  son  of  Imri 

gaJe       built. 

North-       ^And  the  Fish  Gate  the  sons  of  Hassenaah  built;  they  laid  its  beams,  and 

em  waU  set  Up  its  doors,  its  bolts,  and  its  bars.     •*\nd  next  to  them  Meremoth  the 

aid        son  of  Uriah,  the  son  of  Hakkoz,  repaired  [the  wall].     And  next  to  them 

^^  ^       MeshuUam  the  son  of  Berechiah,  the  son  of  Meshezebel,  repaired.     And 

next  to  them  Zadok  tlie  son  of  Baana  repaired.     ^And  next  to  them  the 

Tekoites  repaired;  but  their  nobles  did  not  bend  their  necks  in  the  service 

of  their  lord. 

West-         ^And  the  Old  Gate,  Joida  the  son  of  Paseah  and  MeshuUam  the  son  of 

ernwall  ggsQ^giah  repaired;  they  laid  its  beams,  and  set  up  its  doors,  its  bolts,  and 

its  bars.     "And  next  to  them  Melatiah  the  Gibeonite  and  Jadon  the  iVlerono- 

thite,  the  men  of  Gibeon  and  of  Mizpah,^  which  belongs  to  the  jurisdiction 

of  the  governor  of  the  province  beyond  the  River,  repaired.     ^Xext  to  him 

Uzziel  the  son  of  Harhaiah,  one  of  the  goldsmiths,^  repaired.     And  next  to 

him  Hananiah,  one  of  those  who  prepare  sweet  ointments,  repaired.     And 

they^  fortified'^   Jerusalem   even  to   the  broad  wall.     ^And   next  to  them 

Rephaiah  the  son  of  Ilur,  the  ruler  of  half  the  district  of  Jerusalem,  repaired. 

^OAnd  next  to  them  Jedaiah  the  son  of  Ilariunaph  repaired  opposite  his 

house.     And  next  to  him  Hattush  the  son  of  Ilashabneiali  repaired.    ^^Mal- 

chijah  the  son  of  Harim  and  Hasshub  the  son  of  Pahath-moab  repaired 

another  section  even  to^  the  Tower  of  the  Furnaces,     ^^^^d  next  to  him 

§  151  In  this  section  a  somewhat  different  style  and  vocabulary  appear.  Instead  of  the 
vivid  narrative  of  Nehemiah,  stereotyped  formulas  and  a  long  detailetl  list  of  names  in  which 
the  genealogical  element  is  prominent,  take  their  place.  The  repeated  statements  that  the 
different  builders  set  up  the  doors  of  the  city  gates,  ^-  3.  '"'.  is.  14.  io_  also  anticipate  Nehemiah's 
assertion  in  6^  7'  that  he  himself  set  them  up.  In  fact,  the  sudden  and  complete  disappearance 
of  Nehemiah  from  the  narrative  and  the  corresponding  prominence  of  the  Chronicler's  favorites, 
the  priests,  the  Levites,  and  the  temple  servants,  the  goldsmiths,  and  those  wlio  prepared  sweet 
ointments,  are  strongly  significant.  As  Torrey  has  shown  {Comp.  and  Hist.  Value  of  Ezra-Neh., 
pp.  37,  38),  certain  idioms  and  words  of  the  Chronicler  are  also  prominent. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  theme  is  one  which  naturally  calls  for  a  different  literary  style. 
41  implies  that  Neherniah"s  memoirs  contained  some  account  of  the  progress  of  the  work.  If 
so,  this  was  doubtless  incorporated  by  the  Chronicler.  The  e.xact  details  also  favor  the  conclu- 
sion that  he  drew  his  facts  either  from  an  older  written  document  or  from  a  well-established 
oral  tradition. 

In  determining  the  topography  of  Jerusalem  this  is  the  most  important  chapter  in  the  O.T. 
For  the  location  of  the  different  places  mentioned,  cf.  map  opp.  p.  349. 

u  31  Heb.,  sancHfied  it,  but  the  sanctifying  of  a  gate  is  unprecedented.  This  act  is  also 
represented  as  preceding  its  completion.  The  original  probably  read,  Inid  its  beams,  as  in  3.  6. 
The  formal  act  of  consecration  follows  the  completion  of  the  walls,  12-'  **. 

"•■'  3'  Omitting,  sanctified,  which  is  but  a  repetition  of  the  preceding  scribal  error. 

w  37  xhe  men  of  Mizpah  are  represented  by  their  ruler  in  '*.  It  has  been  conjectured  that 
instead  of  Mizpah,  the  original  here  read,  M erenoth. 

^  3s  The  Heb.  text  which  reads,  goldsmiths,  has  evidently  suffered  in  transmission.  Cf. 
the  following,  son  of  those  who  prepare  sweet  ointments,  i.e.,  one  who  belonged  to  the  guild, 
etc.     Cf.  further  31. 

»  3*  The  plural  suggests  that  a  proper  name  has  dropped  out  of  the  preceding  context. 

!>  3*  A  technical  word,  the  exact  meaning  of  which  is  doubtful.  It  may  mean,  plaster  or 
complete. 

C311  SoGk.    lieh.,and. 

352 


THE   REBUILDING   OF   THE   WALLS         [Neh.  312 

Chronicler'' s  Version  of  the  List  of  Builders 

Shallum  the  son  of  Ilallohesh,  the  ruler  of  half  the  district  of  Jerusalem, 
together  with  its  dependencies/^  repaired. 

i^The  Valley  Gate,  Hanun  and  the  inhabitants  of  Zanoah  repaired;  thev  South- 
built  it,  and  set  up  its  doors,  its  bolts,  and  its  bars,  and  also  built  a  thousand  and"'^" 
cubits  of  the  wall  to  the  Dung  Gate.     ^*And  the  Dung  Gate,  Malchijah  s^tes 
the  son  of  Ilechab,  the  ruler  of  the  district  of  Beth-hacchereni,  together  with 
his  sons^  repaired;  they  built  it,  and  covered  it,^  and  set  up  its  doors,  and 
its  bolts,  and  its  bars. 

^■''And  the  Fountain  Gate  Shallun  the  son  of  Col-hozeh,  the  ruler  of  the  South- 
district  of  ^lizpah,  repaired;  and  he  built  it,  and  covered  it,  and  set  u{)  its  tN^aTl'"^'^ 
doors,  its  bolts,  and  its  bars,  and  he  also  built  the  wall  of  the  Pool  of  SiloaniS  and 
by  the  King's  Garden,  even  to  the  stairs  that  go  down  from  the  city  of  David. 
^•^ After  him  Nehemiah  the  son  of  Azbuk,  the  ruler  of  half  the  district  of 
Bethzur,  repaired  to  the  place  opposite  the  Sepulchres  of  David,  even  to 
the  pool  that  was  made  and  to  the  House  of  the  Warriors.  ^~After  him 
the  Levites,  Rehum  the  son  of  Bani  repaired.  Next  to  him  Hashabiah,  the 
ruler  of  half  the  district  of  Keilah,  repaired  for  his  district.  ^'^After  him 
their  kinsmen,  Bennui'^  the  son  of  Henadad  the  ruler  of  half  the  district  of 
Keilah,  repaired.  ^^And  next  to  him  Ezer  the  son  of  Jeshua,  the  ruler  of 
!Mizpah,  repaired  another  section  opposite  the  ascent  to  the  armory  at  the 
bend'  in  the  wall.  ^'^After  him  Baruch  the  son  of  Zabbai  repaired  from 
the  bend  in  the  wall  to  the  door  of  the  house  of  Eliashib  the  high  j)riest. 
^^After  him  Meremoth  the  son  of  Uriah,  the  son  of  Hakkoz,  repaired  another 
section,  froiu  the  entrance  to  the  house  of  Eliashib  even  to  the  end  of  the 
house  of  Eliashib.  "-And  after  him  the  ])riests,  the  men  of  the  Plain  of  the 
Jordan  repaired.  -'^After  them  Benjamin  and  Hasshub  repaired  opposite 
their  house.  After  them  Azariah  the  son  of  Maaseiah,  the  son  of  Ananiah, 
repaired  beside  his  own  house.  ^^After  him  Binnui  the  son  of  Henadad 
repaired  another  section,  from  the  house  of  Azariah  to  the  bend  in  the  wall 
and  to  the  corner.  ^-^After  him  Palal  the  son  of  Uzai  repaired'  opposite 
the  bend  and  the  upper  tower  that  stands  out  from  the  royal  palace  of  the 
king,  which  is  toward  the  court  of  the  guard.  After  him  Pedaiah  the  son 
of  Parosh  repaired,  ^^''^to  the  place  opposite  the  Water  (iate  toward  the 
east  and  the  tower  that  .stands  out.  ^''After  him  the  Tekoites  repaired 
another  section,  opposite  the  great  tower  that  stands  out  and  to  the  wall  of 
Ophel.     2Ga^^,„i  ti,(.  temple  servants'^  dwelt  in  Ophel.^ 


^  y^  Heb.,  daughters.  It  appears  to  be  equivalent  to  dependent  villages,  as  in  Ips.  =?  and 
often  in  the  late  priestly  narratives. 

«  .3"  So  Gk.  The  Ileb.  omits,  together  with  his  sons,  and  has  the  following  verbs  in  the 
singular. 

f  .3'*  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  omits,  and  covered  it,  but  cf.  "^. 

K  S'-'i  Heb.,  Shelah.     Cf.  Is.  8'',  John  9'. 

h  3"*  .So  Gk.  and '■'^.     Heb.,  liavvai. 

'  S'"  The  tran.slation  of  these  words  is  very  doubtful. 

i  3"  Sut)piyiriK  the  words  which  have  fallen  out  of  the  Hebrew  and  which  are  required  by 
the  siereotyped  idiom. 

k  .3-'""   Heb.,  Nethinim. 

'  3*'"  This  note  interrupts  the  context  and  has  been  restored  to  its  logical  position. 

353 


Neh.  328]  THE   WORK   OF   NEHEMIAH 

Chronicler  s  Version  of  the  List  of  Builders 

East-         28\|3Qyg  ^}jg  Horse  Gate  the  priests  repaired,  each  one  opposite  his  own 

north-    house.     29\fter  theiu  Zadok  the  son  of  Irumer  repaired  ojjposite  his  own 

eastern  house.     After  liim  Shemaiah  the  son  of  Shechaniah,  the  keeper  of  the  East 

and        Gate,  repaired.     ^^After  him  Hananiah  the  son  of  Shelemiah  and  Hanum 

gates      i^j^g  sixth  son  of  Zalaph  repaired  another  section.     After  him  Meshullam 

the  son  of  Berechiah  repaired  opposite  his  chamber.     Sl^Yf^^p  hjuj  Malchijah 

one  of  the  goldsmiths  repaired  as  far  as  the  house  of  the  temple  servants 

and  of  the  merchants,  opposite  the  Gate  of  the  Watch  Tower  and  to  the 

ascent  of  the  corner.     ^-And  between  the  ascent  of  the  corner  and  the  Sheep 

Gate  the  goldsmiths  and  the  merchants  repaired. 

§  152.  Hostile  Opposition  and  Nehemiah's  Precautionary  Measures,  Neh.  4 
NehemiaJis  Memoirs 

Taunts       Nch.   4  ^Now  when  Sanballat  heard  that  we  were  rebuilding  the  wall, 
heathen  his  anger  w^as  aroused  and  he  w^as  very  indignant,  and  mocked  the  Jews.™ 
foes  of    2  ,^mj  ]^g  spoke  before  his  kinsmen  and  the  army  of  Samaria  and  said,  '  What 
Jewish    are  these  feeble  Jews  doing .''     Will  they  leave  it  to  God  "t^     Will  they  sacri- 
m^ity  fice?     Will  they  complete  it  in  a  day.^     Will  they  revive  the  stones  out  of 
the  heaps  of  rubbish,  although  they  are  burned  ?  '     ^Now  Tobiah  the  Am- 
monite was  with  him,  and  he  said,  '  Even  that  which  they  are  building,  if 
a  fox  should  go  up  on  it,  he  would  break  down  their  stone  wall  !  '     '^Hear, 
O  our  God — for  we  are  despised — and  turn  back  their  reproach  upon  their 
own  head  and  give  them  up  as  an  object  of  spoil  in  a  land  of  captivity,  '^and 
cover  not  their  iniquity  and  let  not  their  sin  be  blotted  out  from  thy  sight, 
for  they  have  provoked  thee  to  anger  before  the  builders. 
Their         ^So  we  built  the  wall;  and  all  the  wall  was  joined  together  to  half  its  height, 
stop^  ^°  for  the  people  were  eager  to  work.     ''But°  when  Sanballat  and  Tobiah  and 
^^^ ,       the  Arabians  and  the  Ammonites  and  the  Ashdodites,p  heard  that  the  restora- 
tion of  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  was  progressing, '3  so  that  the  breaches  began 
to  be  stopped,  they  were  very  angry.     ^Xnd  they  all  conspired  together  to 
Fears  of  come  and  fight  against  Jerusalem  and  to  produce  a  panic  therein.     ^But 
build-     ^^  made  supplication  to  our  God,  and  set  a  watch  as  a  protection  against 
ers  and  them  day  and  night.     ^'^Then  the  Judean  communitv''  said,  '  The  strenp-th 

Nehe-  ./  o  ,  '  o 

miah's    of  the  burden-bcarcrs  is  broken,  for  there  is  much  rubbish;  so  that  we  shall 

work°    '^ot  be  able  to  rebuild  the  wall.     ^^And  our  adversaries  have  said,  "They 

shall  neither  know  nor  see,  until  we  come  into  their  midst  and  slay  them 

and  bring  the  work  to  a  standstill."     ^2\nd  it  came  to  pass  that  when  the 

§  152  This  section  contains  a  straightforward  narrative  in  the  vivid  style  of  Nehemiah. 
It  reveals  the  discouraging  problems  which  confronted  him  and  the  energetic  way  in  which  he 
solved  them. 

"^  41  In  the  Heb.,  323. 

°  42  Making  a  slight  change  in  the  Heb.  to  bring  it  into  harmony  with  the  succeeding 
context. 

°  4'  In  the  Heb.  4',  with  a  corresponding  change  in  the  numbering  of  the  remaining  verses 
of  the  chapter. 

p  4^  The  Gk.  omits,  AshdodUes,  which,  perhaps,  was  taken  from  13^.  They  are  nowhere 
else  mentioned  in  the  present  context. 

1  4'  Heb.,  a  healinij  of  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  went  up. 

■•4">  Heb.,  Judah. 

354 


HIS  PRECAUTIONARY  MEASURES  [Neh.  4^2 

Nchemiak's  Memoirs 

Jews  who  dwelt  by  tliem  came,  they  said  to  us  ten  times,  '  From  all  the  |)laces 
where  they  dwell  they  will  come  up  against  us.'^  iS'pi^gj.j.fyj.^,  j  stationed 
in  tlie  lowest  parts  of  tlie  space  behind  the  wall,  in  the  protected  places,*  I 
set  there  the  people  by  their  families  with  their  swords,  their  spears,  and 
their  bows.  ^"^And  when  I  saw  their  fear,  I  rose  uj)  and  saitl  to  the  nobles 
and  to  the  rulers  and  to  the  rest  of  the  people,  '  Be  not  afraid  of  them.  Re- 
member the  Lord,  who  is  great  and  terrible,  and  fight  for  your  kinsmen, 
your  sons  and  your  daughters,  your  wives  and  your  homes.' 

^^And  when  our  enemies  heard  that  their  plan  was  known  to  us  and  God  Rapid 
had  brought  it  to  nought,  we  all  of  us  returned  to  the  wall,  each  to  his  own  ^1°^^^ 
work.     ^*^And  from  that  time  on,  while  half  of  my  servants  were  engaged  ^^}^ , 
in  the  work,  half  of  them  held  the  lances,  the  shields,  the  bows,  and  the  and 
coats  of  mail;  and  the  rulers  stood  behind  all  the  house  of  Judali."     ^"Those  ,Vethod 
who  built  the  wall  and  those  who  bore  burdens  were  also  arme<l,'''  each  with  of ''e- 

XGI1C6 

one  of  his  hands  engaged  in  the  work,  and  with  the  other  was  ready  to  grasp 
his  spear;  ^^and  each  of  the  builders  had  his  sword  girded  by  his  side,  and 
so  builded.  And  he  who  sounded  the  trumpet  was  by  me.  ^^And  I  said 
to  the  nobles  and  to  the  rulers  and  to  the  rest  of  the  people,  '  The  w  ork  is 
great  and  extensive,  and  we  are  separated  upon  the  wall  far  from  each  other. 
20ln  whatever  place  you  hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  gather  there  to  us; 
our  God  will  fight  for  us.'  -^So  we  were  active  in  the  work,  while  half  of 
them  held  the  lances  from  the  appearance  of  the  gray  of  morning  until  the 
stars  came  out.  22^]gQ  j  gg^jj  ^^  ^\^^^  iivaQ  to  the  people.  Let  each  man  with 
his  ser\ant  lodge  in  Jerusalem,  that  they  may  be  a  guard  to  us  by  night  and 
may  labor  by  day.  -^So  neither  I,  nor  my  kinsmen,  nor  my  servants,  nor 
the  men  of  the  guard  who  accompanied  me,  not  one  of  us  took  off  our  clothes, 
each  had  his  spear  in  his  hand.^^ 

§  153.  Nehemiah's  Social  Reforms,  Neh.  5 

Nehemiah's  Memoirs 

Neh.  5  ^Then  there  was  a  loud  complaint  from  the  common  people  and  Com- 
their   wives    against   their   fellow-countrymen   the   Jews.     '^Yov   there   were  o[Vhe* 
those  who  were  saying,  '  We  must  give  our  sons  and  our  daughters  in  pledge^  P"or 
to  secure  grain  that  we  may  eat  and  live.'     ^Some  also  there  were  who  were  of  the 
saying,  '  We  must  mortgage  our  fields  and  our  vineyards  and  our  houses,  ^j-'J^^q 


IlCll 

and 


"  4'2  Restorinpc  the  corrupt  Ileb.  with  the  aid  of  the  Gk.  ruling 

»  4«  The  translation  of  the  first  part  of  the  verse  is  exceedingly  doubtful  and  the  Gk.  c''*^* 
versions  afford  little  aid. 

"  4i»  The  Gk.  joins  the  first  word  to  ^^  and  reads,  the  rulers  were  behind  all  the  house  of 
Judah,  who  were  engaged  in  the  work. 

V  4"  So  Gk. 

"  423  Following  a  slightly  corrected  text.     The  Gk.  omits  the  last  clause. 

§  153  As  a  reformer  of  speoi.il  evils,  Nehemiah  showeil  himself  a  true  successor  of  the 
prophets  am)  a  pioneer  in  establishing  precedents  which  later  ai^ijear  as  laws  in  the  r>riestly 
code.  Lev.  2535-^'.  In  the  earlier  codes  the  enslaving  of  a  Hebrew  for  a  debt  which  he  was  unable 
to  pay  was  taken  for  granted.  Cf.  Ex.  212-'*,  Dt.  LO'-'*,  although  the  taking  of  interest  or  usury 
wa.s  strictly  forbidden,  at  least  in  loans  to  the  poor,  F.x.  22",  Dt.  ^S'"'  ^o.  In  •'■  for  the  first  time 
perhaps  in  literature  the  cry  of  modern  socialism  finds  impassioned  expression. 

"52  Correcting  an  obvious  error  in  the  Ileb.  Giving  a  child  in  pledge  was  equivalent  to 
slavery.     Cf.  *. 

355 


Neh.  53]  THE   WORK   OF   NEHEMIAH 

Nehemiah's  Memoirs 

that  we  may  get  grain  because  of  the  dearth.'     ^f  h^re  -^-ere  also  those  who 
were  saying,  'We  have  borrowed  money  for  the  king's  tribute.^     ^Yet  now 
our  flesh  is  as  the  flesh  of  our  brothers,  our  children  as  their  children;  but 
now,  we  must  bring  our  sons  and  our  daughters  into  slavery,  and  some  of 
our  daughters  have  already  thus  been  brought  into  bondage,  neither  is  it  in 
our  power  to  help  it,  for  our  fields  and  our  vineyards  belong  to  the  nobles.'^ 
Nehe-         '^Then  I  was  very  angry  when  I  heard  their  complaint  and  these  statements. 
remon-  ^And  I  took  counscl  with  myself,  and  contended  with  the  nobles  and  rulers, 
strance  ^nd  said  to  them,  '  You  exact  usury  each  of  his  brother.'     And  I  held  a  great 
com-      assembly  against  them.     ^And  I  said  to  them,  '  We  ourselves  have,  according 
™^°  ®    to  our  ability  redeemed  our  fellow-countrymen    the   Jews,  who  have   been 
sold  to  the  heathen ;  and  would  you  yourselves  sell  your  fellow-countrymen, 
and  should  they  sell  themselves  to  us .'  '     Then  they  were  silent  and  coidd 
not  find  a  word  to  say.     ^Therefore  I  said,  '  The  thing  that  you  are  doing 
is  not  good.     Ought  you  not  to  walk  in  the  fear  of  our  God,  because  of  the 
reproach  of  the  heathen  our  enemies  ?     ^^For  I  also,  my  kinsmen  and  my 
servants,  lend  them  money  and  grain.     I.iet  us,  therefore,  leave  off  this  usury. 
^ ^Restore  to  them  this  day  their  fields,   their  vineyards,   their  oliveyards, 
and  their  houses,  also  the  usury °  of  the  money  and  of  the  grain,  the  new 
wine,  and  the  oil,  that  you  exact  from  them.' 
Re-  ^2'pjjen  they  said,  '  We  will  restore  them  and  will  demand  nothing  from 

an?l'^^^  them;  we  will  do  just  as  you  say.'  Then  I  called  the  priests  and  took  an 
prom-  oath  of  them,  that  they  would  do  according  to  this  promise,  ^^^jgo  j  shook 
those  out  the  fold  of  my  garment,*^  and  said,  '  So  may  God  shake  out  every  man 
^ere  from  lus  house  and  from  the  fruit  of  his  labor,  who  does  not  fulfil  this  promise; 
guilty  even  thus  may  he  be  shaken  out  and  emptied.'  And  all  the  assembly  said, 
'  So  may  it  be.'  And  they  praised  Jehovah.  And  the  people  did  according 
to  this  promise. 
Nehe-  i^^Moreover  from  the  time  that  I  was  appointed  to  be  their  governor  in 
gener-  tlie  land  of  Judah,  from  the  twentieth  year  even  to  the  thirty-second  year® 
°1i^r  ^^  Artaxerxes  the  king,  that  is  for  twelve  years,  I  and  my  brethren  had  not 
gov-  eaten  the  bread  which  was  due  me  as  governor.  ^^But  the  former  governors 
who  were  before  me  were  a  source  of  expense  to  the  people,  and  took  of 
them  bread  and  wine,  and  also  forty  shekels  of  silver  each  day;  and  further- 
more their  servants  oppressed^  the  people.  But  I  did  not  so,  because  of  the 
fear  of  God.  ^^I  also  devoted  myself  to  this  work  on  the  wall,  and  we  did 
not  buy  any  land;  and  all  my  servants  were  gathered  there  for  the  work. 
■'^'^Also  the  Jews  and  the  rulers,  a  hundred  and  fifty  men,  besides  those  who 
came  to  us  from  among  the  surrounding  nations,  were  at  my  table.  ^*Now 
that  which  was  prepared  for  each  day  was  one  ox  and  six  choice  sheep  and 

»  5*  Through  a  scribal  error  in  the  Heb.,  our  fields  and  vineyards,  has  been  repeated  from  '. 
*>  5=  So  Gk.     Heb.,  to  others.     But  cf.  ^ 

"  S'^  Heb.,  hundredth.     But  a  scribe  has  apparently  mistaken  this  for  the  similar  Heb.  word 
for,  usury. 

^  5'3  For  this  characteristic  oriental  ceremony,  cf.  Acts  18",  also  Job  38i^. 
«  5"  I.e.,  if  under  Artaxerxes  I,  from  44.5-433  B.C.    Cf.  13^ 
'  5'^  So  Lat.     The  Heb.  makes  no  sense. 

356 


ernor 


HIS   SOCIAL  REFORMS  [Neh.  S^s 

Nchemiah's  Memoirs 

foAvls.  These  were  prepared  at  my  expense,  and  once  in  ten  days  wine  in 
abundance^  for  all  the  people.  Yet  with  all  this  I  did  not  demand  the 
bread  which  was  due  me  as  governor,  because  the  public  service  rested 
heavily  upon  this  people.  ^^Remember  to  my  credit,  O  my  God,  all  that  I 
have  done  for  this  people. 

§  Ij-i.  Unsuccessful  Plots  against  Nehemiah,  Nch.  6 
Nehemialis  Memoirs 

Xeh.   6  ^Xow  when  it  was  reported  to  Sanballat  and  to  Tobiah  and  to  Charge 
Geshem  the  Arabian  and  to  the  rest  of  our  enemies,  that  I  had  rebuilt  the  Nehe- 
wall  and  that  there  was  no  breach  left  in  it — though  even  to  that  time  I  had  ""'^'i 
not  set  up  the  doors  in  the  gates — -Sanballat  and  Geshem  sent  to  me,  saying,  plotting 
'  Come,  let  us  meet  together   in  one  of  the  villages  on  the  plain  of  Ono.'  fjjn  ®" 
But  they  planned  to  do  me  injury.     ^So  I  sent  messengers  to  them,  saying, 
'  I  am  doing  a  great  work,  so  that  I  cannot  come  down ;  why  should  the  work 
cease,  while  I  leave  it  and  come  down  to  you .'' '     ^And  they  sent  to  me  in 
this  way  four  times,  and  I  gave  them  the  same  answer.     ^Tlien  Sanballat 
sent  his  servant  to  me  in  the  same  way  the  fifth  time  with  an  open  letter  in 
his  hand,  ^in  which  was  written,  '  It  is  reported  among  the  nations,  and 
Gashmu  confirms  it,  that  you  and  the  Jews  plan  to  rebel,  and  that  this  is  the 
reason  you  are  building  the  wall,  and  that  you  would  be  their  king,^  '^and 
that  you  also  have  appointed  pro{)liets  to  preach  of  you  at  Jerusalem,  saying, 
"  There  is  a  king  in  Judah."     And  now  it  will  be  reported  to  the  king  to 
this  effect.     Come  now,  therefore,  and  let  us  take  counsel  together.'     ^Then 
I  sent  to  him,  saying,  '  Xo  such  things  have  been  done  as  you  say,  but  }ou 
have  devised  them  in  your  own  mind.'     ^For  they  all  would  have  made  us 
afraid,  thinking,  '  Their  hands  shall  be  weakened  from  the  work,  that  it 
may  not  be  done.'     But  now,  O  God,  strengthen  thou  my  hands. 

^^And  when  I  went  to  the  house  of  Shemaiah  the  son  of  Delaiah,  the  son  Shem- 
of  Mehetabel,  who  was  shut  up  at  home,'  he  said,  '  Let  us  meet  together  in  ^t- *^ 
the  house  of  God,  within  the  temple,  and  let  us  shut  the  doors  of  the  temple:  tempt 
for  tliey  are  coming  to  slay  you  in  the  night;  yes,  in  the  night  they  are  coming  fiiKht- 
to  slay  you  ! 'J     ^^And  I  said,  'Should  .such  a  man  as  I  flee?     And  how  ^g^^^ 
could  anyone  like  me  [a  layman]  enter  the  chief  room  of  the  temple  and  still 
live?     I  will  not  enter.'     ^^Xhen  I  perceived  and  it  was  clear  that  God  had 
not  sent  him;  V)ut  he  pronounced  this  prophecy  against  me.  because  Tobiah 
and  Sanballat  had  hired  him,  ^'^that'^  I  should  be  alarmed  and  act  accord- 


*  5'*  So  Luc.   The  Heb.  is  doubtful.     It  may  possibly  mean,  all  kinds  of  xnne. 

^  6"  So  Gk.  The  Heb.  ailds,  to  this  effect  (lit.,  to  these  words),  which  has  no  place  in  the 
context.     They  were  probably  introduced  here  by  mistake  from  ^. 

'  6'"  Perhaps  to  emphasize  his  advice  to  Nehemiah  to  .seek  refuge  in  the  temple.  His 
proposal  to  go  to  the  temple  seems  to  indicate  that  he  was  not  confined  by  ceremoidal  un- 
cleanness. 

'  6'"  The  Gk.  floes  not  repeat  the  last  clause.  It  is  possibly  a  scribal  error,  although  the 
repetition  may  well  have  been  intended  to  carry  conviction. 

I"  0'-''  Following  Luc.  in  omitting  the  unintelligible  won  Is  found  in  the  Hel).  at  the  beginning 
of  this  verae.     They  are  evidently  due  to  a  scrilnil  repetition  of  the  last  words  of  '-. 

357 


Neh.  G13] 


THE   WORK   OF   NEHEMIAH 


Com- 
pletion 
of  the 
walls 


Con- 
spira- 
cies of 
the 

friends 
ofTo- 
biah 


Nehemiah's  Memoirs 

ingly  and  sin;  and  it  would  have  given  them  occasion  for  an  evil  report,  that 
they  might  reproach  me.  ^'*Remember,  O  my  God,  Tobiah  and  Sanballat 
according  to  these  their  acts,  and  also  the  prophetess  Noadiah  and  the  rest 
of  the  prophets  who  would  have  made  me  afraid. 

l^So  the  wall  was  finished  in  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  the  month  Elul,^  in 
fifty-two  days.  ^®And  when  all  our  enemies  heard,  all  the  surrounding 
nations  feared  and  fell  in  their  own  esteem,"^  for  they  perceived  that  this 
work  had  been  done  by  our  God. 

^"^loreover  in  those  days  the  nobles  of  Judah  sent  many  letters  to  Tobiah, 
and  those  of  Tobiah  came  to  them.  ^^For  many  in  Judah  had  taken  oath 
to  him,  because  he  was  the  son-in-law  of  Shechaniah  the  son  of  Arah  and 
his  son  Jehohanan  had  taken  the  daughter  of  Meshullam,  the  son  of  Bere- 
chiah,  as  wife.  ^^Also  they  praised  his  good  deeds  befoi'e  me  and  reported 
my  words  to  him.     Then'^  Tobiah  sent  letters  to  make  me  afraid. 


The 
accu- 
sation 
of  the 
local 
Persian 
ofBcials 


§  155.  An  Appeal  to  Artaxerxes  to  Stop  the  Rebuilding  of  Jerusalem, 

Ezra  4'-"   (I  Esdr.  2 is- 22) 

Aramaic  Document 

Ezra  4  ^Now  in  the  clays  of  Artaxerxes,°  Bishlam,  Mithredath,  Tabce!,  and  the  rest 
of  their  associates  wrote  to  Artaxerxes  king  of  Persia. p  ^^And  Rehum  the  com- 
mander*^ and  Shimshai  the  recorder  ^and  the  rest  of  their  associates,  the 
judges,  the  rulers,""  the  scribes,''  the  Archevaites,*  the  Babylonians,  the 
men  from  Susa,  that  is^  the  Elamites,  ^^and  the  rest  of  the  peoples  whom 
the  great  and  noble  Ashurbanipal'^'  transported  and  settled  in  the  city  of 
Samaria  and  in  the  rest  of  the  province  beyond  the  River,  ^^wrote  the  letter 
against  Jerusalem  to  i\rtaxerxes,  as  follows: 


1  6'°  August-September. 

™  6'^    Or,  were  filled  with  u'onder. 

"  6'^  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     The  Iieb.  omifs  the  introductory  conjunction. 

§  155  Nehemiah  6'=-'^  tells  of  the  many  letters  written  by  the  enemies  of  the  .Judean  com- 
munity to  frighten  Nehemiah  and  put  a  stop  to  the  work.  .4fter  speaking  of  the  letters  sent 
to  himself  and  to  other  Jews,  Nehemiah's  account  ends  abruptly  with  the  statement,  Tobiah 
sent  letters  to  make  me  afraid.  It  seems  probable  that  the  Chronicler  has  here  cut  his  source 
short,  for  in  7'  the  theme  is  the  careful  measures  instituted  to  guard  the  city  permanently  from 
attack.  Nehemiah  also  lea\-es  the  trusty  men  in  charge  of  the  city,  implying  that  he  found  it 
necessary  to  depart.  To  whom  were  Tobiah's  letters  sent?  In  their  efforts  to  check  the  building 
of  the  walls,  the  enemies  of  the  community  certainly  would  not  fail  to  invoke  the  authority  of 
Persia.  In  all  probability  the  sequel  in  Nehemiah's  memoirs  recorded  such  an  attempt.  Nehe- 
miah's extreme  haste  in  pushing  the  work  of  rebuilding  the  walls  to  completion  would  suggest 
that  he  feared  an  interruption.  His  implied  departure  in  7'-^"  may  well  have  been  because  he 
found  it  necessary  to  answer  the  charge  before  the  king.  The  Chronicler's  omission  of  this 
incident  is  most  naturally  explained,  because  ho  had  already  introduced  the  account  of  it  in  an 
entirely  different  setting.  As  has  already  been  shown  (note  §  145),  the  Aramaic  section  in 
Ezra  l''-2^  has  no  real  connection  with  its  context.     Not  only  does  it   relate   solely  to  the  re- 

"  47  Heb.,  Arthrisastha. 

p  47  The  Heb..  but  not  the  Gk.,  has  the  explanatory  gloss,  the  writing  of  the  letter  was 
in  Aram,  and  it  was  translated  into  Aramaic  (Persian?).  It  was  probably  added  by  a  scribe 
to  introduce  the  .A.ramaic  section  which  follows. 

q  4Sa  Probably  a  Persian  title.  It  was  the  policy  of  the  Persian  rulers  to  send  to  each 
province  a  military  commander  and  a  civil  governor,  each  personally  responsible  to  the  king. 

■■  49  Cf.  §  147,  note  ". 

'  49  The  exact  meaning  of  these  titles  can  only  be  conjectured.  They  apparently  designate 
minor  Persian  officials. 

>■  49  Perhaps  the  colonists  from  the  southern  Babylonian  city  of  Uruk. 

"  4"  Or,  the  Dehaites. 

V  410  Aram.,  Osnappar. 


358 


AN   APPEAL   TO   ARTAXERXES  [Ezra  411 

Aramaic  Document 

^^This  is  the  copy  of  the  letter  that  they  sent  to  Artaxerxes  the  king:  Thy  Letter 
sen-ants  the  men  of  the  province  beyond  the  River.     And  now  ^^be  it  known  taining 
to  the  kinfj,  that  the  Jews  who  have  come  up  from  vou  to  us,  liave  arrived  "^efor- 
at  Jerusalem.     This  rebelhous  and  bad  city  they  are  rebuilding  and  have  cusa- 
finished  its  walls  and  repaired  the  foundations.     ^^And  now  be  it  known  ''"'^ 
to  the  king,  that,  if  this  city  is  rebuilt  and  its  walls  finished,  they  will  not 
pay  custom  or  toll,  and  it  will  impair  the  royal  income.^^     ^^Now  because 
we  eat  the  salt  of  the  palace  and  it  is  not  proper  for  us  to  see  the  king  sufl'er 
loss,  therefore  have  we  sent  and  informed  the  king,  ^^ihat  search  may  be 
made  in  the  books^  of  the  records  of  your  fathers;  then  will  you  find  in  the 
books  of  the  records  and  know  that  this  city  is  a  rebellious  city  and  one  that 
brings  harm  to  kings  and  provinces  and  that  the  Jews^  have  been  rebellious 
in  it  from  ancient  times,  for  which  cause  this  city  was  laid  waste.     ^^There- 
fore now''  we  declare  to  the  king  that,  if  this  city  is  rebuilt,  and  its^  walls 
finished,  you  will  have  as  a  result  no  portion  iu  the  lands  beyond  the  River. 

^'Then  the  king  sent  a  message  to  Rehum  the  commander  and  to  Shim-  The 
.shai  the  scribe  and  to  the  rest  of  their  associates  who  dwelt  in  Samaria  and  cmn-^ 
in  the  rest  of  the  province  beyond  the  River:  Greeting,  and  as  follows:^'  mand 
^'^The  letter  which  you  sent  to  us  has  been  plainlv  read  before  me.     ^^And  there- 


build- 


I  gave  command  and  search  has  been  made,  and  it  has  been  found  that  this  in"gof 
city  from  ancient  times  has  been  rebellious  against  kings  and  that  rebellion  J*^.™- 
and  sedition  have  been  stirred  up  in  it.      ^cpj^gj-g  have  been  mighty  kings 
also  over  Jerusalem,  who  have  ruled  over  all  the  country  beyond  the  River; 
and  tribute,  custom,  and  toll  was  paid  to  them.     ^'Now  give  conunand 


building  of  the  walls,  but  it  plainly  and  repeatedly  states,  8.  n.  23_  that  it  belongs  to  the  reign  of 
Artaxerxes.  If  not  so  stated  originaUy,  it  is  incredible  that  tlie  Chronicler  would  have  changed 
it  and  put  it  in  its  present  context.  Since  Nehemiah's  words  in  1  and  2  strongly  suggest  that 
no  recent  attemt)t  had  been  made  to  rebuild  the  walls,  Ezra  4"-^  must  refer  to  his  own  work. 
This  is  confirmed  by  the  plain  statements  in  the  letter  itself,  '-',  that  the  Jews,  who  had  come  up 
from  Artaxerxes  to  .Jerusalem,  had  already  fimshed  the  icalls  and  repaired  the  foundations  and 
were  going  on  to  rebuild  the  city.  The  king's  reply  says  nothing  about  the  walls,  presumably 
because  they  had  been  practically  completed,  but  simply  commands  that  further  rebuilding, of 
the  city  cease  until  he  should  issue  a  decree,  •".  The  first  i)art  of  the  section  is  in  confusion. 
Vs.  ''  being  in  Heb.,  antl,  unlike  the  rest  of  the  section  using  the  term  kMg  of  Persia,  is  evi- 
dently the  Chroniclei''s  epitome  of  the  introduction  to  the  .\ramaic  document. 

Many  have  been  the  reconstructions  offered.  The  jirobability  is  that  ^  contains  the  list  of 
local  Palestinian  officials  who  ai>pealeil  to  Artaxerxes.  Their  appeal  would  naturally  be  tran.s- 
mitted  through  the  Persi.an  rulers  of  the  province  beyond  the  River.  The  names  of  these  are 
given  in  >*•  '■'.  This  conclusion  is  confirmed  by  '",  for  the  king's  reply  is  addressed  to  the  two 
officials  who  wrote  the  letter  and  to  the  rest  of  their  associates  who  dwelt  at  Samaria  and  in  the 
rest  of  the  province  beyond  the  River.  Of  the  names  of  the  oflicials  who  appealeil  to  .'Arta- 
xerxes, one,  Bishlam,  is  of  doubtful  derivation.  Some  have  even  regarded  it  as  a  title.  Mith- 
redath  is  a  Persian  name,  probably  of  the  local  governor  of  Samaria.  'I'dbecl  appears  to  be  the 
Aram,  equivalent  of  I'obiah  (el  =  jah),  conlirming  still  further  the  assignment  of  this  chapter  to 
the  days  of  Nehemiah.  The  parallel  in  I  I'^sdr.  2'''  "'  is  much  simpler  and  combines  the  names  in  ^.  *. 
It  certainly  in<licates  that  the  repetition  in  '*•  '->  of  the  Heb.  is  due  to  the  error  of  a  copyist  who 
apparently  omitted  in  "  part  of  his  list  of  names  anfl  then  added  them  in  '•'■  '",  repeating  the  entire 
li.st.  Possibly  the  additional  names  and  lists  of  officials  and  peoples  in  »■  '"  are  tliem.selvea 
secondary.  A  certain  formal  and  re[)etitious  element,  however,  characterizes  the  document, 
and  the  greater  brevity  of  I  l')sdr.  may  be  due  in  part  to  abridgment. 

"  4'-'  Or  ileriving  the  word  from  a  Babylonian  or  Persian  root,  in  the  future  or,  finally. 

^  4';  So  Gk.,-Luc.,  an.l  I  ICsdr.  2-''. 

"  4'''  I  j-'.sdr.  2-*  sup|)lies  the  subject  required  in  the  Aram. 

''  4"'  Itestoring  the  lost  introduction  found  in  I  Esdr.  ^*. 

<=  4"'  So  I  lOs.lr.  2^>  and  Syr. 

d  417  This  re|)resents  an  epitome  of  the  address  and  introductory  worda  which  is  character- 
istic of  every  oriental  letter. 


Ezra  421]  THE   WORK   OF   NEHEMIAH 

Aramaic  Document 

that  these  men  cease  and  that  this  city  be  not  rebuilt,  until  a  decree  shall  be 

made  by  me.     22  4,^(j  j^g  careful  to  make  no  mistake  in  the  matter,  that  great 

harm  may  not  be  done,  to  the  injury  of  the  kings. 

Inter-         ^s^hen  when  the  copy  of  King  Artaxerxes's  letter  had  been  read  to  Rehum 

of  the"^  the  commander®  and  Shimshai  the  scribe  and  their  associates,  they  went  in 

work      haste  to  Jerusalem  to  the  Jews,  and  by  force  and  might  made  them  cease. 


1.  2 


§  156.  Measures  to  Insure  the  Protection  of  Jerusalem,  Neh.  7'-^",  11 

NehemiaJis  Memoirs 

The  Neh.  7  ^Now  when  the  wall  had  been  built  and  I  had  set  up  the  doors, 

fng^of"    ^^^  the  porters  and  the  singers  and  the  Levites'  had  been  appointed,  ^1  placed 
the  city  jjiv  brother  Hanani  and  Hananiah  the  commander  of  the  castle  in  charge 
of^  Jerusalem;  for  he  was  a  faithful  man,  and  more  God-fearing  than  many. 
^And  I  said  to  them,  Let  not  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  be  opened  until  the  sun 
is  hot;^  and  while  watchmen  are  still  on  guard,  let  them  shut^  the  doors 
and  bar  them.     Also  appoint  watches  consisting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 
salem, every  one  in  his  watch  and  each  opposite  his  own  house. 
Need  of      '^Now  the  city  was  wide  and  large;  but  there  were  few  people  in  it,  and  the 
dt"izens  households  were  not  large. ^      ^^Therefore  my  God  put  it  into  my  mind  to 
gather  together  the  nobles  and  the  rulers  and  the  people. 


Meas- 
ures to 
in- 
crease 
the 
pop- 
ulation 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  Historrj 

11  ^And  the  princes  of  the  people  dwelt  in  Jerusalem,  and  the  rest  of  the 
people  cast  lots,  to  bring  one  out  of  every  ten  to  dwell  in  Jerusalem  the  holy 
city,  while  nine-tenths  remained  in  the  villages.  ^Xnd.  the  people  blessed 
all  the  men  who  volunteered  to  dwell  in  Jerusalem. 


*  4-'  So  Luc.      The  commander  has  been  lost  from  the  Aram. 

§  1.56  Not  only  does  the  use  of  the  direct  address,  but  the  straightforward  nature  of  the 
narrative  and  the  presence  of  Nehemiah's  characteristic  tides  for  the  leaders  of  the  people  in 'a^ 
of.  2"',  4'^,  indicate  that  7'-^^,  excepting  one  or  two  slight  additions,  was  taken  from  the  memoirs. 
The  assembly  of  the  people,  however,  and  the  general  theme  gave  the  Chronicler  an  opportunity 
to  introduce  the  census  which  follows  in  T'"'''".  The  reasons  why  it  is  not  in  its  original  or  logical 
position  are  given  in  note  §  14.5.  The  immediate  and  logical  sequel  to  7^-'-'^  is  found  in  II'.  2. 
Its  facts  were  probably  taken  from  Nehemiah's  memoirs,  but  the  language  is  that  of  the  Chron- 
icler. 

f  7'  The  context  concerns  only  the  provisions  for  the  guarding  of  the  city  gates.  The  in- 
troduction of  tlie  singers  and  Levites  is  due  to  the  Chronicler  or  a  scribe  familiar  with  his  stereo- 
typed formula. 

e  72  Torrey,  on  the  basis  of  '  and  in  view  of  the  reference  in  the  Talmud  to  the  officer  in 
charge  of  the  gate-service,  has  suggested  that  the  words,  gates  of,  have  fallen  out  of  the  present 
text. 

h  7^  The  tran.slation  of  the  clause  is  difficult  and  doubtful.  The  above  probably  represents 
the  idea.     The  original  may  have  read,  while  it  is  still  hot. 

'  73  The  Heb.  has  the  imperative  form  of  the  verb  and  the  Gk.  the  passive. 

'  7*  Usually  translated,  the  house  had  not  been  built,  but  this  is  contradictory  to  the  con- 
text and  especially  to  Hag.  1*.  The  above  translation  suggested  by  Haupt  is  supported  by  the 
context  and  by  a  similar  use  of  the  same  idiom  in  Dt.  25^. 


360 


DEDICATION    OF   THE   WALLS  [Neh.  1227 

§  157.  Dedication  of  the  Walls  of  Jerusalem,  Neh.  12-'" 

Nefwmiah's  Memoirs 

Neh .  1 3  2'' And  at  the  dedication  of  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  they  sought  out  the  Levites  Assem- 
from  all  their  places,  to  bring  them  to  Jerusalem  to  celebrate  the  dedication  wilh  o-lad-  blyof 
ness,  with  hymns  of  thanksgiving,  and  with  singing,  with  cymbals,  harps,  and  zithers.  ^V^ 
^''And  the  members  of  the  Levitical  guilds,''  the  singers,  assembled,  both  from  the  Plain  ^'ndTl^ 
of  the  Jordan  and'  round  about  Jerusalem  and  from  the  villages  of  the  Netophathite-:  coiLse-^^ 
2'and  from  Beth-gilgal  and  from  the  fields  of  Geba  and  Azmaveth;   fortlie  singers  had  cration 
built  themselves  villages  round  about  Jerusalem.     '"And  the  priests  and  the  Levites  of  the 
purified  themselves;  and  they  purified  the  people  and  the  gates  and  the  wall.  city 

"^^Then  I  had  the  rulers  of  Judah  take  their  pcsition  upon  tlie  wall,  and  I  March 
appointed  two  great  companies  that  gave  thanks,  and  the  first  went™  to  the  '^^^^ 
right  hand  upon  the  wall  toward  the  Dung  Gate,     ^^^nd  behind  them  went  band 
Hoshaiah  and  half  of  the  nobles  of  Judah,  ''and  Azariah,  Ezra,  and  Meshullam,  the 
'^ Judah,  Benjamin,  Shemaiah,  Jeremiah,  '''and  certain  of  the  priests'  sons  with  trum-  south- 
pets:    Zeehariah  the  son  of  .Jonathan,  the  sou  of  Shemaiah,  tlie  son  of  Mattaniah.  the  ^'"^ /"^d 
son  of  Micaiah,   the  son  of  Zaccur,  the  son  of  Asaph;  "^and  his  kinsmen,  Shemaiah,  ^faU^™ 
Azarel,"  Gilalai,  Maai,  Nethanel,  Jud.ah,  and   Hanani,  with  the  masical  instruments 
of  David  the  man  of  God.     And  Ezra  the  scribe  was  before  them.     "^'And  bv  the 
Fountain  Gate,  they  went  straight  up  the  stairs  of  the  city  of  David,  at  the 
ascent  of  the  wall,  above  the  house  of  David,  even  to  the  Water  Gate  on 
the  east. 

^^And  the  other  company  of  those  who  gave  thanks  went  to  the  left,"  March 
and  I  after  them,  with  the  half  of  the  nobles''  of  the  people,  upon  the  wall,  second 
above  the  Tower  of  the  Furnaces,  even  to  the  broad  wall,  ^^and  above  the  band 
Gate  of  Ephraira  and  by  the  Old  Gate  and  by  the  Fish  Gate  and  the  Tower  the 
of  Ilananel  and  the  Tower  of  the  Hundred,  even  to  the  Sheep  Gate;  and  they  Xnd*^™ 
stood  in  the  Gate  of  the  Guard. "^     **^So  the  two  companies  of  those  who  north- 

cm 

gave  thanks  in  the  house  of  God  took  their  position,  and  I,  and  the  half  wall 

of  the  rulers  with  me;'"  <'and  the  priests,  Eliakim,  Maaseiah,  Miniamin,  Micaiah, 
Elioenai,  Zeehariah,  and  Ilananiah,  with  trumpets;  '•-and  Maaseiah,  Shemaiah,  Elo- 
azar,  Uzzi,  Jehohanan,  Malchijah,  Elam,  and  Ezer.     And  the  singers  sang  loudly  with 


§  1.57  The  de<licati()n  of  the  walls  naturally  followed  soon  after  their  completion,  although 
the  Chronicler's  supplements  to  the  original  Nehemiah  memoirs  have  widely  separated  the  ac- 
counts of  the  two  events.  The  section  viviiily  illustrates  the  very  different  points  of  view  of  the 
Chronicler  and  of  Nehemiah.  In  a  definite,  detailed  narrative  in  which  the  nobles  oj  Judah, •^^-  '•'^, 
and  the  rulers,  ■"'  (cf.  2"',  4'^,  7'"^).  and  he  him.self  are  the  chief  actors,  Nehemiah  in  the  first 
person  tells  his  storj'.  Fortunately  in  'i.  s;,  37-10  (jig  Chronicler  quotes  it  almost  in  tola,  ns  would 
appear  from  the  comi)letene.ss  of  the  account.  At  the  beginning,  at  the  middle  and  at  the  end 
he  supplements  it  by  long  sections  in  which  his  favorites,  the  Levites,  the  singers,  and  a  variety 
of  musical  instruments,  songs  and  great  sacrifices  are  introduced  that  the  ceremony  might  be 
made  to  conform  to  his  ideal  of  the  way  in  which  it  should  have  been  performed.  Cf.  II  Chr. 
52-14^  7'-">,  Ezra  3'"",  0"'—,  for  hi.s  accounts  of  similar  ceremonies.  The  artificiality  of  his  lists 
is  revealed  by  the  fact  that  Lzra,  Judah,  and  Benjamin  are  rei)resented  as  marching  in  the  pro- 
cession.    In '*  he  places  Ezra  the  scribe  at  the  head  of  the  first  procession. 

''  12-*  Luc,  sons  of  Levi.  Cf.,  sons  of  the  prophets.  Levi  appears  from  2?  and  ">  to  have 
dropped  out  of  the  Ileb.  text. 

1  i2r-».  30  So  f;k,  and  Luc.     The  Heb.  has  lost,  OTid. 

"D  12'"  Slightly  correcting  the  Ilcb.,  as'**  demands. 

"  l?*"'  Omitting  wilh  the  Gk.  and  Luc,  Mihdni.  which  probably  was  introduced  as  the  result 
of  a  scribal  error.      This  conclusion  is  confirmed  by  the  number  in  *-. 

"  12'"'  Slightly  correcting  the  fleb.  text  in  accordance  with  ■". 

p  12^"  Cf.  ■'2.     Nobles  has  evidently  droppe<l  out  of  the  text. 

1  12''"  This  last  .sentence  is  nf)t  found  in  the  (ik.  It  has  been  in-gcd  tliat  it  is  not  original 
becau.se  it  rei^resents  the  second  company  as  extending  southward  beyond  the  temple.  In  the 
ab.sence  of  an  exact  identificatirm  of  the  Gate  of  the  Guanl,  a  fin;il  decision  is  impossible. 

'  12'"  Originally  instead  of  the  Chronicler's  addition  there  i)robably  followed  a  statement 
as  to  what  Nehemiah  anil  the  |)rinces  did. 

3Gl 


NeH.  1242] 


THE   WORK   OP   NEHEMIx\H 


NehemiaJis  Memoirs 

Jezrahiah  their  leader.  ■'^And  they  offered  great  sacrifices  that  day  and  rejoiced;  for 
God  liad  made  them  exceeding  joyful;'  and  the  women  also  and  the  children  rejoiced, 
so  that  the  joy  of  Jerusalem  was  heard  afar  off. 


Ejec- 
tion of 
To- 

biah's 


§  158.  Nehemiah's  Later  Religious  Reforms,  Neh.  12"-13" 

NehemiaJis  Memoirs 

Nell.  13  ^Now  before  my  return  from  the  king,*  Eliashib  the  priest,  who 
was  appointed  over  the  chambers  of  the  house  of  our  God,  being  related  to 
Tobiah,  ^had  prepared  for  him  a  great  chamber,  where  formerly  they  had 
sessions  stored  the  cereal-offerings,  the  incense,  the  vessels,  and  the  tithes  of  grain, 
the  the  new  wine,  and  the  oil,  which  were  given  by  command  to  the  Leiites,  the  singers, 

temple  ^j^g  porters,  and  the  gifts  for  the  priests.  ^But  during  this  time  I  had  not  been 
ber  at  Jerusalem;  for  in  the  thirty-second  year  of  Artaxerxes.  king  of  Babylon  I 
went  to  the  king.  Then  after  some  time  I  asked  leave  of  the  king,  "and  I 
came  to  Jerusalem  and  discovered  the  crime  that  Eliashib  had  committed 
for  the  sake  of  Tobiah,  in  preparing  him  a  chamber  in  the  court^'  of  the 
house  of  God.  ^And  it  displeased  me  greatly;  therefore  I  cast  all  the  house- 
hold possessions  of  Tobiah  out  of  the  chamber.  ^Then  I  gave  command 
that  they  should  cleanse  the  chambers,  and  I  brought  there  again  the  vessels 
of  the  house  of  God,  with  the  cereal-offerings  and  the  incense. 


Pro- 
viding 
for  the 

support  them 

of  the 


^•^And  I  perceived  that  the  portions 
of  the  Levites  had  not  been  given 
so  that  the  Levite-s  and  the 
Levites  singers,  who  performed  the  service 
had  each  fled  to  his  field.^  ^Then  I 
contended  with  the  rulers  and  said, 
'  Why  is  the  house  of  God  forsaken  ?  ' 
And  I  gathered  them  together  and 
placed  them  at  their  posts.   ^-Aud  all 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  Historij 

Neh.  13  44\nfi  ii^  ti^at  day^'  men 
were  appointed  in  charge  of  the  cham- 
bers for  the  storehouse,  for  the  gifts, 
for  the  first-fruits,  and  for  the  tithes, 
to  gather  into  tliem,  according  to  the 
fields  of  the  cities,  the  portions  ap- 
pointed by  the  law  for  the  priests  and 
the  Levites;  for  Judah  had  joy  in  the 
priests  and  the  Levites  who  attended 


s  12^3  Yoy  similar  characteristic  expressions  of  the  Chronicler,  cf.  Ezra  S^^,  6^. 

§  158  With  13*  Neliemiah's  vigorous  literary  style  and  courageous,  assertive  srnrit  reappear. 
Since  the  themes  treated  concern  the  temple  and  the  ritual,  the  Chronicler  has  been  led  to  take 
greater  liberties  with  his  text.  As  Torrey,  who  maintains  that  the  entire  chapter  is  from  the 
Chronicler,  has  pointed  out  {Comp.  and  Hist.  Value  of  Ezra-N ehemiah,  pp.  44-49),  it  has 
many  jjhrases  and  words  characteristic  of  the  editor  of  Ezra-Neh.  Since  Nehemiah  passes  for 
the  first  time  into  the  latter's  peculiar  field,  more  points  of  similarity  are  to  be  anticipated. 
Certain  passages,  as  for  example,  ^'''  '-"■  --,  abound  in  the  Chronicler's  expressions  and  peculiar 
ideas.  Their  loose  connection  with  the  context  confirms  tlie  impression  that  they  are  later  ad- 
ditions. On  the  other  hand,  it  is  almost  incredible  that  the  Chronicler  could  have  so  far  imitated 
the  language  and  spirit  of  Nehemiah  as  to  have  written  the  chapter  as  a  whole.  A  comparison 
of  the  Chronicler's  parallel  in  12''*-1.3''  reveals  the  widely  different  conception  of  the  cour.se  of 
the  history  which  he  entertained.  Also  it  is  far  more  natural  to  conclude  that  he  here  reproduces 
the  older  source  than  that  he  deliberately  made  Nehemiah  the  layman  do  the  work  of  reform 
which  his  school  had  already  attributed  to  Ezra  and  the  assembly.    Cf.  further  Introd.,  pp.  31-34. 

t  13*  Heb.,  ajter  this,  but  ^  indicates  what  was  probably  the  event  to  which  reference  is  made. 

"  137  So  Gk.  and  Luc.     Heb.,  courts. 

V  12M  The  Chronicler's  general  introductory  formula.  It  would  connect  the  act  with  the 
dedication  of  the  temple,  cf.  ^^. 

w  ]^3io  Poj.  a  similar  neglect  of  the  temple  service,  cf.  the  Gadatas  inscription,  Appendix 


362 


Neh.  I312] 


LATER   RELIGIOUS   REFORMS 


[Xkh.  1244 


Nehemiah's  Memoirs 

Judali  brought  the  tithe  of  the  grain 
and  the  new  wine  and  the  oil  into  the 
store-i'ooms.^  ^^And  I  appointed  in 
charge  of  the  store-rooms :  Shelemiah 
the  priest  and  Zadok  the  scribe,  and 

of  the  Levites  Pedaiah;  and  next  to  them 
was  Hanan,  the  son  of  Zaccur  the  son  of 
Mattaniah;  for  they  w^ere  considered 
faithful,  and  their  business  was  to 
distribute  to  their  kinsmen,  ^^j^g. 
member  me,  O  my  God,  concerning 
this  and  forget  not*^  all  my  good 
deeds  that  I  have  done  for  the  house 
of  my  God,  and  for  its  services. 


Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

to  the  service.  ^^Xnd  they  took 
charge  of  the  service  of  their  God  and 
of  the  purification,  and  so  did  the 
singers  and  the  porters,  according  to 
the  command  of  David  and  of  Solo- 
mon his  son.       ■^bj-'oj.  j^  ^\^q  days  of 

David  and  Asaph  were  the  leaders* 
of  the  singers  appointed,  and  songs 
of  praise  and  thanksgiving  lo  God. 
"^'And  all  Israel  in  the  days  of  Zerub- 
babel  and  in  the  days  of  Nehemiah 
gave  the  portions  of  the  singers  and 
the  porters,  as  each  required;  and 
they  delivered  the  sacred  otterings  to 
the  Levites  the  sons  of  Aaron. 


^^At  that  time  I  saw  in  Judah  some  men  treading  wine-presses  on  the  sab- 
bath and  bringing  in  heaps  of  grain  and  loading  asses,  as  also  wine,  grapes, 
figs,  and  all  kinds  of  burdens,  and  that  they  were  bringing  them  into  Jeru- 
salem on  the  sabbath;  and  I  warned  them  when  they  sold  provisions.  ^^Tyr- 
ians  also  dwelt  therein,  who  brought  in  fish  and  all  kinds  of  wares,  and 
sold  on  the  sabbath  to  the  inhabitants  of  Judah  and  in  Jerusalem.  ^"Theu 
I  contended  with  the  nobles  of  Judah  and  said  to  them,  '  What  evil  thing  is 
this  that  you  are  doing,  and  tlierebv  profaning  the  sabl)ath  ?  ^^Did  not  your 
fathers  do  thus  and  did  not  our  God  bring  all  this  calamity  upon  them  and 
"upon  us°  and  u})on  this  city  ?  Yet  you  bring  more  wrath  upon  Israel  by 
profaning  the  sabbath.'  ^^Accordingly  when  it  began  to  be  dark,  the  gates 
of  Jerusalem  were  shut  before  the  sabbath;  and  I  gave  command  that  they 
should  not  be  opened  until  after  the  sabbath.  And  I  placed  some  of  my 
servants  in  charge  of  the  gates,  and  commanded*^'  that  no  burden  should  be 
brought  in  on  the  sabbath.  ^OgQ  jijg  merchants  and  sellers  of  all  kinds  of 
wares  spent  the  night  without  Jerusalem  once  or  twice.  -^Then  I  warned 
them  and  said  to  them,  '  Why  do  you  spend'  the  night  before  the  wall  ?  If 
ye  do  so  again,  I  will  lay  hands  on  you.'  From  that  time  forth  they  came 
no  more  on  the  sabbath.  "^AxiA  I  commanded  the  Levites  that  they  should  purify 
themselves  and  that  tlioy  should  come  and  guard  the  gates,  to  keep  the  sabbath  holy. 
Remember,  O  my  God,  this  also  to  my  credit  and  show  me  mercy  according 
to  the  greatness  of  thy  loving-ldndness. 


Pro- 
visions 
to 

guard 
the  ob- 
serva- 
tion of 
the  sab- 
bath 


»  13'2  So  Luc.  and  Gk. 

"  12"'  Slightly  restoring  what  is  obviously  a  defective  text, 
b  13"  Heb.,  wipe  not  out  [0/  thy  ynemory]. 
<:  13'8  So  Gk.  and  Luc.      Heb.  lacks,  ui>on  them  and. 

<i  13'9  So  Gk.    In  the  Heb.,  /  nave  command,  has  been  inserted  wrongly  in  the  first  part  of 
the  verse  and  is  lacking  in  the  latter  part. 


363 


NeH.  1323] 


THE   WORK   OF   NEHEMIAH 


[Neh.  I3I 


NehemiaJis  Memoirs 


Ener- 
getic 
protest 


mixed 
mar- 
riages 


23At  that  time  also  I  saw  the  Jews  who  had  mar- 
ried women  of  Ashdod,  of  .Vmmon,  and  of  Moab. 
ag.aiiist  24^mj  their  children  spoke  half  in  the  language  of 
Ashdod,  but  none  of  them  could  speak  in  the  Jews' 
language,  but  according  to  the  language  of  each 
people.^  "^And  I  contended  with  them  and  cursed 
them  and  struck  some  of  them  and  pulled  out  their 
hair  and  made  them  swear  by  God,  saying,  '  You 
shall  not  give  your  daughters  to  their  sons  nor  take 
their  daughters  as  wives  for  your  sons  or  for  your- 
selves. 26j)j(|  jjQj.  Solomon  king  of  Israel  sin  by 
these  acts  ?  Yet  among  many  nations  there  was 
no  king  like  him,  and  he  was  beloved  by  his  God, 
and  God  made  him  king  over  all  Israel;  neverthe- 
less foreign  women  led  him  into  sin.  27g}iaii  \i  also 
be  reported  of  you  that  you  do  all  this  great  evil, 
to  trespass  against  our  God  in  marrying  foreign 
women  ? ' 


Chronicler^s    Ecclesias- 
tical History 

13  ^On  that  day^  it 
was  read  from  the  book 
of  Moses  in  the  hearing 
of  the  people,  and  it 
was  found  written  there 
that  an  Ammonite  and 
a  Moabite  should  never 
enter  into  the  assembly 
of  God,  2for  they  did 
not  meet  the  Israelites 
with  bread  and  water 
but  hired  Balaam^ 
against  them  to  curse 
them;  but  our  God 
turned  the  curse  into  a 
blessing.  3\n(j  when 
they  had  heard  the  law, 
they  separated  from  Is- 
rael all  the  mixed  mul- 
titude, l^ 


28And  one  of  the  sons  of  Joiada,  the  son  of  Eliashib  the  high  priest,  was 
a  guilty  the  son-in-law  of  Sanballat  the  Horonite;  therefore  I  chased  him  from  me. 
priest     29]^gjjjgjjj|3gj.  them,  O  my  God,  because  they  have  defiled  the  covenant  of 
the  priesthood^  and  of  the  Levites. 

^^Thus  I  cleansed  them  from  all  foreigners  and  fixed  the  duties  for  the 
priests  and  the  Levites,  each  for  his  appointed  task,^  ^^and  the  bringing  of 
ah'sre-  ^ood  for  the  service  at  appointed  times,  and  the  first-fruits.     Remember  it, 
O  my  God,  to  my  credit. 


Ejec 
tion  of 


Resume 

ofNe- 

hemi- 


«  131  Cf.  note  V. 

f  13-*  This  last  awkward  clause  is  omitted  in  the  Gk.  and  perhaps  is  an  explanatory  gloss. 

8  13^  a.  Dt.  233-'i. 

''  13-*  I.e.,  all  those  who  had  contracted  foreign  marriages.     Cf.  Ex.  12^*. 

'  1323  So  Luc.      The  priesthood  has  been  awkwardly  repeated  in  the  Heb. 

J  133"  Gk.  and  Luc,  a  man  according  to  his  work. 


364 


return 
f  lOzra 


EZRA'S   COMMISSION  [Ezka  7^ 

III 

THE   WORK   OF   EZRA   AND   THE   INSTITUTION   OF   THE 
PRIESTLY  LAW,   Ezra   7-10,   Neh.   770-io39 

§  159.  Artaxerxes's  Commission  to  Ezra,  Ezra  7'--*'  (I  Esdr.  8'-*) 
Chronicler  s  Introdudion  to  the  Ezra  Narrative 

Ezra  7  ^Now  after  these  things,  in  the  reign  of  Artaxerxes  king  of  Persia,  The 
there  went  up*  Ezra  the  son  of  Seraiah,  the  son  of  Azariah,  tlie  son  of  Hil 
kiah,  -the  son  of  Shalhim,  tlie  son  of  Zadok,  the  son  of  Ahitiib,  ^the  son  of  and  his 
Amariah,  the  son  of  Azariah,  the  son  of  Meraioth,  ^the  son  of  Zerahiali,  the  jeru- 
son  of  Uzzi,  the  son  of  Bukki,  ^the  son  of  Abishua,  the  son  of  Phinehas,  the  ^^''^"^ 
son  of  Eleazar,  the  son  of  Aaron  the  chief  priest.  ^This  Ezra  went  up  from 
Babylon;  and  he  was  a  scribe  skilled  in  the  law  of  Moses,  which  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  Israel,  had  given.  And  the  king  granted  him  all  his  request, 
inasmuch  as  the  hand  of  Jehovah  his  God  was  upon  him.  "And  some  of 
the  Israelites,  and  of  the  priests,  the  Levites,  the  singers,  the  porters,  and 
the  temple  servants  w^ent  up  to  Jerusalem,  in  the  seventh  year  of  Artaxerxes 
the  king.  ^And  he  came  to  Jerusalem  in  the  fifth  month,''  which  was  in  the 
seventh  year  of  the  king.  ®For  on  the  first  day  of  the  first  month  he  began 
the  journey*^  from  Babylon,  and  on  the  first  day  of  the  fifth  month  he  came 
to  Jerusalem,  since  the  good  hand  of  God  was  with  him.  ^^For  Ezra  had 
set  his  heart  to  seek  the  law  of  Jehovah,  and  to  observe  it  and  to  teach  in 
Israel  statutes  and  ordinances. 


The  Work  of  Ezra  and  the  Institution  of  the  Priestly  Law. — Nehemiah's  work  was  that 
of  a  pioneer.  His  unique  positi(jn  at  the  Persian  court  opened  for  him  the  door  l>y  whieli  alone 
the  favor  of  the  absolute  despot  who  ruled  the  empire  oould  be  won.  Faithfully  iinproving  the 
rare  opportunity  thus  given  him,  he  prepared  the  way  and  established  the  ])re<'cdents  for  the 
fundamental  transformation  in  the  domestic,  social,  ceremonial,  and  religious  life  of  the  .lews 
of  Palestine.  This  fruition  of  Nehemiah's  work  the  later  tradition  preserved  in  Ilzr-a  7-10,  Neh. 
1~0-Hyvj  associates  with  l^zra  the  priest  and  .scribe.  As  has  been  shown  in  the  Introd.  (pp.  31- 
34),  its  language,  peculiar  idioms,  i)oiiit  of  view  and  contents  all  demonstrate  its  clo.se  relation- 
ship with  the  midrashes  of  Chr.  t'nlike  Nehemiah's  memoirs,  it  is  not  a  mere  record  of  facts, 
it  is  idealized  history.  Probably  embodying  histori(^al  data,  it  represents,  however,  the  tradition 
current  in  the  very  late  priestlv  school,  of  which  the  Chronicler  was  the  final  editor,  reganhng 
the  way  in  which  the  law  and  institutions  of  his  day  were  put  into  force  in  Palestine.  It  pos- 
sesses a  great  and  permanent  value  because  it  makes  concrete  and  vivid  that  movement  which 
made  the  .Jewish  race  what  it  wa.s  in  New  Testament  times.  It  also  reveals  most  clearly  the 
interests  and  ideals  which  henceforth  moulder!  .Judaism. 

§  159  Vss.  '-'"  contain  the  Chronicler's  introduction  to  the  Iszra  narrative  which  follows. 
In  "-'J  he  briefly  er)itornizes  the  older  source  which  he  begins  to  quote  in  ".  His  love  of  svnunetry 
led  him  to  state  that  on  the  first  day  of  the  first  month  lizra  began  the  journey  from  Babylon, 
although  the  I'^zra  narrative  dates  it  on  the  twelfth  day.  8-".  In  8''  •■"  we  also  anticipate  from 
all  analogies  that  the  year  of  .Artaxerxes's  reign  in  which  the  events  took  place  will  l>egi\on.  It 
is  almost  incredible  that  they  were  not  found  in  the  original.  The  simi)lest  explanation  is, 
perhaps,  that  the  Chronicler  suppressed  them  that  he  might  ilate  them  in  thr  scvnilh  near  of 
Artaxerxes,  as  he  does  with  great  elaboration  in  '•  **,  tlius  gixing  V./.va  tlie  precedence  before 
Nehemiah.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  .32.  If  the  date  was  not  found  in  the  original,  he  was  left  to  his  own 
conjectures.  As  in  the  Aram,  document  in  .5'-G''',  the  decree  is  in  Aram.  It  may  be  from  the 
Chronicler,  but  more  probaljly  belonged  to  the  original   l'>.ra  narrative. 

•  7'  So  Gk.  and  I  Esdr.  8'.     The  verb  is  lacking  in  the  Heb. 

^  78  .July-August. 

=  7"  Heb.,  laid  the  foundation  {of  the  journey). 

2Q5 


Ezra  7"]  THE   WORK   OF   EZRA 

Ezra  Narrative  ■'  • 

Artax-  ^^Now  this  is  tlic  copy  of  the  letter  that  King  Artaxerxes  gave  to  Ezra 
decree  '^^^  pHest,  the  scribe,  who  copied  the  words  of  the  commands  of  Jehovah*^ 
CO"-.       and  of  his  statutes  to  Israel: 

Ezra's  ^-Artaxerxes,  king  of  kings,  to  Ezra  the  priest,  the  scribe  of  the  law  of 
author-  ^^^  q^^  ^j  heaven,  greeting.^  ^^And  now  I  make  a  decree  that  anyone 
of  the  people  of  Israel,  or  their  priests  or  Levites  in  my  realm,  who  is  willing 
to  go  to  Jerusalem,  shall  go  with  you.  ^"^Because  you  have  been  sent  by 
the  king  and  his  seven  counsellors,  to  institute  an  inquiry  concerning  Judah 
and  Jerusalem  on  the  basis  of  the  law  of  your  God  which  is  in  your  hand 
i^and  to  carry  the  silver  and  gold  which  the  king  and  his  counsellors  have 
freely  offered  to  the  God  of  Israel,  whose  dwelling  is  in  Jerusalem,  ^^with 
all  the  silver  and  gold  that  you  shall  receive  in  all  the  province  of  Babylon, 
with  the  contributions  of  the  people  and  priests,  who  contribute  for  the  house 
of  their  God  which  is  in  Jerusalem,  ^''therefore  you  shall  carefully  buy 
with  this  money  bullocks,  rams,  lambs,  with  their  cereal-offerings  and  their 
libations,  and  shall  offer  them  on  the  altar  of  the  house  of  your  God  which 
is  in  Jerusalem.  ^^And  whatever  shall  seem  good  to  you  and  to  your  kins- 
men to  do  with  the  rest  of  the  silver  and  the  gold,  so  do  according  to  the 
will  of  your  God.  ^^And  the  vessels  that  have  been  given  you  for  the  ser- 
vice of  the  house  of  your  God,  deliver  them  all  before  your  God  at  Jeru- 
salem.^ 20\j^(j  whatever  more  shall  be  needed  for  the  house  of  your  God, 
which  you  shall  have  occasion  to  bestow,  bestow  it  out  of  the  king's  treasury. 
-^^And  the  decree  is  given  by  me,  Artaxerxes  the  king,  to  all  the  treasurers 
of  the  province  beyond  the  River,  that  whatever  Ezra  the  priest,  the  scribe 
of  the  law  of  the  God  of  heaven,  shall  require  of  you,  let  it  be  carefully  done, 
22up  to  a  hundred  talents  of  silver,  a  thousand  bushels^  of  wheat,  eight 
hundred  gallons^  of  wine,  eight  hundred  gallons^  of  oil,  and  salt  to  any 
amount.  23\ii  \}c\2X  is  commanded  by  the  God  of  heaven  must  be  exactly 
done  for  the  house  of  the  God  of  heaven;  for  why  should  there  be  wrath 
against  the  realm  of  the  king  and  his  sons  ?  ^^Also  be  it  known  to  you  that 
it  is  not  lawful  to  impose  tribute,  custom,  or  toll  on  any  priests,  Levites, 
singers,  porters,  temple-servants,  or  servants  of  this  house  of  God.  25\j^(j 
you,  Ezra,  according  to  the  wisdom  of  your  God  that  is  in  you,  appoint  mag- 
istrates and  judges  to  judge  all  the  people  beyond  the  River,  all  such  as 
know  the  laws  of  your  God,  and  teach  such  as  do  know  them,  ^e^j-^^j  who- 
ever will  not  obey  the  law  of  your  God,  and  the  law  of  the  king,  let  strict 
justice  be  executed  upon  him,  whether  it  be  death,  or  banishment,  or  con- 
fiscation of  goods,  or  imprisonment. 

^  7"   Gk.,  reader  of  the  law  of  God. 

•=  7^2  So  I  Esdr.  8'.     The  usual  word  for,  peace  or  greeting,  has  apparently  fallen  out  of  the 
Heb. 

f  7'9  So  Luc.     Heb..  before  the  God  of  Jerusalem. 
«  7-~  Heb.,  one  hundred  cars. 
^  722  Heb.,  one  hundred  baths. 


366 


HIS   RETURN   TO   JERUSALEM  [Ezra  7^7 

§  160.  Return  of  Ezra  and-  his  Company,  Ezra  7='-8^«,  Neh.  T'""* 

(I  Esdr.  825-10,  93'») 

£^~ra  Xorrative 

Ezra  7  ^"Blessed  be  Jehovah  the  God  of  our  fathers,  who  hath  put  such  Ezra's 
a  thing  as  this  into  the  king's  heart,  to  beautify  the  temple  of  Jehovah  which  fuje'to 
is  at  Jerusalem,  -*and  hath  granted  me  favor  before  the  king  and  his  coun-  Jeho- 

.  Villi 

sellers  and  before  all  the  king's  high  officials.  And  I  was  strengthened, 
since  the  hand  of  Jehovah  my  God  was  with  me,  and  I  gathered  chief  men 
from  Israel  to  go  up  with  me. 

8  ^Xow  these  are  the  heads  of  their  fathers'  houses,  and  this  is  the  gene-  List  of 
alogy  of  those  who  went  up  with  me  from  Babylon  in  the  reign  of  Artaxerxes  ^h'o're- 
the  king:  ^Of  the  sons  of  Phinehas,  Gershom.     Of  the  sons  of  Ithamar,  turned 

•  Willi 

Daniel.  Of  the  sons  of  David,  Hattush  ^the  son  of  Shecaniah.^  Of  the  Kzra 
sons  of  Parosh,  Zechariah,  and  with  him  were  reckoned  by  genealogy  a 
hundred  and  fifty  men.J  ^Of  the  sons  of  Pahath-moab,  Eliehoenai  the  son 
of  Zerahiah,  and  with  him  two  hundred  men.  °Of  the  sons  of  Shecaniah, 
the  son  of  Jahaziel,  and  with  him  three  himdred  men.  *^And  of  the  sons 
of  Adin,  Ebed  the  son  of  Jonathan,  and  with  him  fifty  men.  '^And  of  the 
sons  of  Elam,  Jeshaiah  the  son  of  Athaliah,  and  with  him  seventy  men. 
^And  of  the  sons  of  Shephatiah,  Zebadiah  the  son  of  ^Michael,  and  with  him 
eighty  men.  ^Of  the  sons  of  Joab,  Obadiah  the  son  of  Jehiel,  and  v.:i.h 
him  two  hundred  and  eighteen  men.  ^^And  of  the  sons  of  Banias,*^  Shelo- 
mith  the  son  of  Josiphiah,  and  with  him  a  hundred  and  sixty  men.  ^^And 
of  the  sons  of  Bebai,  Zechariah  the  son  of  Bebai,  and  with  him  twenty-eight 
men.  ^-And  of  the  sons  of  Azgad,  Johanan  the  son  of  Ilakkatan,  and  ^\  ith 
him  a  hundred  and  ten  men.  ^^And  the  sons  of  Adonikam,  the  last,^  and 
these  are  their  names:  Eli))helet,  Jeuel,  and  Shemaiah,  and  with  them  sixty 
men.  ^'^And  of  the  sons  of  Bigvai,  Uthai  and  Zakkur,™  and  with  them 
seventy  men. 

^^And  I  gathered  them  together  to  the  river  that  flows  toward  Ahava."  Assem- 
And  there  we  encamped  three  days,  while  I  reviewed  the  j)eople  and  the  ^ifp  re- 
priests;  I  found  there  none  of  the  sons  of  Levi.     ^'^Thcn  I  sent  for  Eliezer,  turning 
Ariel,  Shemaiah,  Ehiathan,  Jarib,  Nathan,  Zechariah,  and  Meshullam,  chief 
men;°   also  for  Joiarib,  and  Elnathan,^  who  were  teachers.     ^'^And  I  sent 

5  160  Nehemiah's  memoirs  were  probably  kept  in  the  temple  at  Jerusalem  and  were 
doubtless  accessible  to  the  school  of  the  Chronicler.  Their  tendency  to  present  their  teachings 
in  tlie  form  of  dialogues  is  ami)Iy  illustrateil  in  Chr.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  4.  It  was  natural  lliat.  in- 
fluenced by  the  example  of  such  an  epoch-making  man  as  Nehemiah,  they  should  add  to  their 
literary  equipment,  not  only  the  royal  decree,  but  also  the  personal  memoir.  That  it  was 
merely  a  literary  form  is  strongly  suggested  by  the  abrujifness  anri  facilit.y  witli  which  the  nar- 
rative passes  from  the  first  person  singular  to  the  thirfl.  and  in  Neh.  10  to  the  first  person  plural 
without  any  apparent  reason.  The  account  of  the  arrival  ends  abruptly  in  H*.  On  the  other 
hand,  Neh.  7'"-"''  has  no  connection  with  its  context.  .Joined  together,  these  two  torsos,  with 
the  .sequel  of  Neh.  ?''•''',  make  a  complete  and  consistent  narrative.  .  •   -i  i     tt  u 

'  8'  Following  I  Esdr.  8^9  in  combining  and  correcting  the  otherwise  unintelligible  Ileb. 
text. 

i  8''  Lit.,  males. 

^  81°  Completing  the  Heb.  from  the  parallel,  I  Esdr.  8*>. 

'  8''''  The  text  is  unintelhgible.     Po.ssibly  it  is  due  to  an  early  scribal  error. 

"  8"  The  versions  and  the  marginal  reading  of  the  Heb.  give  but  one  son  of  Bigvai, 
Zakkur. 

"  8'*  The  identification  is  unknown. 

»  8"  I  Esrir.  8"  completes  its  list  of  ten  men  with,  leaders  and  men  of  understanding. 

p  8'"  In  the  Heb.  Elnathan  is  introduced  twice. 

3()7 


Ezra  81']  THE   WORK   OF   EZRA 

Ezra  Narrative 

them  out  to^  Iddo,  the  chief  of  the  place  Casiphia.     And  I  instructed  them 

what  they  should  say  to  Iddo  and  his  kinsmen  at  the  place  Casiphia,  namely, 

that  they  should  bring  to  us  ministers  for  the  house  of  our  God.     ^^And 

since  the  good  hand  of  our  God  was  with  us,  they  brought  us  a  man  of 

discretion,  of  the  sons  of  iNIahli,  the  son  of  Levi,  the  son  of  Israel:'  Shere- 

biah,  with  his  sons  and  his  kinsmen,  eighteen;  ^^and   Hashabiah  and^  Je- 

shaiah  of  the  sons  of  Merari,  their*  kinsmen  and  their*  sons,  twenty;  ^"and  of 
the  temple  servants,  whom  David  and  the  princes  had  given  for  the  service  of  the 
Levites,  two  hundred  and  twenty;  all  of  them  were  mentioned  by  name." 

Prelim-      ^ifheu  I  proclaimed  a  fast  there  at  the  River  Ahava,  that  we  might  humble 

fast^^      ourselves  before  our  God  to  seek  of  him  a  fortunate  journey^  for  us  and  for 

our  little  ones  and  for  all  our  possessions.     22pQp  j  ^^^g  ashamed  to  ask  of 

the  king  a  band  of  soldiers  and  horsemen  to  protect  us  against  the  enemy 

on  the  journey,  because  we  had  spoken  to  the  king,  saying,  '  The  hand  of  our 

God  is  with  all  who  seek  him  for  good,  but  his  power  and  his  wrath  is  against 

all  them  who  forsake  him.'     ^^So  we  fasted  and  besought  our  God  for  this, 

and  he  was  entreated  by  us. 

Depart-      "^Theu  I  set  apart  twelve  of  the  chiefs  of  the  priests,  and  Sherebiah,  Hash- 

with       abiah,^  and  ten  of  their  clansmen  with  them,  "^^and  weighed  to  them  the 

the  gifts  silver  and  the  gold  and  the  vessels,  even  the  offering  for  the  house  of  our 

for  the  .  .  .  . 

temple    God,  which  the  king  and  his  coimsellors  and  his  princes  and  all  Israel  there 
present  had  offered.     -*^I  weighed  into  their  hands  six  hundred  and  fifty 
talents  of  silver,  and  silver  vessels,  a  hundred  talents,  of  gold  a  hundred 
talents;^  ^T^nd  t^\'enty  bowls  of  gold  of  a  thousand  darics;^  and  ten^  vessels 
of  fine  bright  brass,  precious  as  gold,     ^s^j^^j  j  gg^jj  j-q  them.  You  are  holy 
to  Jehovah,  and  the  vessels  are  holy,  and  the  silver  and  the  gold  are  a  con- 
tribution to  Jehovah,  the  God  of  our°  fathers.     ^^Guard  and  keep  them 
until  you  weigh  them  before  the  chiefs  of  the  priests  and  the  Levites  and 
the  heads'^  of  the  fathers'  houses  of  Israel  at  Jerusalem  in  the  chambers  of 
the  temple  of  Jehovah.     ^^^So  the  priests  and  the  Levites  received  the  weight 
of  the  silver  and  gold  and  the  vessels,  to  bring  them  to  Jerusalem  to  the  house 
of  our  God.     ^^Then  we  departed  from  the  River  Ahava  on  the  twelfth 
day  of  the  first  month  to  go  to  Jerusalem. 
Arrival       And  the  hand  of  our  God  was  upon  us  and  he  delivered  us  from  the  hand 
rusalem  ^^  ^he  enemy  and  the  lier-in-wait  by  the  way.     ^^^nd  when  we  arrived  at 
and  the  Jerusalem,  we  remained  there  three  days.     ^^And  on  the  fourth  day  the  silver 
ery  of     and  the  gold  and  the  vessels  were  weighed  in  the  house  of  our  God  into  the 

the 
gifts 

1  8^^  Following  I  Esdr.  8^  in  restoring  the  unintelligible  Hebrew. 

'  818  So  Gk.  and  I  Esdr.  8". 

"  8^''  Correcting  the  Heb.  by  the  Gk.  and  Luc. 

'  8^'  Heb.,  his,  but  Luc.  in  I  Esdr.  8^*  supports  the  above,  which  accords  with  the  context. 

u  g2o  This  verse  is  characterized  by  the  expressions  and  ideas  peculiar  to  the  Chronicler. 
Its  construction  is  also  different  from  that  of  the  preceding  verses. 

■'^  8-'  Heb.,  straight  tray. 

"■  8^*  According  to  '^'  ^'■>  Sherebiah  and  Hashabiah  were  not  priests  but  Levites.    Two  groups 
of  twelve,  therefore,  are  to  be  distinguished,  following  I  Esdr.  8^. 

^  8-''  Amounting  to  over  a  million  dollars. 

^  8-"  About  five  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  sixty  dollars. 

''8"  So  I  Esdr.  8"  (Luc,  twelve).     Heb.,  two. 

<:  828  So  Gk.  and  I  Esdr.  8'S.     Heb.,  your. 

d  829  So  1  Esdr.  8=9.     Heb.,  7iobles. 

368 


ARRIVAL   OF   EZRAS   EXPEDITION  [Ezra  833 

Ezra  Narrative 

hands  of  ^Nleremoth  the  son  of  Uriah  the  priest;  and  with  him  was  Eleazar 
the  son  of  Phinehas;  and  with  them  was  Jozabad  the  son  of  Jeshua  and 
Noadiah  the  son  of  Binnui,  the  Levites.  34'pi^g  whole  w-as  dehvered  by 
number  and  by  weif^ht,  and  the  weight  of  everything  was  recorded. 

At  that  time^  ^Hhe  people  who  had  returned  from  exile  offered  burnt-  Gifts  of 
offerings  to  the  God  of  Israel,  twelve  bullocks  for  all  Israel,  ninety-six  rams,  lurile^i 
seventy-seven  lambs,  twelve  he-goats  for  a  sin-offering;  all  this  was  a  burnt-  exiles 
offering  to  Jehovah.     36\j^(j  ^]^^y  delivered  the  king's  commissions  to  the  temple 
king's  satraps  and  to  the  governors  of  the  province  beyond  the  River.     And 
they  aided  the  people  and  the  house  of  God.     Nell.   7  '''^And  some  from 
among  the  heads  of  fathers'  houses  gave  to  the  work.^    The  governor  gave 
to  the  treasury  a  thousand  darics  of  gold,  fifty  basins,  five  hundred  minas 
of  silver  and  thirty^  priests'  garments.     '^And  some  of  the  heads  of  fathers' 
houses  gave  into  the  treasury  for  the  work,  twenty  thousand  darics  of  gold 
and  two  thousand,  two  hundred  minas^  of  silver.     '^^And  that  w^hich  the 
rest  of  the  people  gave  was  twenty  thousand  darics  of  gold  and  two  thousand 
minas  of  silver  and  sixty-seven  priests'  garments. 

'^So  the  priests  and  tlie  Levites  and  the  porters  and  the  singers  and  the  common  Loca- 
people,'  and  the  temple  servants,  and  all  Israel  dwelt  in  their  cities. J  tionof 

the 
temple 

§  161.  Public  Reading  of  the  Law  and  the  Observation  of  the  Feast  of    ters  "" 
Tabernacles,  Neh.  7"''-8'8  (I  Esdr.  Q^'b-ss) 

Ezra  Narrative 

Neh.  7  ^3b\jj(j  when  the  seventh  month  drew  near,  the  Israelites  were  Read- 
settled  in  their  cities,''   8  ^all  the  people  gathered  themselves  together  as  one  "xpia- 
man  to  the  broad  place  that  was  before  the  Water  Gate.     And  they  spoke  nation 
to  Ezra  the  priest^  and  scribe  to  bring  the  book  of  the  law  of  Moses,  which  law  to 
Jehovah  had  commanded  Israel.     ^And  Ezra  the  priest  brought  the  law  pie''^°" 
before  the  assembly  of  men  and  women,  and  all  who  could  hear  with  under- 
standing, upon  the  first  day  of  the  seventh  month.     3  \ji(j  jjg  read  from  it 
before  the  open  place  that  was  before  the  Water  Gate  from  early  morning 
until  mid-day,  in  the  presence  of  the  men  and  women  and  of  those  wdio  could 

"  H^  The  Gk.  unites  these  words  with  ^  as  above.    . 

'  Neh.  7™  The  parallel  Ezra  2''''*'  '''^  has  a  variant  text  which  has  been  adapted  to  its  changed 
context.     The  present  text  of  Neh.  is  clearly  the  more  original. 

«  Neh.  7'"  FollowiiiK  a  better  reading  suggested  by  the  parallel  Ezra  2*". 

l"  Neh.  7"'   About  1,750  pounds. 

'  Neh.  7""  Heb.,  sons  of  the  people. 

i  Neh.  7"^  Again  the  di.slinctive  e.xpressions  and  ideas  of  the  Chronicler  indicate  that  this 
verse  must  be  from  him. 

§  161  Restoring  the  separated  members  of  the  Ezra  narrative,  its  unity  is  demonstrated. 
According  to  I'".zra  8"  the  expedition  left  the  River  Ahava  on  the  twelfth  day  of  the  first  month 
and  arrived  in  .Jerusalem  in  the  fifth  mf)nth  ("'').  Two  months  were  devoted  to  finding  homes 
for  the  new  arrivals.  Then  on  the  .se\-enth  month  at  the  feast  of  the  new  moon  the  people  as- 
semble for  the  reading  of  the  law  by  Ezra  the  priest  and  scribe.  8'.  Then  follows  the  earliest 
extant  record  of  a  synagogue  service.  Vss.  '•  •*  were  probably  later  added  by  the  Chronicler, 
for  they  are  not  exactly  in  harmony  with  the  context  and  duplicate,  "".  They  also  contain  one 
of  his  favorite  lists. 

k  77.11,  Tiiiy  clause  not  only  disturbs  the  context  but  also  introduces  one  of  the  Chronicler's 
characteristic  concept  ions. 

I  8'  So  the  parallel  1  Esdr.  9''7.  The  Ileb.  omits,  priest,  but  cf.  '•  ",  where  the  title,  priest, 
occurs. 


Neh.  83]  THE    WORK   OF   EZRA 

Ezra  Narrative 

understand;  and  all  the  people  were  attentive  to  the  book  of  the  law.     ^And 

Ezra  the  priest  and  scribe"^  stood  upon  a  wooden  pulpit,  which  they  made 

for  the  purpose;  and  beside  him  stood  Mattitliiah,  Shema,  Anaiah,  Azariah,'^ 

Uriah,  Hilkiah,  and  Maaseiah,  on  his  right  hand,  and  on  his  left,  Pedaiah, 

Mishael,  Malchijah,  Hashum,  Hashbaddanah,  Zechariah,  and  Meshullam. 

^And  Ezra  opened  the  book  in  the  sight  of  all  the  people — for  he  was  above 

all  the  people — and  when  he  opened  it  all  the  people  stood  up.     ^And  Ezra 

blessed  Jehovah,   the  great   God.     And   all  the  people   answered,   Amen, 

Amen,  while  they  lifted  up  their  hands  and  bowed  their  heads  and  wor- 

ship})ed  Jehovah  with  their  faces  to  the  ground.      ''Also  Jeshua,  Bpni,  Sherebiah, 

Janain,  Akkub,  Shabbethai,  Hodiah,  Maaseiah,  Kelita,  Azariah,  Jozabad,  Hanan,  Pe- 

laiah,°  the  Levites,  instructed  the  people  in-  the  law,  and  the  people  remained  in  their 

place.     *And  they  read  in  the  book  of  the  law  of  God  by  sections,p  and  made  the  sense 

so  clear  that  they  understood  the  reading. 

Com-  "And  Nehemiah,  who    was   the   governor,"    and   Ezra   the    priest,    the    scribe, 

to^re-      a^i^fl  tlie  Levites  who  taught  the  people  said  to  all  the  peo])le.  This  day  is 

joice       lioly  to  Jehovah  your  God;  mourn  not,  nor  weep;  for  all  the  people  wept 

give       when  they  heard  the  words  of  the  law.     ^^xhen  he""  said  to  them,  Go  away, 

each  ^°  eat  the  fat,  and  drink  the  sweet,  and  send  portions  to  him  for  whom  nothing 

other      is  prepared,  for  this  day  is  holy  to  our  Lord;  and  do  not  be  troubled,  for  the 

joy  of  Jehovah  is  your  bulwark.     ^^So  the  Levites  quieted  all  the  people, 

saying.  Be  still,  for  the  day  is  holy,  and  do  not  be  troubled.     ^-^And  all  the 

people  went  away  to  eat  and  drink  and  to  send  portions  and  to  make  a  great 

rejoicing,  for  they  had  imderstood  the  words  which  had  been  made  known 

to  them. 

Cele-  ^3 And  on  the  second  day  the  heads  of  fathers'  houses  of  all  the  people, 

of  the"  the  priests  and  the  I^evites  were  gathered  together  to  Ezra  the  scribe,^  in 

feast  of  order  to  g'ain  an  insirfit  into  the  words  of  the  law.     ^^x\nd  they  found  written 

nacles     in  the  law,  how  Jehovah  had  commanded  by  INIoses  that  the  Israelites  should 

fngto     ti"'ell  in  booths  at  the  feast  in  the  seventh  month;  ^^and  that  they  should 

the  new  proclaim  aloud  in  all  their  cities  and  in  Jerusalem:  Go  forth  to  the  mount  and 

bring  olive  branches  and  branches  of  wild  olive  and  myrtle  and  palm  branches 

and  branches  of  thick  trees  to  make  booths,  as  it  is  prescribed.     ^^So  the 

people  went  out  and  brought  them,  and  made  themselves  booths,  each  man 

upon  the  roof  of  his  house  and  in  their  courts  and  in  the  courts  of  the  house 

of  God  and  in  the  open  space  at  the  Water  Gate  and  in  the  open  space  at 

the  Ephraim  Gate.     ^"And  all  the  assembly  of  those  who  had  come  back 

from  the  captivity  made  booths  and  lived  in  the  booths;  for  since  the  days 

of  Joshua  the  son  of  Nim  to  that  day  the  Israelites  had  not  done  so.     And 

™  8*  I  Esdr.  9^  reads  consistently,  priest  and  scribe. 

"  8*  Adding  Azariah  from  the  parallel  I  Esdr.  9^^.  This  is  confirmed  by  Luc.  and  the  fact 
that  this  gives  seven  on  each  side. 

°  8''  PVjllowing  I  Esdr.  9^**  in  omitting,  and,  before  Levites. 

p  8*  So   Gk. 

1  8'  Gk.  and  I  Esdr.  9^'  do  not  have  Nehemiah.  The  words,  and  Nehemiah  irho  was  the 
governor,  were  i;)robably  adiled  by  the  Chronicler,  who  again  in  123'^  brings  Nehemiah  and  I'^zra 
together.  The  absence  of  Nehemiah  in  the  rest  of  the  narrative,  e.xcept  in  another  secondary 
passage,  10',  confirms  this  conclusion. 

■■SI"  Luc.  they. 

»  8'^  Following  the  Gk.  in  omitting,  and. 

370 


PUBLIC    READING   OF   THE   LAW  [Neh.  8^7 

Ezra  Narrative 

tliere  was  very  great  gladness.  ^^And  day  by  day,  from  the  first  to  the 
last  day,  he  read  in  the  book  of  the  law  of  God.  And  they  celebrated  the 
feast  seven  days,  and  on  the  eighth  day,  as  was  the  custom,  there  was  a  con- 
cluding solemn  assembly. 

§  162.  Ezra's  Crusade  against  Mixed  Marriages,  Ezra  9,  10,  I  Esdr.  8''^-9^' 
Ezra  Narrative 

Ezra  9  ^Now  when  these  things  had  been  done,  the  nobles*  drew  near  Discov- 
to  me  and  said,  '  The  people  of  Israel  and  the  nobles  and  the  priests  and  ^^xed 
the  Levites  have  not  kept  themselves  apart  from  the  peoples  of  the  lands,  "lar- 
from^  their  abominations,  even  from  the  Canaanites,  the  Hittiles,  the  Periz-  and 
zites,  the  Jebusites,  the  Ammonites,  the  Moabites,  the  Earvptians,  and  the  lfJ^„^ 
Amorites.     -For  they  have  taken  of  their  daughters  wives  for  themselves  ishment 
and  their  sons,  so  that  they,  the  holy  race,  have  mixed  themselves  with  the  grief 
peoples  of  the  lands,  and  the  hand  of  the  nobles^'  and  rulers  has  been  most 
prominent  in  this  impiety.'     ^And  when  I  heard  this,  I  tore  my  inner-garment 
and  my  robe,  and  pulled  the  hair  from  my  head  and  my  beard,  and  sat  down 
dumbfounded.     "^Then  all  who  trembled  at  the  words  of  the  God  of  Israel, 
because  of  the  impiety  of  those  who  had  returned  from  the  ca])tivity,  gathered 
about  me  as  I  sat  dumbfounded  until  the  evening  oblation.^^' 

^And  at  evening  I  arose  from  my  self-humiliation,  and  I  tore  my  inner-  His 
garment  and  my  robe,  and  fell  upon  my  knees  and  spread  out  my  liands  to  ^l^oa- 
Jehovah^  *^and  said,  '  O  my  God,  I  am  ashamed  and  blush  to  lift  up  my  fession 
face  to  thee,  my  God,  for  our  inicjuities  have  risen  higher  than  our  head'*  half  of 
and  our  guilt  has  grown  even  to  the  heavens.     '^Since  the  days  of  our  fathers  gitity 
to  this  day  we  have  been  implicated  in  great  guilt;  and  for  our  iniquities  com- 
we,  our  kings,  and  our  priests,  have  been  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the 
kings  of  the  lands,  by  the  sword,  captivity,  plunder,  and  confusion  of  face, 
as  it  is  this  day.     ^And  now  for  a  brief  moment  grac-e  hath  been  showed  from 
Jehovah  our  God,  in  that  he  has  left  us  a  remnant  to  escape,  and  given  us 
a  respite^  in  his  holy  place  that  our  God  may  lighten  our  eyes,*'  and  give  us  a 
little  renewal  of  life  in  our  bondage.     ^For  we  are  bondmen;  yet  our  God 
hath  not  forsaken  us  in  our  bondage,  but  hath  extended  to  us  favor  in  the 
sight  of  the  kings  of  Persia  to  give  us  a  renewal  of  life,  to  .set  up  the  house 

§  162  It  was  only  after  the  preliminary  work  had  been  done  and  the  consciences  of  the 
people  had  been  touched,  as  recorded  in  Neh.  8.  that  thev  would  be  ready  for  the  supreme  test 
imposed  in  Ezra  9.  10.  Neh.  9-  also  appears  to  contain  a  direct  reference  to  the  act  of  separation, 
the  enforcement  of  which  is  recorded  in  Ezra  9.  10. 

I  9'  Addiniz,  the  nobles,  required  by  -'■  and  found  in  the  parallel  I  Esdr.  8"*. 

"  9'  So  1   Esdr.   S''".     Heb.,  uccordino  to. 

"  9-  The  Gk.  has  only,  rulers.     This  may  well  have  been  oriKinal. 

"  9^  The  parallel  I  Esdr.  8'-  reads,  gathered  about  me,  as  I  mourned  for  the  impiety,  and  I 
sat  filled  with  sorrow,  until  the  eveninq  sacrifice. 

^  9''  Following  I  Esdr.  8"^  in  omitting,  my  God,  which  has  crept  in  fronj". 

»  9*'  The  figure  is  that  of  the  race  engulfed  in  crime. 

''  9'*  Heb.,  tent-pin.  The  figure  is  taken  from  the  wandering  life  of  tlie  nomad  and  symbol- 
izes the  brief  rest  which  comes  when  his  tent  is  securely  pitched. 

"  9**  I  Esdr.  S'",  tliMl  he  may  uncover  lor  us  a  light  in  Ike  house  oj  Jehovah  our  God. 

371 


Ezra  99]  THE   WORK   OF   EZRA 

Ezra  Narrative 

of  our  God,  to  repair  its  ruins,  and  to  give  us  a  wall  in  Judah  and  in  Jeru- 
salem. ^^And  now,  O  our  God,  what  shall  we  say  after  all  this  ?  For  we 
have  forsaken  thy  commands,  ^^which  thou  hast  commanded  by  thy  ser- 
vants the  prophets,  saying,  "  The  land  which  we  go  to  possess,  is  an  unclean 
land  because  of  the  uncleanness  of  the  peoples  of  the  land,  because  of  their 
abominable  practices,  which  have  filled  it  from  one  to  another  with  their 
filth.  ^^Now  therefore  do  not  give  your  daughters  to  their  sons,  nor  take 
their  daughters  as  wives  for  your  sons,  nor  seek  their  peace  or  their  pros- 
perity forever,  that  ye  may  be  strong,  and  eat  the  good  of  the  land  and  leave 
it  as  an  inheritance  to  your  children  forever."  ^^And  after  all  that  is  come 
upon  us  for  our  evil  deeds  and  for  our  great  guilt,  since  thou,  our  God, 
hast  punished  us  less  than  our  iniquities  deserve,  and  hast  given  us  such  a 
remnant  as  this,  ^^shall  we  again  break  thy  commands  and  intermarry 
with  the  peoples  who  do  these  abominable  acts  ?  Wouldest  not  thou  be 
angry  with  us  until  thou  hadst  consumed  us,  so  that  there  would  be  no 
remnant  nor  any  to  escape  ?  ^^O  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  thou  art 
righteous;  for  we  are  left  a  remnant  that  has  escaped,  as  it  is  this  day. 
Now  we  are  before  thee  in  our  guilt,  for  none  can  stand  before  thee  because 
of  this.' 
Deci-  10  ^Now  while  Ezra  was  making  supplication  and  confession,  weeping 

thefpeo-  ^"d  casting  himself  down  before  the  house  of  God,  there  was  gathered  to- 
ple  to  gether  to  him  out  of  Israel  a  very  great  assembly  of  men  and  women  and 
away  children;  for  the  people  wept  loudly,  ^^n^j  Shecaniah  the  son  of  Jehiel, 
eign"^"  one  of  the  sons  of  Elam,  spoke  and  said  to  Ezra,  We  have  committed  an 
wives  impiety  against  our  God  and  have  married  foreign  women  of  the  peoples 
of  the  land,  yet  in  this  matter  there  is  yet  hope  for  Israel.  ^Now  therefore 
let  us  make  a  covenant  with  our  God  to  put  away  all  the  foreign  wives'^ 
and  those  who  have  been  born  of  them,  according  to  the  counsel  of  my  lord® 
and  of  those  who  revere  the  command  of  our  God,  and  let  it  be  done  ac- 
cording to  the  law.  ^Arise,  carry  into  execution,^  for  it  is  your  task,  and 
we  are  with  you;  be  of  good  courage  and  act.  ^Tlien  Ezra  arose  and  made 
the  chiefs  of  the  priests,  the  Levites,  and  all  Israel  take  oath  that  they  would 
do  according  to  this  word.  So  they  took  oath.  *^Then  Ezra  rose  up  from 
before  the  house  of  God  and  went  into  the  chamber  of  Jehonanan  the  son  of 
Eliashib,  and  spent  the  night  there,  neither  eating^  bread  nor  drinking  water, 
for  he  mourned  because  of  the  impiety  of  those  who  had  returned  from  the 
captivity.  ''And  they  made  proclamation  throughout  Judah  and  Jerusalem 
to  all  the  children  of  the  captivity,  that  they  should  gather  themselves  to- 
gether at  Jerusalem.  ^And  that  whoever  did  not  come  within  three  days, 
according  to  the  counsel  of  the  nobles  and  the  elders,  all  his  possessions 
should  be  placed  under  the  ban  and  he  should  be  excluded  from  the  assembly 
of  the  captivity. 

■*  10^  So  Luc.     I  Esdr.  8*^,  all  are  our  ivives  from  foreigners. 

"  10'*  I   Esdr.  8*t,  your  counsel. 

f  10^  So  I  Esdr.  »«■  and  Luc. 

B  10"  Correcting  the  corrupt  Heb.  by  I  Esdr.  9^  and  the  Gk. 

372 


HIS   CRUSADE   AGAINST   MIXED    ]\L\RRIAGES    [Ezra  109 

Ezra  Xarrative 

^Then  all  the  men  of  Jiidah  and  Benjamin  gathered  themselves  to  Jem-  Deci- 
salem  within  the  three  days,  that  is  on  the  twentieth  day  of  the  ninth  month.'*  tireas- 
And  all  the  people  sat  in  the  open  space  before  the  house  of  God,  trembling  jf"'*^'^ 
on  account  of  the  subject  itself  and  also  because  of  the  pouring  rain,  ^o^hen  point  a 
Ezra  the  priest  stood  up  and  said  to  them.  You  have  committed  an  act  of  lom^^ 
impiety  and  have  married  foreign  women  to  increase  the  guilt  of  Israel.  n>'?sion 

11  ^  to  in- 

^^Now  therefore  make  confession  to  Jehovah,  the  God  of  your  fathers,  vesti- 
and  do  his  will  and  separate  yourselves  from  the  peoples  of  the  land  and  calls"'' 
from  the  foreign  women,  i^^^jj^^  ^\i  |.j^g  assembly  answered  and  said  with 
a  loud  voice.  We  must  do  as  you  have  said  concerning  us.  ^"^But  the  peo- 
ple are  many,  and  it  is  a  time  of  the  autumn  rain,  and  we  cannot  stand 
outside,  and  this  is  not  a  work  of  one  day  or  two,  for  we  have  committed 
great  impiety  in  this  matter.  ^^Let  now  our  nobles  represent  all  the  as- 
sembly' and  let  all  those  in  our  cities  who  ha\e  married  foreign  women 
come  at  appointed  times  and  with  them  the  elders  of  each  city  and  its  judges, 
until  the  fierce  wrath  of  our  God  because  of  this  matter  be  turned  from  us. 
^^Only  Jonathan  the  son  of  Asahel  and  Jazeiah  the  son  of  Tikvah  opposed 
this,  and  Meshullam  and  Shabbethai  the  I-evite  sup])orted  them.  i*^'But 
those  who  had  returned  from  the  captivity  acted  according  to  the  will  of  the 
assembly. 

And  Ezra  the  priest  selected  certain  heads  of    fathers'  houses  according  Work 
to  their  fathers'  houses,  and  all  of  them  were  named  by  name;J  and  they  coiu'-" 
held  a  sitting  on  the  first  day  of  the  tenth  month'^  to  examine  the  matter.  ""'^" 
^'^And  they  completed  the  investigation  of  all  the  men  who  had  married 
foreign  women  by  the  first  day  of  the  first  month. ^ 

^^And  among  the  sons  of  the  priests  who  had  married  foreign  women  list  of 

were  found  the  sons  of  Jeshua  the  son  of  Jozadak  and  his  clansmen:  Maa-  ,„'fo.sts 

seiah,   Eliezer,   Jarib,    and   Gedaliah.     ^^And   thev   gave  their  hand'"   that  ^'V'  ^"®" 
1111  !••  .>^  ^  vites 

they  should  put  away  their  wives;  and  their  guilt-oil'ering  was"  a  ram  of  the  wiio 

flock  for  their  guilt.     -^And  of  the  sons  of  Immer,  Hanani  and  Zebadiah.  foreign 

2^And  of  the  sons  of  Ilarim:  ^laaseiuh,  Elijah,  Shemaiah,  Jehiel,  and  Uzziah.  ^^'^es 

2^And   of   the   sons   of   Pashhur:    Elioenai,    Maaseiah,    Ishmael,    Nethanel, 

Jozabad,   and   Elasah.      ^'^Aiid  of    the    Ivcvites:  Jozabad,   Shimei,   Ivelaiah 

(the  same  is  Kehta),  Pethahiah,  Judah,  and  Eliezer.     ^^And  of  the  singers: 

Eliashib  and  Zaccur.-°     And  of  the  porters:  Shallum.  Telem,  and  Uri. 

^^And  of  Israel:  Of  the  sons  of  Parosh:  Ramiali,  Izziah,  INIalchijah,  Mi-  Of  the 

jamin,  Eleazar,  Michaiah'^  and  Benaiah.     ^o^j^d  f,f  jj^g  gQ^g  ^f  J'lam:  Mat- 

taniah,  Zechariah,  Jehiel,  Abdi,  Jcremoth,  and  Elijah.     -'^And  of  the  sons 

of  Zattu:  Ehoenai,  Eliashib,  Mattaniah,  Jeremoth,  Zabad,  and  Aziza.   -'^And 

h  10^  November- December. 

■  10"  Correcting  the  meaninRless  Heb.  by  the  Ok.  and  I  Esdr.  9*^. 

'  10'"  So  I-uc.  and  I  lOsdr.  9"'.     Heb.,  were  separated. 

^  lO'"  r)eceiiil)cr-.Ianuary. 

>  \0"  Mardi-April. 

"  lO'"  ('(.  II  Kk.s.  lO"*,  Is.  17",  for  (ho  same  form  of  compact. 

»  lO''-'  SliKhtly  ('orrcctinK  the  difficiill   lleb. 

o  10^'  Added  in  ttie  (Ik.  versions  and  I  lOsdr.  9-'. 

p  l(p  Correcting  by  the  aid  of  Luc.  and  1  Esdr.  9™. 

37.3 


Ezra  IQSS]  THE   WORK   OF   EZRA 

Ezra  Narrative 

of  the  sons  of  Bebai:  Jeliohanan,  Hananiah,  Zabbal,  Athlai.  -^And  of  the 
sons  of  Bani:  Meshnllam,  Malluch,  Adaiah,  Jashub,  Sheal,  and  Jeremoth. 
2'^And  of  the  sons  of  Pahath-moab :  Adna,  Chelal,  Benaiah,  Maaseiah,  Mat- 
taniah,  Bezalel,  Binnui,  and  Manasseh.  3i\nd  of  the  sons  of  Harim:  Ehe- 
zer,  Isshijah,  Malchijah,  Shemaiah,  Shmieon,  ^-Benjamin,  Malhich,  Shem- 
ai'iah.  ^'^Of  the  sons  of  Ilashnm:  jNIattenai,  Mattattah,  Zabad,  Ehphelet, 
eremai,  Manasseh,  Shimei.  ^^Of  the  sons  of  Bani:  Maadai,  Amram, 
Joelj'i  ^^Benaiah,  Bedeiah,  Chehihi,  ^'^Vaniah,  Meremoth,  EHashib,  ^'Mat- 
taniah,  Mattenai,  Jaasu,  ^^And  of  the  sons  of  Binnui/  Shimei,  ^^Shelemiah, 
Nathan  Adaiah,  ^'^Machnadebai,  Shashai,  Sharai,  ^^Azarel^  Shelemiah, 
Shemariah,  "^^Shalhim,  Amariah,  Joseph.  '^■^Of  the  sons  of  Nebo:  Jeiel, 
Mattithiah,  Zabad,  Zebina,  Iddo,  Joel,  Benaiah.  ^^All  these  had  taken 
foreign  wives;  and  they  sent  them  away  with  their  children.^ 

.     §  163.  Public  Confession  of  Guilt,  Neh.  O^-^' 

Ezra  Narrative 

Confes-       Nell.  9  ^Now  in  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  this  month  the  Israehtes  were 

thT        assembled  with  fasting,  and  with  sackcloth  and  earth    upon    their  heads. 

people    2^j^(j  i^jjg  descendants  of  Israel  had  separated  themselves  from  all  foreigners, 

and  stood  and  confessed  their  sins  and  the  iniquities  of  their  fathers.     ^And 

they  stood  up  in  their  place  and  read  in  the  book  of  the  law  of  Jehovah  their 

God  a  fourth  part  of  the  day;  and  another  fourth  part  they  confessed  and 

worshipped  Jehovah  their  God.     ^Then  the  Levites,  Jeshua,  Bani,*  Kadmiel, 

Shebaniah,  Bunni,  Sherebiah,  and  Chenani  stood  on  the  raised  pulpit  and 

cried  with  a  loud  voice  to  Jehovah   their  God.     ^Also  the  Levites,  Jeshua, 

Kadmiel,  Bani,^  Sherebiah,  Hodiah,  Shebaniah,  and  Pethahiah,  said,  Stand 

up  and  bless  Jehovah  our^'  God  from  everlasting  to  everlasting;  and  blessed 

,be  thy  glorious  name,  which  is  exalted  above  all  blessing  and  praise. 

Ezra's        *^And  Ezra^^'  said,  Thou  art  Jehovah,  even  thou  alone;  thou  hast  made 

jeho-''  heaven  and'^  the  heavens  of  heavens  with  all  their  host,  the  earth  and  all 

vah's     things  that  are  on  it,  the  seas  and  all  that  is  in  them,  and  thou  preservest 

preme    them  all  and  the  host  of  heaven^  worshippeth  thee.     ''Thou   art  Jehovah 

rule 

and 

prom-  <J  10^  So  Luc.  and  I  Esdr.  9^. 

ises  to  '  10''.  So  Gk.  and  I  Esdr.  9**. 

Abra-  '^  10"  The  Heb.  is  hopelessly  corruist.     I  Esdr.  9*"',  which  has  an  intelligible  text,  has  there- 

ham         fore  been  followed. 

§  163  The  long  prayer  in  this  chapter,  like  the  one  in  Ezra  9,  consists  of  quotations  and  allu- 
sions to  the  incidents  recorded  in  the  early  and  especially  the  late  prophetic  narratives  of  the 
Pentateuch.  The  didactic  principle  derived  from  the  survey  of  the  history  is  that  of  the  late 
prophetic  editor  of  Judges.  Cf.  especially  -''--^  and  Judges  21'-'^.  The  prayer  ends  abruptly 
without  the  direct  appeal  for  a  national  restoration  which  is  implied  by  2-.  Possibly  this  was  not 
quoted  because,  according  to  the  Chroniclers  theory,  the  restoration  was  already  complete. 

t  9^  The  repetition  of,  Bani,  and  the  variations  in  the  versions  indicate  that  the  text  has 
suffered  in  transmission.  Correcting  the  repetition,  seven  names,  as  probably  in  the  original 
text,  remain.     Cf.  the  seven  in  8^. 

"  9^  Omitting,  Hashabniah,  which  is  apparently  only  a  variant  of   Shebaniah.      The  list 
here,  as  the  one  in  *,  has  doubtless  been  modified  in  transmission.     Only  part  of  the  names  agree, 
although  the  context  suggests  that  they  were  originally  identical. 
"■'  9^  So  Gk.     Heb.,  your. 

""  9^  So  Gk.    Ezra  was  perhaps  removed  from  the  Heb.  text  because  Lev.  16-'  commands  that 
the  pviblic  confession  be  made  by  the  high-priest. 
^  9"  So  Luc. 
»  9"  Cf.  Ps.  10321. 

374 


PUBLIC   CONFESSION   OF   GUILT  [Neh.  9^ 

Ezra  Narrative 

the  God,  ■^vllo  didst  choose  Abraham  and  bring  him  forth  out  of  Ur  of  the 
Chaldees,  and  didst  give  him  the  name  of  Abraham,  ^and  find  his  heart 
faithful  before  thee  and  make  a  covenant  with  him  to  give  the  land  of  the 
Canaanites,  the  Hittites,  the  Aniorites,  the  Perizzites,  the  Jebusites,  and  the 
Girgashites,^  to  give  it  to  liis  descendants,  and  hast  performed  thy  words, 
for  thou  art  rigliteous. 

^And  thou  didst  see  the  affliction  of  our  fathers  in  Egypt  and  heard  their  Deliver- 
cry  by  the  Red  Sea,*^  ^^and  didst  show  signs  and  wonders  upon  Pharaoh  and  f^^^  "^ 
upon  all  liis  sen-ants,  and  upon  all  the  people  of  his  land;  for  thou  knewest  people 
that  they  acted  extravagantly  toward  them;  and  didst  get  thee  a  name  as  it  ICgypt 
is  this  day/1     ^^And  thou  didst  divide  the  sea  before  them,  so  that  they 
went  through  the  midst  of  the  sea  on  the  dry  land;  and  thou  didst  cast  their 
pursuers  into  the  depths,  as  a  stone  into  the  mighty  waters.® 

^-Moreover  by  a  pillar  of  cloud  thou  leddest  them  by  day,  and  by  a  pillar  Ouid- 
of  fire  by  night,  to  give  them  light  by  the  way  in  wliich  they  should  goJ  t\"e,n 
i-^Thou  camest  down  also  upon  ]\[ount  Sinai,  and  spakest  with  them  from  '".,*|^®. 
heaven,  and  gavest  them  right  ordinances  and  true  laws,  good  statutes  and  ness 
commandments, s  ^"^and  madest  known  to  them  thy  holy  sabbath,  and  gavest 
them  commandments  and  statutes  and  a  law  by  Closes  thy  servant,  ^'and 
gavest  them  bread  from  heaven  for  their  hunger,  and  broughtest  forth  water 
for  them  out  of  the  rock  for  their  thirst,  and  commandest  them  that  they 
should  go  in  to  possess  the  land  which  thou  hadst  sworn  to  give  them.^  ^*'But 
they  and  our  father  acted  arrogantly  and  hardened  their  neck  and  heeded  not 
thy  commands,'  ^^and  refused  to  obey,  neither  were  mindful  of  thy  wonders 
which  thou  didst  among  them,  but  hardened  their  neck,  and  set  their  head 
to  return  to  their  bondage  in  Egypt. J  Put  thou  wast  a  God  ready  to  pardon, 
gracious  and  merciful,  slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  kindness,  and  didst  not 
forsake  them.  ^^Yea,  when  they  made  for  themselves  a  molten  calf  and 
said,  This  is  thy  God  that  brought  thee  up  out  of  Egypt,  and  acted  very 
blas[)hemously,'^  ^^yet  thou  in  thy  great  mercy  didst  not  forsake  tliem  in 
the  wilderness;  the  pillar  of  cloud  dei)arted  not  from  over  them  by  day,  to 
lead  them  in  the  way,  nor  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night,  to  give  them  light  on 
the  way  in  which'  they  should  go.  20'p|^Q^  gavest  also  thy  good  spirit  to 
instruct  them,  and  withheldcst  not  thy  manna  from  their  mouth,  and  gavest 
them  water  for  their  thirst.'"     -^Yea,  forty  years  didst  thou  sustain  them 


b  9'  The  late  priestly  form  of  the  Abr.aham  tradition  is  here  most  in  evidence.     This  list, 
however,  is  drawn  from  tlie  later  Juileaii  narralivesi,  Gen.  lo'*--'. 
■^  9^  Cf.  Ex.  3".  the  .Judean  narrative, 
d  9'"  Cf.  Dt.  022,   Ex.  18",  9"\ 

"9"   Cf.    Ex.    1421-  22.    1,5'..  19. 

f9'2  Cf.  Ex.  132'.  22.  Num.  14",  Dt.  1^3. 
e9'''  Cf.  Ex.   19«20.  Dt.  4ai. 

'■  9''^  f;f.  Ex.  10',  Num.  20".     For  the  idiom  at  the  end  of  the  vs.  cf.  Num.  H™. 
i  9^'  Cf.  Dt.  V<,  10'".  „  ,    ,      ^, 

i  9'"  (',(.  Num.  14'.     Tiic  parallel  in  Num.  confirms  the  readmg,  wi  Egypt,  of  t'le  Gk.  as 
against  the  Heb. 

i'!)'^  Cf.    1^.   32^.  ». 

I  9'''  OmitliriK  with  the  Gk.  the  awkward,  and.     Cf.  '2. 

'"92»    Cf.    Num.    111V.23-M 

375 


Neh.  921]  THE   WORK   OF   EZRA 

Ezra  Narrative 

in  the  wilderness,  and  they  lacked  nothing:  their  clothes  waxed  not  old, 
and  their  feet  swelled  not." 
Con-  22]y/[Qj.gQygj.  thou  gavest  them  kingdoms  and  peoples,  which  thou  didst 

?heir  °  allot,  °  SO  they  possessed  the  land^  of  Sihon  king  of  Heshbon,  and  the  land  of 
land       Og  king  of  Bashan.'i     23'p}^Qy  didst  also  make  their  children  as  numerous 
as  the  stars  of  heaven,  and  broughtest  them  into  the  land  concerning  which 
thou  didst  say  to  their  fathers,  that  they  should  go  in  to  possess.  "■     ^^Sio  the 
children  went  in  and  possessed  the  land,  ®  and  thou  didst  subdue  before  them 
the  Canaanitish  inhabitants  of  the  land,  and  gavest  them  into  their  hands, 
with  their  kings  and  the  peoples  of  the  land,  that  they  might  do  with  them 
what  they  would.     ^^And  they  took  fortified  cities  and  a  fertile  land,  and  pos- 
sessed houses  full  of  all  good  things,  cisterns  hewn  out,  vineyards,  oliveyards, 
and  fruit-trees  in  abundance.     So  they  ate  and  were  filled,  and  became  fat 
Their      and  lived  luxuriantly  in  thy  great  goodness.*     26j,fgygPt]jglggg  they  were  dis- 
dience"  obedient  and  rebelled  against  thee  and  cast  thy  law  behind  their  back  and 
^"''.  ,     slew  thy  prophets,  who  testified  against  them  to  turn  them  again  to  thee, 
ment      and  they  acted  very  blasphemously,     ^/'pi^g^efore  thou  didst  deliver  them 
period    "ito  the  hands  of  their  oppressors,  who  oppressed  them.     Then  in  the  time 
9f  the     of  their  trouble,  when  they  cried  to  thee,  thou  heardest  from  heaven,  and 
according  to  thy  great  mercy  thou  didst  give  them  deliverers  who  saved  them 
out  of  the  power  of  their  adversaries,     ^sgyt  ^g  soon  as  they  had  rest,  they 
did  evil  again  before  thee;  therefore  thou  didst  leave  them  in  the  hands  of 
their  enemies,  so  that  they  ruled  over  them;  yet  when  they  again  cried  to 
thee,  thou  didst  hear  from  heaven;  and  many  times  didst  thou  deliver  them 
«"  according  to  thy  mercy,  ^^and  testifiedst  against  them,  that  thou  mightest 

bring  them  to  thy  law.  Yet  they  acted  arrogantly  and  heeded  not  thy  com- 
mands, but  sinned  against  thine  ordinances — ^which  if  a  man  obey,  he  shall 
live" — and  turned  a  stubborn  shoulder^  and  stiffened  their  neck  and  would 
not  hear.  ^^Yet  many  years  didst  thou  bear  with  them,  and  testify  against 
them  by  thy  spirit  through  thy  prophets,  yet  they  would  not  heed.  There- 
fore thou  gavest  them  into  the  hands  of  the  peoples  of  the  lands.  ^^Nev- 
ertheless in  thy  great  mercy  thou  didst  not  completely  destroy  nor  forsake 
them,  for  thou  art  a  gracious  and  merciful  God. 
Peti-  32j>jow  therefore,  our  God,  the  great,  the  mighty,  and  the  terrible  God, 

avert  °  ^ho  keepest  covenant  and  kindness,  let  not  all  the  affliction  seem  little  before 
*^^  .  ,  thee,  that  hath  come  on  us,  on  our  kings,  our  nobles,  our  priests,  our  prophets, 
judg-  our  fathers,  and  on  all  thy  people,  since  the  days  of  the  kings  of  Assyria  to 
^at       this  day.     ^sjjowever  thou  art  just  in  all  that  has  come  upon  us;  for  thou 

rests 

upon        — — — ■ 

the  race 

"921  Cf.  Dt.  2",  8',  29*. 

o  9'^  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds  a  doubtful,  according  to  their  sides. 

p  9^  So  Luc.     In  the  Heb.,  the  land  was  evidently  here  repeated  by  mistake. 

q  922  Cf.  Num.  21-'i-35. 

f  923  Cf.  Gen.  221",  d^    po. 

»  92*  The  first  half  of  the  verse  is  lacking  in  the  Gk.  texts  and  may  be  a  gloss,  for  it  antici- 
pates the  following  context. 

t92'i  Cf.  Dt.  610  •  u^  g7-9_  3215. 

"  929  So  Gk.     The  Heb.  adds,  in  them. 

V  929  Cf.  for  the  same  figure,  Zech.  711-". 

376 


PUBLIC   CONFESSION   OF  GUILT  [Neh.  933 

Ezra  Narrative 

hast  done  right,  but  we  have  done  wickedly,  ^-^neither  have  our  kings,  our 
nobles,  our  priests,  nor  our  fathers,  kept  thy  law  nor  heeded  thy  commands 
and  thy  testimonies  with  which  thou  didst  testify  against  them.  ^opQj.  j^j^gy 
have  not  served  thee  in  the  time  of  their  kingly  rule,  and  in  spite  of  thy  great 
goodness  that  thou  gavest  them,  they  have  not  turned  from  their  wicked 
deeds.  ^egpi^Qjj^  ^^.g  ^j^jg  jg^y  j^j.g  slaves,  and  as  for  the  land  that  thou  gavest 
to  our  fathers  to  eat  its  fruit  and  enjoy  its  good  gifts,  see  we  are  only  slaves 
in  it.  "^^And  it  yieldeth  a  great  income  to  the  kings  whom  thou  hast  set 
over  us  because  of  our  sin;  also  they  have  power  over  our  bodies  and  over 
our  cattle,  at  their  pleasure,  and  we  are  in  great  distress. 

§  16-i.  The  Covenant  and  its  Terms,  Neh.  O^s-lO^* 
Ezra  Narrative 

Neh.  9  38]\Ioreover  in  addition  to  all  this  we  made  a  fixed  covenant  and  Signers 
wrote  it  out,  and  our  nobles,  our  Levites,  and  our  priests  were  enrolled  upon  written 
the  sealed  document.       10  'And  those  enrolled  upon  the  sealed  doeiunents"  were :  ^"^^^^^ 
Nehemiah,  the  governor,^  the  son  of  Hachaliah,  and  Zedekiah,  -Seraiah,  Azariah,  .lere- 
miah,  ^Pashur,  Amariah,  Malchijah,    ^Hattush,    Shebaniah,    Malhich,    =^IIarini,    Mere- 
moth,  Obadiah,  ''Daniel,  Ginnethon,  Baruch,  'Meshullam,  Abijah,  Mijaniin,  *Maaziah, 
Bilgai,  Shemaiah;  these  were  the  priests.      ''And  the  Levites,  namely,  Jeshua  the  son 
of  Azaniah,  Binnni  of  the  sons  of  Henadad,  Kadmiel ;    '"and  their  kinsmen,   Sheka- 
niah,=   Hodaviah,''  Kelita,  Pelaiah,  Hanan,  "Mica,  Rehob,  Hashabiah,  '^Zaccur,  Shere- 
biah,  Shebaniah,  '^Hodijah  Bani,  Beninu.     "The  chiefs  of  the  people:  Parosh,  Pahath- 
moab,  Elam,  Zattu,  Bani,    '^Bunni,   Azgad,  Bebai,  "'Adonijah,  Bigvai,  Adin,  '"Ater, 
Hezekiah,  Azzur,  'SHodiah,  Ilashum,   Bezai,  "Hariph,  Analhoth,  Nobai,  ^"Magpiash, 
MeshuUam,  Hezir,  ^iMeshezabel,    Zadok,  Jaddua,  "Pelatiah,  Hanan,  Anaiah,  -^Hoshea, 
Hananiah,    Hasshub,   24Haiiohesh,    Pilha,    Shobek,   ^SRehum,   llashabnah,    Maaseiah, 
^''Ahiah,  Hanan,  Anan,  "Malhich,  Harim,  Baanah. 

2»And  the  rest  of  the  people,  the  priests,  tlie   Levites,  the   porters,  the  singers,  the  Regula- 

temple  servants,  and  all  those  who  had  separated  themselves  from  the  peoples  gj","^ 
of  the  lands  to  the  law  of  (iod,  their  wives,  their  sons,  and  their  tlaughters,  ^^^'"j]'*''' 
every  one  who  had  knowledge  and  insight,  -'-'.strongly  supported  their  kinsmen,  the 
their  nobles,  and  entered  into  a  solemn  obligation  and  took  oath  to  walk  in  ^,"u"'ity 
God's  law,  which  was  given  by  Moses  the  servant  of  God,  and  to  observe  and 


§  164  That  the  list  in  lO'--'"  is  not  from  the  same  hand  as  the  rest  of  the  chapter  is  shown 
by  the  order,  Lfviles.  priests,  in  9",  while  in  10'  -"*"  the  priests  are  placed  first  ;  in  !»■"*  sailal  docu- 
ment hut  in  10'  sealed  dornmenls.  Also  in  10'  Nehemiah  the  governor  apj)ears  (cf.  §  l(il.  note), 
indicatinK  that  tliis  section  was  probably  added  Ijy  tlie  editor.  A  comparison  of  the  hst  of  the 
priests  with  that  of  tlie  liiKli-piiests  before  Jeshua  in  12''  reve.als  not  only  the  same  nunihei— 
twenty-two— but  also  many  of  the  same  names,  only  arranged  in  different  order,  winch  is  further 
evidence  that  this  is  from  tlie  Chronicler  who.se  interest  in  names  and  lists  is  frc<iucntly  illustrated 
in  Ezra-Neh.    In  -'*■'  his  favorites,  the  porters,  the  sinoers,  and  the  temple  servoiils  also  appear. 

The  close  parallelism  between  Nehemiah's  reforms  recordeii  in  i:{  and  the  terms  of  the 
covenant,  a.s  here  stated,  has  already  been  noted  (Introd.,  p.  31).  I  he  lannuago  an. I  point  of 
view  (of  especially  ^'^i-'-'^')  of  this  .section  are  those  of  the  lOzra  narratives  to  whwli  it  lorm.s  a 
natural  conclusion.  Its  importance  is  great,  for  it  marks  the  acceptance  of  the  late  priestly 
law  by  the  .ludean  commimit  v.  I  ive  out  of  its  eight  regulations  were  ba.seil  on  that  code  and 
were  new  to  the  .Jews  who  still  hehl  to  the  late  i)rophetic  code  found  in  I)t. 

*  10'  Po.ssibly  this  should  be  change.l  to  the  singular  to  conform  with  •)".  I  wo  or  more 
copies  may,  however,  have  been  made,  as  among  the  IJabylonians  in  the  case  of  all  import iiiit 
busine.ss  documents.  ,  ,  ,, 

«  10'  The  title  is  not  found  in  the  Gk.  and  separates  the  name  and  the  patronymic  in  an 
unprecedented  manner,  strongly  suggesting  that  it  is  a  later  addition. 

"  10'"  So  Luc.      The  Shelmiiiiih  of  I  lie  llcb.  appears  in  '-'. 

i*  10'"  So  Uk.   Cf.  i;/.ra  li'".     The  JJudiah  of  the  lleb.  also  appears  in  '3. 

377 


Neh.  1029]     INSTITUTION   OF  THE   PRIESTLY  LAW 

Ezra  Narrative 

do  all  the  commands  of  Jehovah  our  Lord,  and  his  ordinances  and  his  statutes; 
^'^and  that  we  would  neither  give  our  daughters  to  the  peoples  of  the  land  nor 
take  their  daughters  as  wives  for  our  sons;''  ^l^nd  that,  if  the  peoples  of  the 
land  should  bring  wares  or  any  grain  on  the  sabbath  day  to  sell,  we  would 
not  buy  of  them  on  the  sabbath  or  on  a  holy  day;^  and  that  on  the  seventh 
year  we  would  leave  the  land  uncultivated  and  would  refrain  from  the  ex- 
action of  any  debt.® 
Obliga-  32^Yg  a^jgQ  imposed  upon  ourselves  the  obligation  to  give  yearly  the  third 
slmieiT  part  of  a  shekel  for  the  service  of  the  house  of  our  God,^  ^^for  the  bread 
for  the  |j^j^|.  ^^g  gg(-  forth,  s  and  for  the  continual  burnt-offering,^  for  the  sabbaths, 
of  the  the  new  moons,  the  fixed  feasts,*  and  the  holy  things,''  and  for  the  sin-offer- 
aml''  ^  i'lgs  to  make  atonement  for  Israel,'^  and  for  all  the  work  of  the  house  of  our 
ritual  God.'  3'^And  we  cast  lots,  the  priests,  the  Levites,  and  the  people,  for  the 
wood-offering,  to  bring  it  into  the  house  of  our  God,  according  to  our  father's 
houses,  at  appointed  times  year  by  year,  to  burn  upon  the  altar  of  Jehovah 
our  God,  as  it  is  prescribed  in  the  law  ;"^  ^^and  to  bring  the  earliest  products 
of  our  ground,  and  the  first  of  all  fruit  of  every  kind  of  tree  year  by  year, 
to  the  temple  of  Jehovah;'^  ^^also  the  first-born  of  our  sons  and  of  our  cattle, 
as  is  prescribed  in  the  law,  and  the  firstlings  of  our  herds  and  of  our  flocks,  ° 
to  bring  to  the  house  of  God  to  the  priests  who  minister  in  the  house  of  our 
God;  37and  that  we  should  bring  the  firsts  bread  baked  of  our  dough, ^ 
our  gifts,''  the  fruit  of  every  kind  of  tree,  the  new  wine  and  the  oil,''  to  the 
priests,  in  the  chambers  of  the  house  of  our  God;*  and  the  tithes  of  our  ground 
to  the  Levites;  and  that  they,  the  Levites,  should  receive  the  tithes  in  all  the 
cities  of  our  agricultural  districts.  ^^And  that  the  priest  the  son  of  Aaron 
should  be  with  the  Ivcvites,  when  the  Levites  shall  bring  up  the  tithe  of  the 
tithes  to  the  house  of  our  God,  to  the  chambers,  into  the  store-house.^  29j?or 
the  Israelites  and  the  sons  of  Levi  shall  bring  the  gifts  of  grain,  of  new  wine, 
and  of  oil,  into  the  chambers,'^  where  are  the  vessels  of  the  sanctuary,  and 
the  priests  who  minister  and  the  porters  and  the  singers,  and  that  we  would 
not  neglect  the  house  of  our  God. 


•=  1030  Cf.  1323  and  Ezra  92  and  Ex.  34",  Dt.  7^. 
d  10-"  Cf.  13i"--'2^  Lev.  233. 
<=  1031  Cf.  5,  Ex.  23'0.  ",  Dt.  15'-3. 
'  1032  Cf.  II  Chr.  24'i-8,  Ex.  30»-»6. 

E  1033  Lit.,  the  bread  that  ivas  laid  in  rows  or  piled  up.     Cf.  Lev.  24^-'. 
•>  1033  Cf.  Ezra  9^,  Ex.  2938-^2,  Num.  283-8. 
i  1033  Cf.  Num.  28. 
J  1033  Cf.  II  Chr.  2933,  3513. 
.  k  1013  Cf.  Lev.  413-21. 
I  1033  Cf.  II  Chr.  24<i. 

"  103^  Cf.  1331.   The  law  referred  to  is  not  found  in  the  O.T.,  but  in  the  Mishnah,  Taanit  4.\ 
Cf.  Jos..  Jewish  Wars,  II,  17". 

°  103''  Cf.  Ex.  23i«,  3426,  Num.  I812.  i3. 

°  103"  Cf.  Num.  1815-is,  Ex.  13i3,  342f. 

P  1037  Or,  best. 

1  103"  Cf.  Num.  1.520-21,  Dt.  18''.  5,  261-'. 

■■  103''  Tracking  in  the  Gk.     It  fits  badly  in  its  context  and  is  probably  a  later  addition. 

»  1037  Cf.  131 

1 1037  Cf.  1312,  Dt.  261-11. 

H  1037b.  38  This  may  be  a  later  addition.     Cf.  Num.  IS'-'L  21-28. 

V  lOS'-*  Cf.  1312. 


378 


CENSUS   OF  THE  JE^YS   IN   PALESTINE       [Neh.  76 

IV 

ORGANTZATION  OF  THE  RESTORED   .R^DEAN   CO^^IMUNITY, 

Ezra  21-67,  Neh.  76-69,  113-1226 

§  165.  Census  of  the  Jews  in  Palestine,  Ezra  2'",  Neb.  7«-«^  (I  Esdr.  5^") 
Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  Hisiory 

\eh.  7  6T]iese  are  the  children  of  the  province,  who  went  up  out  of  the  The 
captivity  of  tliose  who  liad  been  carried  away,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar  the  ^ 
king  of  Babylon  had  carried  away  to  Babylon,'^  and  who  returned  to  Jeru- 
salem and  Judah,  each  to  his  city,  ^who  came  with  Zerubbabel,  Jeshua, 
Neheraiah,  Azariah,''  Raamiah,''  Nahamani,  Mordecai,  Bilshan,  Mispereth, 
Bigvai,  Rehum,*^  Baanah.^ 


Organization  of  the  Restored  Judean  Community. — Refrarrlin^  the  history  of  the  Judean 
community  during  the  last  decades  of  the  Persian  period  the  bil)lical  and  extra-canonical  sources 
furnislj  little  information.  The  period  appears  to  have  witnessed  the  exi>ansion  of  the  territory 
of  Judah.  This  is  indicated  by  a  comparison  of  the  coinparatively  few  villages  represented  by 
the  builders  who  worked  under  Nehemiah  (Neh.  3),  and  the  hsts  of  Jewish  towns  in  Neh.  72^-37 
and  1 12^-^.  The  extension  was  chiefly  toward  the  northwest.  Cf.  map  on  the  opp.  page.  Al- 
though he  stood  near  enough  the  events  to  have  w-ritten  a  continuous  history  on  the  basis  of 
current  information,  the  Chronicler,  guided  by  his  peculiar  interests,  contents  himself  with  com- 
piling certain  lists  in  which  the  ideas  and  traditional  claims  of  the  coterie  to  which  he  be- 
longed receive  esjsecial  attenti<in. 

§  165  Nehemiah's  statement  in  Neh.  7*  that  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  were  few  and  that 
he  gathered  them  together  apparently  gave  the  Chronicler  an  opportunity  to  bring  in  one  of 
his  long  genealogical  lists.  This  characteristic  tendency  has  been  often  illustrated,  but  perhaps 
here  most  strikingly,  by  the  fact  that  he  has  introduced  the  same  list  in  Ezra  2,  modifying  tlie 
concluding  words  of  Neh.  7  in  order  to  fit  the  different  context.  Cf.  note  §  145.  He  also  joins  it 
closely  to  Nehemiah's  memoirs  by  ailding  to  Nehemiah's  statement  in  ^  that  he  gathered  together 
the  rulers  and  people  (evidently  to  devise  means  for  increasing  the  population  of  Jerusalem), 
that  they  might  be  reckoned  by  genealogy.  And  I  found  the  book  of  the  genealogy  of  those  who 
came  up  at  the  first,  and  I  found  written  therein:  Then  follow  the  lists.  The  Heb.  word,  as  well 
as  the  idea  of  reckoning  by  genealogj',  is  characteristic  of  the  Chronicler,  but  not  of  Nehemiah. 
The  latter  also  knows  nothing  of  those  who  came  up  at  the  first,  while  it  is  one  of  the  leading 
beliefs  of  the  Chronicler.  Cf.  Introd.,  p.  29.  Similarly'''  ^  reveal  the  stamp  of  the  editor  and 
his  school.  Cf. ',  Ezra  1,  3*,  6-',  Neh.  11^.  The  exactly  twelve  leaders  in'  suggest  one  of  his 
favorite  numbers.  The  concluding  section,  •''■'''•*,  also  has  several  of  his  characteristic  idioms. 
The  method  of  writing  compound  numerals  in  the  list  is  also  confined  to  very  late  Heb.  writings. 
It  is  probable  that  the  editor  had  older  lists  before  him.  He  purports  to  give  a  list  of  those  who 
returned  from  Babylon,  but  sucU  names  as  the  children  of  Pahath  (governor  of)  Moab  and  the 
census  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Judean  villages,  ^s-a?^  by  no  means  support  this  imi^lication. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  long  lists  of  Levites,  porters,  singers,  temple  servants,  and  Solomon's 
servants  in  '•'-'*•'  were  probably  atlded  by  him. 

The  date  of  this  census  has  been  much  discussed  and  is  the  most  important  problem  con- 
nected with  the  chapter.  It  is  obvious  that  the  position  of  those  who  maintain  that  because 
of  its  position  in  Ezra  2  it  represents  those  who  returned  in  536  n.c.  is  untenable.  It  was 
placed  there  simply  to  support  the  theory  of  the  Chronicler  or  possibly  that  of  some  still  later 
editor.  The  evidence  of  the  list  of  towns  in  =''-37  points  conclusively  to  the  latter  part  of  the 
Persian  perio<l,  when,  acconling  to  the  testimony  of  I  -Mac.  9*  and  Josephus  {Ant.,  XIII,  I-*), 
Judah  included  Bethel,  Bethhoron  and  Timnath-Parathon.  Likewise  in  the  list  of  leaders 
Nehemiah,  and  probably  originrdly  Ezra  (cf.  note  ''),  stood  near  the  head  and  are  followed  by 
the  names  (some  of  Persian  origin)  of  later  leaders  who,  following  in  the  wake  of  Nehemiah's 
work,  probably  led  back  other  bands  of  Jews.  Also  the  large  numbers  of  the  children  of  Jrshua, 
the  contemporary  of  Zerubbabel,  and  the  prominence  of  the  different  cla.sses  of  the  temple  min- 
isters, all  point  to  a  period  not  long  before  that  of  the  Chronicler. 

"  7*  So  Ezra  2'  and  I  Esdr.  5^. 

^  V  Ezra  2-,  Seraiah.  Cf.  Ezra  7',  where  Serai.ah  is  the  father  of  Ezra,  .\tier  .Nehemiah 
we  expect,  Ezra,  and  the  variant  suggests  that  he  was  in  the  mind  of  the  Chronicler.  In  (he 
Heb.,  Aztiriah  is  only  slightly  different  from  Ezra. 

"  7'  Ezra  2^,  Reelaiah. 

•"  V  So  Ezra  V  and  I  Esdr.  5». 

'■  7'  1  Esdr.  5*  adds,  their  leaders. 


Neh.  78]       ORGANIZATION   OF  THE   COMMUNITY 

Chronicler  s  Ecclesiastical  History 

THE    NUMBER    OF    MEN    OF    THE    PEOPLE    OF    ISRAEL 

Lay  ^The  children  of  Parosh,   two  thousand  a  hundred    and     seventy-two. 

clans      grpj^g  children  of  Shephatiah,  three  hundred  and   seventy-two.     lOThe  chil- 
dren of  Arah,  six  hundred  and  fifty-two.     i^Tlie    children  of   Jeshua  and 
Joab,  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighteen,     ^^^he  children  of  Elam, 
a  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty -four,      ^^^phe   children  of    Zattu,  eight 
hundred  and  forty-five.     I'^The  children  of  Zaccai,  seven  hundred  and  sixty. 
i^The  children  of  Binnui,  six  hundred  and  forty -eight.     I'^The  children  of 
Bebai,  six  hundred  and  twenty-eight.    ^''The  children  of  Azgad,  two  thousand 
three  hundred  and  twenty-two.     ^^The  children  of  Adonikam,  six  hundred 
and  sixty-seven.     ^^The  children  of  Bigvai,  two  thousand  and  sixty-seven. 
20The  children  of  Adin,  six  hundred  and  fifty-five,     ^i^he  children  of  Ater, 
of  Hezekiah,  ninety-eight.     The  children  of  Azzur,  four  hundred  and  thirty- 
two.    The  children  of  Hananiah,  a  hundred  and  one.^   ~'^T\\q  children  of  Has- 
hum,  three  hundred  and  twenty-eight. ^     ~^T\\e  children  of  Bezai,  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty -four.  24Xhe  children  of  Ilariph,  a  hundred  and  twelve,  ^sxhe 
children"^  of  Nebo,^  fifty-two.     ^'^The  children  of  the  other  Elam,  a  thousand 
two  hundred  and  fifty-four.     ^^The  children  of  Harim,  three  hundred  and 
twenty.     ^^The  children  of  Senaah,  three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirty. 
Inhabi-       ^s^phe  menJ  of  Gibeon,^  ninety-five,     ^e^he  men  of  Bethlehem  and  Ne- 
ofthe     tophah,  a  hundred  and  eighty-eight,     ^r-phe  men  of  Anathoth,  a  hundred 
differ-     and  twenty-eight.     ^S^he  men  of  Beth-azmaveth,  forty-two.     ^s^phe  men 
towns     of  Kiriath-jearim,  Chephirah,  and  Beeroth,  seven  hundred  and  forty-three. 
The  men  of  Adasa  and  Modin,  four  hundred  and  twenty-two.^     ^'^The  men 
of  Ramah  and  Geba,  six  hundred  and  twenty-one.     ^ixhe  men  of  Mich- 
mas,  a  hundred  and  twenty-two.     32xhe  men  of  Bethel  and  Ai,  a  hundred 
and  twenty-three.     ^^The  men'"  of  Jericho,  three  hundred  and  forty-five. 
The  men  of  Keilah  and  Azekah,  sixty -seven.  °     ^"xhe  men™  of  Lod,  Hadid, 
and  Ono,  seven  hundred  and  twenty-one. 
Priestly      ^^T\\Q  priests:  The  children  of  Jedaiah,  of  the  house  of  Jeshua,  nine  hun- 
'^^^^^      dred  and  seventy-three.     '^^The  children  of  Immer,  a  thousand  and  fifty- 
two.     4ixhe  children  of  Pashur,  a  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-seven. 
^^Xhe  children  of  Harim,  a  thousand  and  seventeen. 
Leviti-       43xhe  Levites:  The  children  of  Jeshua,  namely  of  Kadmiel,  of  Benui,° 
cfins      of  Hodevah,  seventy-four.     44xhe  singers :  The  children  of  Asaph,  a  hundred 


«  721  The  last  two  clans  are  found  only  in  1  Esdr.  S'^.  w.  They  have  evidently  been  lost 
from  the  Heb.  in  transmission.     Cf.  Neh.  10^*'  ^3. 

g  722  xhe  order  in  Ezra  is  here  different. 

*>  733  The  original  list  probably  gave  the  clans  first,  then  the  inhabitants  of  the  different 
towns,  and  then  the  groups  of  temple  ministers.     This  order  has  been  restored. 

'  733  So  Ezra  2-'>,  which  also  omits,  other,  before  Nebo. 

J  725  So  I  Esdr.  5'^,  supported  by  the  context.     Heb.,  children. 

k  725  I  Esdr.  517,  Bether.     Cf.  Josh.  IS^s,  I  Chr.  6^  (Gk.).     This  may  be  original. 

1  729  I  Esdr.  S"-^  inserts  this  last  group.  The  exact  form  and  identification  of  the  names 
cannot  be  determined.  The  first  may  be  identified  with  the  place  mentioned  in  Josh.  15"  and 
I  Mac    7^" 

m'y:*.  37  So  I  Esdr.  522.     Heb.,  children. 

n  735  xhe  last  group  is  found  in  I  Esdr.  5''. 

°  7«  So  I  Esdr.  S^'. 

380 


CENSUS   OF   THE   JEWS   IN   PALESTINE      [Neh.  7^^ 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

and  forty-eight.  "^^The  porters:  The  children  of  Shalhim,  the  children  of 
Ater,  the  children  of  Talmon,  the  children  of  Akknb,  the  children  of  llatita, 
the  children  of  Shobai,  a  hundred  and  thirty-eight. 

"^'^The  temple  servants:  The  children  of  Ziha,  the  children  of  ITasupa^  the  Tem- 
children  of  Tabbaoth,  ^"the  children  of  Keros,  the  children  of  Sia,  the  cliil-  sia'ves 
dren  of  Padon,  ^^''the  children  of  Lebana,  the  children  of  Ilagaba,  the  chil- 
dren of  Akkub,P  the  children  of  Salmai,  "^^the  children  of  Ilanan,  the 
children  of  Giddel,  the  children  of  Gahar,  s^the  children  of  Reaiah,  the 
children  of  Rezin,  the  children  of  Nekoda,  ^ithe  children  of  Gazzani,  the 
children  of  Uzza,  the  children  of  Paseah,  ^Hhe  children  of  Besai,  the  children 
of  Asnah,'^  the  children  of  Menunim,  the  children  of  Nephsheisim,  ^-^the 
children  of  Bakbuk,  the  children  of  Hakuj)ha,  the  children  of  Ilarhur, 
^"^the  children  of  Bazlith,  the  children  of  Mehida,  the  children  of  Ilarsha, 
^^the  children  of  Barkos,  the  children  of  Sisera,  the  children  of  Temah, 
56the  children  of  Neziah,  the  children  of  Hatipha. 

^'^The  children  of  Solomon's  servants:  The  children  of  Sotai,  the  children  Clans 
of  Sophereth,  the  children  of  Perida,  ^^the  children  of  Jaala,  the  children  of  ni„n's"' 
Darkon,  the  children  of  Giddel,  ^^the  children  of  Shephatiah,  the  children  ^er^^^ 
of  Hattil,    the  children  of  Pochereth-hazzebaim,    the  children   of  Anion.'" 
6°A11  the  temple  servants  and  the  children  of  Solomon's  servants  were  three 
hundred  and  ninety-two. 

61  And  these  were  they  who  went  up  from  Tel-melah  and  Tel-har.sha:  Clans 
Cherub,®  Addon,  and  Immer;  but  they  could  not  show  their  fathers'  houses  "oes-^ 
nor  their  descent,  whether  they  were  of  Israel.     ^-The  children  of  Delaiah,  \f^l\f^ 
the  children  of  Tobiah,  the  children  of  Nekoda,  six  hundred  and  forty-two.  geneal- 
63And  of  the  priests:  The  children  of  Hobaiah,  the  children  of  Ilakkoz,  °^^ 
the  children  of  Barzillai,  wdio  took  a  wife  of  the  daughters  of  Barzillai  the 
Gileadite,   and  was  called   by   their   name.     ^'^These  sought   their   register 
among  those  who  were  reckoned  by  genealogy,  but  it  was  not  found;  there- 
fore they  were  excluded  from  the  priesthood,  as  unclean.     '^''And  the  gov- 
ernor commanded  them  not  to  eat  of  the  most  holy  things,  until  a  })riest  stood 
up  with  the  Urim  and  Tluunmim. 

6^he  whole   assembly  together  was  forty-two  thousand  three  hundred  Total 
and  sixty,*  ^''besides  their  male  and  female  slaves,  of  whom  tlicrc  were  seven  ""'"  '^'" 
thousand  three  hundred  and   thirty-seven.     And  they  had  two  hundred  and  ^^^'^^""^ 
forty-five    singing    men    and    singing    women.     *'^Their    horses   were   seven  animals 
hundred  and  thirty-six;  their  mules,  two  hundred  and  forty-five;"  ^'''theirv 
camels,  four  hundred  and  thirty-five;  their^  asses,  six  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  twenty. 

^     '  —  — 

t>7*^  Supplieil  from  Ezra  2".  „  ,  ,.  ^  ^,        ^^  ,  „ 

1  7-'^  Supplied  from  Ezra  2-'<>.     I  Esdr.  ^-^  has  a  still  larger  list  than  Neh.  or  Jizra. 

'  7'''->  I  lOs'lr.  .5^'  ail<is  eiglit  more  names,  but  they  cannot  all  be  identified. 

•  7'"  So  I  l';sdr.  .5»',  which  adds,  whose  leader  uas  Cherub. 

t?'^^  I  I'^sdr.  .5"  adds,  porliaps  preserviiiK  in  full  the  original,  Israelites  twelve  years  old 
and  over,  apart  from  the  mute  itml  fcinale  nl(jres.  ,   ,        .,       »i  -^ 

"7""  This  verse  is  lacking  in  the  standard  text  and  was  not  reckoned  by  the  Mn-ssontes 
as  one  of  the  verses  of  the  book.  It  and  ««,  which  resembles  it,  were  probably  later  additions 
to  the  list. 

V  71H1  Adding,   tkt;ir,   from   Ezra  2'''^ 

881 


Neh.  113]        ORGANIZATION   OF   THE    COMMUNITY 


Inhabi- 
tants 
of  Jeru- 
salem : 
the 

Judah- 
ites 


The 

Benja- 

mites 


The 

priests 


The 
Levites 


§  166.  Population  of  Jerusalem  and  the  Villages,  Xeh.  ll^-^e  (cf.  I  Chr.  9*-^') 
Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

Neh.  H  ^Now  these  are  the  chiefs  of  the  province  who  dwelt  in  Jeru- 
salem; but  in  the  cities  of  Judah  every  man  dwelt  in  his  possession  in  their 
cities:  Israel,  the  priests,  the  Levites,  the  temple  servants,  and  the  children 
of  Solomon's  servants.  ^And  in  Jerusalem  dwelt  certain  of  the  children  of 
Judah  and  of  the  children  of  Benjamin.  Of  the  children  of  Judah :  Athaiah 
the  son  of  Uzziah,  the  son  of  Zechariah,  the  son  of  Amariah,  the  son  of  Sheph- 
athiah,  the  son  of  Mahalalel,  of  the  children  of  Perez.  ^All  the  sons  of 
Perez  who  dwelt  in  Jerusalem  were  four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  valiant 
men.^  And  of  the  sons  of  Zerah:  Jeual  and  their  clansmen,  six  hundred 
and  ninety.'^  ^And  Maaseiah  the  son  of  Baruch,  the  son  of  Col-hozeh, 
the  son  of  Hazaiah,  the  son  of  Adaiah,  the  son  of  Joiarib,  the  son  of  Zechariah, 
the  son  of  the  Shelanite. 

''And  these  are  the  sons  of  Benjamin:  Sallu  the  son  of  Meshullam,  the 
son  of  Joed,  the  son  of  Pedaiah,  the  son  of  Kolaiah,  the  son  of  Maaseiah, 
the  son  of  Ithiel,  the  son  of  Jeshaiah.^  ^And  his  clansmen^"  were  mighty 
warriors,*'  nine  hundred  and  twenty-eight.  ^x\nd  Joel  the  son  of  Zichri  was 
appointed  over  them;  and  Judah  the  son  of  Hassenuah  was  second  in  charge 
of  the  city. 

i^Of  the  priests:  Jedaiah,  Joiarib,'^  Jachin,  ^^and  Seraiah  the  son  of  Hil- 
kiah,  the  son  of  Zadok,  the  son  of  Meraioth,  the  son  of  Ahitub,  the  ruler  of 
the  house  of  God,  ^-and  their  clansmen  who  did  the  work  of  the  house,  eight 
hundred  and  twenty-two;  and  Adaiah  the  son  of  Jeroboam,  the  son  of  Pela- 
liah,  the  son  of  Amzi,  the  son  of  Zechariah,  the  son  of  Pashhur,  the  son  of 
Malchijah,  ^^and  his  clansmen,  chiefs  of  fathers'  houses,  two  hundred  and 
forty-two;  and  Amasai  the  son  of  Azarel,  the  son  of  Ahzai,  the  son  of  Meshil- 
lemoth,  the  son  of  Immer,  ^^and  his®  clansmen,  mighty  warriors,  a  hundred 
and  twenty-eight;  and  Zabdiel  the  son  of  Haggedolim  was  appointed  over 
them. 

^■^And  of  the  Levites:  Shemaiah  the  son  of  Hasshub,  the  son  of  Azrikam, 
the  son  of  Hashabiah,  the  son  of  Bunni;  ^*^and  Shabbethai  and  Jozabad,  of 
the  chiefs  of  the  Levites,  who  had  the  oversight  of  the  outside  work  of  the 
house  of  God;  ^"and  Mattaniah  the  son  of  Mica,  the  son  of  Zikri,^  the  son  of 
Asaph,  who  was  the  leader  of  the  songs  of  praise,  and  Bakbukiah  was  the 


§  166  In  this  section  the  awkward  literary  style,  the  peculiar  themes  and  the  prominence 
of  the  Levites,  the  porters,  the  singers,  the  temple  servants  and  the  children  of  Solomon's  ser- 
vants, who  figure  in  the  Chronicler's  other  writings,  are  all  in  evidence.  He  has  introduced 
practically  the  same  list  in  I  Chr.  9*-'''.  It  is  probable  that  it  largeb'  originated  with  him.  It 
is  instructive  chiefly  as  it  illustrates  the  organization  of  the  community  which  gathered  about 
the  temple  in  the  ilays  of  the  Chronicler  and  in  the  half-century  immediately  preceding. 

""11^  Evidently  this  verse  was  transposed  by  mistake. 

^  11^  Filling  in  the  obvious  hiatus  from  I  Chr.  9^-  •'. 

*  11^'  8  A  comparison  with  the  parallel  in  I  Chr.  9^'  ^  indicates  that  the  list  is  here  incom- 
plete. 

b  118  So  Luc.  and  the  analogies  12.  >3.  »  and  I  Chr.  9^. 

<=  11*  The  Heb.,  Gabbai  Sallai,  is  due  to  the  corruption  of  the  Heb.  words  for  mighty  war- 
riors.    Cf.  ". 

d  111"  So  I  Chr.  910. 

<>  111'  So  Gk. 

f  ll"  SoGk.  andLat. 


382 


POPULATION   OF   JERUSALEM  [Nkii.  ll^^ 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  Histori/ 

second  among  his  clansmen;  and  Abda  the  son  of  Shanimiia,  the  son  of 
Galal.  the  son  of  Jeduthun.  ^^'All  the  Levites  in  the  holy  city  were  two 
hundred  and  eio;hty-four. 

^^Moreoyer  the  porters,  Akkub,  Talmon,  and  their  Idnsmen,  who  kept  The 
watch   at    the  gates,  were  a  hundred  and  seventy-two.     ^^But  the  temple  ^^"^  ^"^^ 
servants  dwelt  in  Ophel;  and  Ziha  and  Gishpa  were  over  the  temple  servants. 

--The  one  appointed  over  the  Levites  at  Jerusalem  was  Uzzi  the  son  of  Officials 
Bani,  the  son  of  Hashabiah,  the  son  of  Mattaniah,  the  son  of  ]\Iica,  of  the  pf,inted 
sons  of  Asaph,  the  singers,  over  the  work  of  tlie  house  of  God.     -nHjr  there  }'•>'  *^® 

.  .  .   .  king 

was  a  command s  from  the  king  concerning  them,  and  a  settled  provision  for 
the  singers,  as  each  day  required.  ^^And  Pethahiah  the  son  of  Meshezebel, 
of  the  children  of  Zerah  the  son  of  Judah,  advised  the  king**  in  all  matters 
concerning  the  peo|)le. 

-''And  the  rest  of  Israel,  of  the  priests,  the  Levites,  were  in  all  the  cities  Inliabi- 
of  Judah,  each  in  his  inheritance.     ^^And  as  to  the  estates'  with  their  fields,  Jf  t^g 
some  of  the  children  of  Judah  dwelt  in  Kiriath-arba  and  its  dej)endent  vil-  "^^^'^ 
lages,  in  Dibon  and  its  dependent  villages,  in  Jekabzeel  and  its  estates,  -"^in  and  vil- 
Jeshua,    in   Moladalu    in   Beth-pelet,   -'in    Ilazar-shual,    and    in    Beersheba  paies-" 
and  its  dependent  villages,  29in  En-rimnion,  in  Zorah,  in  Jarmuth,  ^OZanoah,  *"^^ 
Adullam  and  their  estates,  Lachish  and  its  fields,  Azekah  and  its  dependent 
villages.     So  they  had  their  places  of  temporary  abode  from  Beersheba  to 
the  valley  of  Hinnom.     "^^The  children  of  Benjamin  also  dwelt  at  Geba, 
Michmash,  Aija,  Bethel,  and  its  dependent  villages,  32at  Anathoth,  Nob, 
Ananiah,   ^Sjjazor,    Ramali,    Gittaim,   ^^Hadid,    Zeboim,    Neballat,    "^^""Lod, 
and  Ono,  the  valley  of  the  craftsmen.     ^6  \j^j  ^f  ^j^g  Levites,  certain  divisions 
in  Judah  were  joined  to  Benjamin. 

§  167.  Genealogy  of  the  Priests  and  Levites,  Xeh.  12'-*' 
Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  liistonj 

Xeh.   1*2  ^Now  these  arc  tlie  {)riests  and  the  Levites  who  went  up  with  Ilcafls 
Zerubbabel  the  sou  of  Shealticl  and  Jeshua,  Seraiah,  Jeremiah,  Ezra,  -Ama-  priestly 
riah,    Malluch,    Ilattush,    ^ghecaniah,    Harim,J    jNIeremoth,    -^Iddo,    Ginne-  clans 
thon,^  Abijah,  -^Mijamin,  Maaziah,'  Bilgah,  ^Shemaiah,  and  Joiarib,  Jedaiah, 


e  1123  Probably  a  reference  to  the  decree  of  Cyrus  which  comes  from  the  Chronicler  and  is 
preserved  in  I  F.sdr.  4'''.     Cf.  §  144. 

h  11-'  Heb.,  was  at  the  king's  hand.     Cf.  I  Chr.  18>'. 

'  11'''  Cf.  Lev.  2.5". 

§107  The  difficulties  of  this  section  are  bafflinp;.  In '«  the  names,  which  h.ive  already 
been  assisned  by  the  Chronicler  in  10-'*  to  the  days  of  I-:zra,  are  connected  witii  tlie  return  tin.ler 
Zerubbabel.  These  again  recur  in  '--2'  with  many  variations;  but  there  they  are  a-ssigned  to  tlie 
generation  immediately  foliowinc  the  return  under  Cyrus.  In 'o.  "  the  Ciironicler  Kives  what 
appears  to  be  an  authentic  list  of  the  high-priests  of  the  Persian  period.  It  is  priibal)le  that 
these  verses  and  also  tlie  names  of  the  Levites  were  derived  frotn  the  Hook  of  Ihc  (  hronicles  to 
which  he  refers  in '<.     Otherwise  the  rest  of  the  section  seems  to  be  from  the  editor. 

i  12'  ("f.  '"'  and  10''. 

k  12'  Cf.  >'■  and  10". 

'  12'  Cf.  10"  Heb.,  MaadUih.     "  Moadiah. 

383 


Neh.  12']      ORGANIZATION   OF  THE   COMMUNITY 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History 

■^Sallu,  Amok,  Hilkiah,  Jedaiah."^    These  were  the  chiefs  of  the  priests  and  of 

their  clansmen  in  the  days  of  Jeshua. 

Hoads        ^Moreover  the  Levites:  Jeshua,  Binnui,  Kadmiel,  Sherebiah,  Judah,  and 

fevitical  Mattauiah,  he  and  his  clansmen  were  in  charge  of  the  thanksgiving.      ^Also 

clans      Bakbukiah  and  Unno,°  their  brethren,  stood  over  against  them  in  performing 

the  duties  of  their  office. 
priests        ^^And  Jeshua  begat  Joiakim,  and  Joiakim  begat  Eliashib,  and  Eliashib 
Persian  begat  Joiada,  i^and  Joiada  begat  Johanan,°  and  Johanan  begat  Jaddua. 
period         i-'And  in  the  days  of  Joiakim,  the  priests,  the  heads  of  fathers'  houses: 
Heads    of   Seraiah,  Meraiah,  of   Jeremiah,   Hananiah;  ^^of    Ezra,   MeshuUam;  of 
priestly  Amariah,  Jehohanan;  ^^of  Malluch,P  Jonathan;  of  Shecaniah,^  Joseph;  ^^of 
fathers'  Harim,  Adna;  of  Meremoth, '^  Helkai;  ^''of  Iddo,  Zechariah;  of  Ginnethon, 
MeshuUam;   ^''of  Abijah,    Zichri;   of   Miniamin,   of   Maadiah,    Piltai;   ^^of 
Bilgah,  Shammua;  of  Shemaiah,  Jehonathan;  ^^and  of  Joiarib,   Mattenai; 
of  Jedaiah,  Uzzi;  ^Oof  Sallu,^  Kallai;  of  Amok,  Eber;  2iof  Hilkiah,  Hasha- 
biah;  of  Jedaiah,  Nethanel. 
Heads        22Qf  ^\^q  Levites,  in  the  days  of  Eliashib,  Joiada,  Johanan,  and  Jaddua, 
°evihcal  were  recorded  the  heads  of  the  fathers'  houses;  also  the  priests  until*  the  reign 
fathers'  of  Darius  the  Persian."     '^^Th^  sons  of  Levi,  heads  of  fathers'  houses,  were 
written  in  the  Book  of  the  Chronicles,  even  until  the  days  of  Johanan  the 
son  of  Eliashib.     24^nd  the  chiefs  of  the  Levites:  Hashabiah,   Sherebiah, 
Jeshua,  Bennui,  and  KadmieP  with  their  clansmen  Mattaniah,  and  Bak- 
bukiah, Obadiah"^  over  against  them,  to  praise  and  give  thanks,  according 
to  the  command  of  David  the  man  of  God,  one  division  following  another. 
^^MeshuUam,  Talmon,  and  Akkub,  the  porters,  kept  watch  over  the  store- 
rooms at  the  gates,     ^e-pj^ggg  ^ere  in  the  days  of  Joiakim  the  son  of  Jeshua, 
the  son  of  Jozadak,  and  in  the  days  of  Nehemiah  the  governor,  and  of  Ezra 
the  priest,  the  scribe. 

■°  12^  This  is  found  also  in  «,  but  cf.  "-=1.     The  second  may  be  for  Adajah,  ll^,  I  Chr.  9^. 

°  12"  Wanting  in  Gk.  and  Luc.  Also  in  the  margin  of  the  Heb.  the  second  name  is  inter- 
preted as  a  verb. 

°  12"  So  22.  23  and  3os.,Ant.,  XI,  71.     Heb.,  Jonathan. 

P12"  So  2. 

1  12'*  So  Gk.  and  Luc.  and  3.     According  to  2  Hattush  has  here  dropped  out. 

'■1215  So  Luc.  and  3. 

»  1220  So  7. 

t  1222  The  verse  is  obscure.  A  slight  correction  supported  by  the  Gk.  and  Lat.  gives  the 
above  intelligible  reading. 

"  1222  Darius  II,  335-332  B.C.,  the  last  king  of  Persia. 

v  122-'  Slightly  correcting  the  text  with  the  aid  of  Gk.  and  Luc. 

"  1224  According  to  11'^  the  first  three  names  of  25  in  the  Heb.  are  to  be  connected  with  2*. 


384. 


THE  MACCABEAN   STRUGGLE 

I  AND  II  Maccabees 


THE   MACCABEAX   STRUGGLE 

I 

CAUSES   OF   THE    MACCABEAN   STRUGGLE,   I   Mac.    1 

§  168.  Alexander  the  Great  and  his  Successors,  I  Mac.  1^  » 

Histori/  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  3Iac.  1  ^Xow  after  Alexander  the  Macedonian,  the  son  of  Philip,  who  Alex- 
came  from  the  land  of  Chittim,^  had  smitten  Darius  king  of  the  Persians  „on.    ^ 
and  Medes,  he  reigned  in  his  place  as  the  first  ruler  of  the  Syrian  kingdom.*^  quests 

^He  foun;lit  many  battles,  ' 

And  won  many  strongholds, 

And  slew  the  kings  of  the  earth;" 
^He  went  on  to  the  end.s  of  the  earth; 

And  took  spoils  from  a  multitude  of  nations. 
^And  when  the  earth  was  at  peace  before  him. 

He  was  exalted  and  his  heart  was  lifted  up; 

He  gathered  an  army  exceeding  great. 

And  ruled  over  countries  and  peoples  and  principalities; 

And  they  became  tributary  to  him. 

^Thereupon  he  fell  sick,  and  when  he  perceived  that  he  should  die,  ^'he  Divis- 
called  his  most  distinguished  servants,  who  had  been  brought  up  with  him  o^'iis 
from  bovhood;  and  while  he  was  vet  alive,  he  divided  his  kingdom  anions:  empire 

J    *  —  '  ^  '     after 

them."     'So  Alexander   after   he   had   reigned   twelve  years  died.     ^Then  his 

death 

Causes  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle.— In  198  B.C.  Judea  passed  finally  under  the  control 
of  the  Syrian  kingdom,  with  its  capital  at  Antif)oh.  The  fusion  of  Greek  and  oriental  civiliza- 
tions, which  resulted  froiu  Alexander's  conquests,  contained  the  ba-ser  and  more  deEenerate 
element  of  both.  Luxury,  greed,  duplicity,  and  immorality  ruled  at  .\ntioch  and  e.\erted  their 
pernicious  influence  throughout  the  kingdom.  Its  different  kings,  invohed  in  almost  constant 
wars,  compelled  after  190  B.C.  to  pay  a  heavy  annual  triijute  to  Rome,  and  ambitious  lo  main- 
tain a  splendid  court,  drained  the  resources  of  their  realm.  On  the  other  liand,  the  .lews  were 
already  hated  because  of  their  peculiar  religious  ideas,  their  exclusive  institutions,  and  their 
higher  morals  and  superior  business  ability,  which  had  brought,  especially  to  those  of  the  dis- 
persion, great  wealth.  As  I  and  II  Mac.  clearly  declare,  the  .lews  were  also  berr.ayed  by  the 
aposta-sy  anrl  greed  of  certain  of  their  leatlers.  Greek  ideas  and  culture  were  beginning  to  under- 
mine .Judaism.  The  despotic  policy  of  Antiochus  Eiiiphanes  and  the  immediate  e\ents  that 
precipitate<l  the  crisis  brought  the  .Jewish  r.ace  its  supreme  crisis,  but  also  sa\ed  it  in  the  enti 
from  the  deadlier  danger  of  being  absorbed  by  Hellenism.  For  the  analysis  and  history  of  I  and 
II  Mac,  cf.  Introd..  pp.  3.5-40. 

§  168  This  brief  section  connects  the  conquests  of  Alexander  in  333-332  n.c.  with  the 
struggle  which  began  a  century  and  a  half  later. 

^  1'  Cf.  .Jer.  2'",  Ezek.  27",  the  Mediterranean  islands  and  coast  lands. 

^  V  Following  what  was  prob.ably  the  lleb.  origin.al.  f/ellnn  here  represents  the  Syrian 
kingdom.     Cf.  1'",  Dan.  S^\  lO^o.  113,  and  Torrey  in  .Jour.  AOS..  XXV,  pp.  .Sn2  -311. 

'  P  Ah  in  the  earlier  historical  books  anrl  elsewhere  in  I  Mac,  the  author  evidently  l\ere 
either  quotes  from  older  poems  or  epics,  which  recounted  the  events  which  he  was  recording, 
or  else  he  himself  adopts  the  poetic  form. 

"<  1"  The  popular  tra<lition  that  he  divided  his  empire  among  his  followers  before  his  dciilh 
was  widely  circulated,  probably  by  his  successors,  to  substantiate  their  titles,  but  it  \\:f<  lo  his- 
torical support. 

387 


I    Mac.  18]    CAUSES   OF   THE   MACCABEAN   STRUGGLE 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

his  servants  ruled  each  in  his  place.  ^After  his  death  they  all  put  on  diadems, 
and  so  did  their  sons  after  them  many  years;  and  they  multiplied  evils  in  the 
earth. 

§  169.  Seleucus's  Futile  Attempt  to  Rob  the  Temple,  II  Mac.  3 

Traditional  History  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle 

Simon's      II  Mac.  3  ^While  the  holy  city  lay  in  perfect  peace,  and  the  laws  were 
cious      very  well  kept  because  of  the  piety  of  Onias  the  high  priest  and  because  of 
IV^Sild-  ^^^^  hatred  of   wickedness,  ^even  the  kings  themselves  honored  the  place, 
ing  the   and  glorified  the  temple  with  the  most  valuable  presents ;  ^so  that  even  Seleucus 
wealth    the  king  of  Asia  from  his  own  revenues  bore  all  the  expenses  connected 
temple    ^^^^^^  ^^^^  sacrificial  services.     "^But  a  certain  Simon  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin, 
having  been  made  guardian  of  the  temple,  disagreed  with  the  high  priest 
about  the  management  of  the  city  market.     ^And  since  he  could  not  over- 
come Onias,  he  went  to  Apollonius  the  son  of  Thraseus,^  who  at  that  time 
was  governor  of  Coelesyria  and  Phoenicia;  ®and  reported  that  the  treasury  in 
Jerusalem  was  so  full  of  untold  sums  of  money,  that  the  amount  of  the  funds 
was  countless,  not  including  the  account  of  the  sacrifices,  and  that  it  was 
possible  that  these  should  fall  into  the  king's  power.     ^When  Apollonius 
met  the  king,  he  informed  him  of  the  money  of  which  he  had  been  told; 
and  [the  king]  appointed  Heliodorus  his  prime  minister,  and  sent  him  with 
orders  to  efi^ect  the  removal  of  the  aforesaid  money.    ^So  Heliodorus  at  once 
set  out  on  the  journey,  ostensibly  to  visit  the  cities  of  Coelesyria  and  Phoe- 
nicia, but  in  reality  to  accomplish  the  king's  purpose. 
Helio-         ^When  he  had  arnved  at  Jerusalem,  and  had  been  courteously  received 
(lemand  by  the  high  priest  and^  the  city,  he  presented  the  information  which  had  been 
monev'^  given  him,  and  explained  why  he  had  come.     He  also  inquired  if  these  things 
be  were  indeed  so.     ^"^Then  the  high  priest  showed  him  that  the  money  rep- 

un  to      resented  the  deposits  of  widows  and  orphans,  ^^and  also  some  belonging  to 
king       Hyrcanus  the  son  of  Tobias,  a  man  in  very  high  position,  and  that  it  was 
not  as  that  impious  Simon  falsely  alleged,  and  that  in  all  there  were  four  hun- 


§  169  This  story  has  evidently  been  greatly  expanded  and  embellished  in  transmission,  but 
it  is  jjrobable  that  there  are  historical  facts  at  its  basis.  This  probability  is  strengthened  by 
the  discovery  of  the  name  of  Heliodorus,  who  ivas  brought  up  iriih  King  Seleucus  Philopater  and 
U'as  prime-minister  (lit.,  appointed  over  the  affairs  as  in  <■),  on  the  base  of  a  statue  dedicated  to 
Apollo  by  certain  Phoenician  shipmasters.  Cf.  Deissmann,  Bibelstudien,  pp.  173-5.  In  187 
B.C.  Seleucus's  predecessor,  .4ntiochus  the  Great,  met  his  death,  according  to  tradition,  while 
plundering  the  temple  of  Elymais.  The  growmg  weakness  of  the  kingdom,  the  e.xpense  of  its 
many  wars  and  the  necessity  of  paying  heavy  tribute  to  Rome  led  the  unprincipled  Syrian 
rulers  to  resort  to  every  possible  expedient  for  securing  money.  The  sanctuary -at  Jerusalem 
had  become,  like  the  ancient  Babylonian  temples,  a  place  where  private  as  well  as  public  funds 
were  deposited,  that  they  might  be  under  the  protection  of  the  Deity.  Kings  who  had  already 
formed  the  habit  of  robbing  temples  would  not  hesitate  to  loot  the  shrine  of  the  .Jews.  Possibly 
the  ba.sis  of  the  story  in  its  present  form  was  some  unusual  experience  which  aroiised  the  super- 
stitious fear  of  the  temple  robbers.  The  tale  was  one  that  appealed  strongly  to  the  imagination 
of  the  painters  of  the  middle  ages.  Cf.  Rafael's  presentation  of  this  scene  in  the  Vatican  to 
illustrate  the  victory  of  Pojie  .Tulius  II  over  his  foes. 

^  3=  The  identity  of  this  ,\pollonius  the  son  of  Thraseus  is  doubtful.  Cf.  4*  and  I  Mac. 
3'".     The  original  may  have  read,  of  Tarsus. 

'  3^  So  Syr.,  Lat.,  and  allied  MSS.     Gk.  omits  the  connective. 

388 


ATTEMPTS   TO   ROB   THE   TEMPLE      [H  Mac.  3^^ 

Traditional  Historij  of  the  Maccahean  Struggle 

dred  talents  of  silver  and  two  hundred  of  gold;*?  ^^.^mi  ^]y^^  jj.  ^^^^  y^y  ^^^  means 

permissible  that  those  should  be  wronged  who  had  put  trust  in  the  sanctity 

of  the  place  and  in  the  majesty  and  inviolability  of  the  temple,  honored  over 

all  the  world.    ^"^But  Heliodorus,  because  of  the  orders  which  he  had  from 

the  king,  said  that  in  any  case  tliis  money  must  be  confiscated  for  the  king's 

treasury'. 

i^When  on  the  day  wliich  he  had  appointed,  he  entered  to  direct  the  in-  Distress 
quiry  concerning  these  matters,  there  was  great  distress  throughout  the  en-  prayers 
tire  city.     ^°The   priests,  prostrating  themselves  before    the   altar   in    their  of.tlie 
priestly  garments,  called  to  Heaven,'^  to  him  who  gave  the  law  concerning  am!"  ^ 
deposits,  that  he  should  preserve  these  safe  for  those  who  had  deposited  p®°i^^® 
them.     ^*^And  whoever  saw  the  mien  of  the  higli  priest  was  w^ounded  in  heart, 
for  liis  countenance  and  the  change  in  his  color  betrayed  his  mental  distress. 
^"For  a  terror  and  a  shuddering  of  the  body  had  come  over  the  man,  whereby 
the  pain  that  was  in  his  heart  became  manifest  to  those  who  looked  upon 
him.     ^^The  people  rushed  out  of  their  houses  in  throngs  to  make  a  common 
supplication  because  the  place  was  in  danger  of  faUiug  into  contempt.    ^''And 
the  women,  girded  with  sackcloth  under  their  breasts,  filled  the  streets.     The 
virgins  also  hurried  from  their  seclusion,  some  to  the  gates,  others  to  the 
walls,  and  some  looked  out  through  the  windows,     ^o^^j^^j  .^j]^  stretching  out 
their  hands  to  Heaven,  made  their  supplication.     -^It  was  a  pitiful  sight: 
the  multitude  prostrating  themselves,  all  mingled   together,  and   the  high 
priest  in  extreme  distress,  but  expectant. 

22\Vhile  therefore  they  called  upon  the  Almighty  Lord  to  keep  the  things  Over- 
committed  to  them  safe  and  secure  for  those  who  had  intrusted  them,  ^^Helio-  *f  ""^ 
dorus  went  on  to  execute  the  decree.     ^^But  iust  as  he  with  his  cuard  was  Helio- 
there  at  the  treasury,  the  Sovereign  of  sjiirits  and  of  all  authority'  produced  by  tiie 
a  great   apparition,  so  that  all  who  had    presumed  to  come  in  with  him,  mes-'^ 
smitten  with  dismay  at  the    power  of  God,  were   made  faint  and  fearful,  sengers 
2°For  there  was  seen  by  them  a  horse  with  a  terrible  rider,  and  adorned  with 
beautiful   trappings,  which    rushed   fiercely   and   struck  at   Heliodorus  with 
his  forefeet.     But  he  who  sat  upon  the  4iorse  a[)j)eared  to  have  a  complete 
armor  of  gold.     26'|\yQ  other  young  men  also  apjieared  to  him,  distinguished 
by  their  strength  and  beautiful  in  their  splendor,  and  gorgeous  in  their  ap- 
parel, who  stood  by  him  on  either  side  and  scourged  him  unceasingly,  in- 
flicting on  him  many  stripes.     27^j)(j  j^g  fg]i  suddenly  to  the  ground,  and 
great  darkness  came  over  him;  but  lie  was  caught  up  and  put  into  a  litter. 
"^^He  who  had  just  entercil  with  a  great  train  and  all  his  guard  into  the  afore- 
.said  treasury  was  now  himself  being  carried,  altogether  unable  to   help  him- 
self; and  he  recognized  clearly  the  sovereignty  of  God.     ^o^nd  .so  through 


K  .3"  If  reckoned  in  Hebrew  talents  the  tot-il  gives  an  almost  fabulous  sum:  about  seven 
hundred  thousand  dolhirs  in  silver  and  four  million  two  hundred  thousand  in  gold.  Probably 
the  smaller  Syrian  talents  (about  half  as  large)  wore  intended. 

•"  .3""  Heaven  is  here  and  elsewhere  in  the  book  used  as  the  eiuivalent  of  Ood,  possibly  in 
order  to  avoid  the  mention  of  the  divine  name.  ('f.  the  use  of  the  term,  kingdom  oj  heaven,  in 
Mt.  as  the  e()ui\'alent  of  Kiiiudom  of  G  'd. 

'  3^^  Many  texts  here  read,  Lord  of  the  fathers  and  Sovereign  of  tdl  authority. 

389 


His 

deliver- 
ance 
and 
testi- 
mony 
to 

God's 
power 


II  Mac.  329]     CAUSES   OF  THE  MACCABEAN  STRUGGLE 

Traditional  Historij  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle 

the  working  of  God  he  lay  prostrate,  speechless,  and  bereft  of  all  hope  of 
deliverance.  ^^But  [the  Jews]  blessed  the  Lord,  who  had  so  miraculously 
honored  his  own  place;  and  the  temple,  which  a  little  before  had  been  full 
of  terror  and  alarm,  was  filled  with  joy  and  gladness,  after  the  Almighty 
Lord  appeared. 

^^But  quickly  certain  of  Heliodorus's  familiar  friends  besought  Onias  to 
call  upon  the  Most  High,  and  grant  life  to  him  who  lay  at  the  very  point  of 
death. J  ^^^^j  t}jg  high  priest,  secretly  fearing  lest  the  king  might  conceive  the 
idea  that  some  treachery  toward  Heliodorus  had  been  perpetrated  by  the 
Jews,  brought  a  sacrifice  for  the  deliverance  of  the  man.  ^"^But  as  the  high 
priest  was  making  the  propitiation,  the  same  young  men  appeared  again  to 
Heliodorus,  arrayed  in  the  same  garments;  and  they  stood  and  said,  Give 
Onias  the  high  priest  great  thanks,  since  for  his  sake  the  Lord  hath  granted 
thee  life.  ^'^And  do  thou,  since  thou  hast  been  scourged  from  heaven,  make 
known  to  all  men  the  mighty  power  of  God.  When  they  had  spoken  these 
words,  they  vanished  out  of  sight.  ^'^So  Heliodorus  ofi^ered  a  sacrifice  to  the 
Lord  and  vowed  very  great^  vows  to  him  who  had  saved  his  life.  Then  with 
a  gracious  farewell  to  Onias,  he  returned  with  his  army  to  the  king.  ^^And 
he  testified  to  all  men  the  works  of  the  supreme  God  which  he  had  beheld 
with  his  eyes.  ^'^And  when  the  king  asked  Heliodorus  what  kind  of  a  man 
was  fit  to  be  sent  yet  again  to  Jerusalem,  he  said,  ^^If  you  have  any  enemy 
or  conspirator  against  the  state,  send  him  thither,  and  you  will  receive  him 
back  well  scourged,  if  he  escape  even  with  his  life;  because  of  a  truth  there 
is  about  the  place  the  power  of  God.  ^^Por  he  who  has  his  dwelling  in 
heaven  is  the  watchman  and  protector  of  that  place;  and  he  smites  and  de- 
stroys those  who  come  to  hurt  it.  ^^Such  was  the  issue  of  Heliodorus's 
attempt  and  the  guarding  of  the  treasury.' 


§  170.  Atrocities  of  the  Jewish  Hellenizing  Leaders,  I  Mac.  P^-'^  II  Mac.  4 

Traditional  History  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle 

II  Mac.  4  ^Now  the  Simon  already  mentioned  as  having  been  the  be- 
trayer of  the  funds  of  his  country,  slandered  Onias,  saying  that  it  was  he 
tioch  to  ^vho  incited  Heliodorus,  and  had  been  the  author  of  these  evils;  ^and  this 
teract  benefactor  of  the  city,  and  guardian  of  his  fellow-countrymen,  and  zealot 
slanders  f'^''  the  laws,  he  dared  to  call  a  conspirator  against  the  state.     ^But  when 


Onias's 
mission 
to  An 


J  3^1  Lit.,  at  the  last  gasp. 

^  S^^  Lit.,  the  greatest. 

'  ,3^"  Gk.,  lit.,  things  concerning  H cliodorus  and  the  guarding  of  the  treasury. 

§  170  Greek  culture  from  .332  b.c.  on  encircled  and  pressed  the  Jews  on  every  side.  Greek 
was  the  language  of  commerce,  as  well  as  of  their  conquerors.  Even  the  sacred  scriptures 
had  been  translated  into  it.  The  .Jews  of  the  dispersion  were  enveloped  in  Hellenic  civilization, 
while  those  of  Palestine  met  it  when  they  went  westward  to  the  rich  Greek  cities  of  the  Philistine 
plain,  or  northward  to  Samaria,  or  to  the  strong  Greek  cities  east  of  the  Jordan,  or  even  to 
Idumea  on  the  south.  Traders  and  Syrian  officials  brought  it  to  their  very  doors;  an<l  finally 
the  ruling  Syrian  party  in  Judaism  itself  began  to  adopt  it  because  it  was  attractive  and  the 
way  to  preferment  at  Antioch.  Opposed  to  it  were  the  Puritans  who  rallied  about  tlie  law  and 
the  ritual  of  the  temple.  They  undoubtedly  still  longed  for  the  less  exacting  rule  of  Egypt 
and  found  strong  supporters  in  their  kinsmen  at  Alexandria,  if  not  in  the  Egyptian  court.  Thus 
the  two  parties  were  divided  not  only  on  religious,  but  also  on  political  lines,  and  this  fact 
undoubtedly  throws  light  upon  the  attitude  of  the  Syrian  court. 


390 


ATROCITIES  OF  THE  JEWISH  LEADERS    [II  Mac.  4^ 

Traditiotuil  Hislory  of  ihe  Maccabcan  Struggle 

the  enmity  reached  such  a  state  that  murders  were  conunitted  by  one  of 
Simon's  trusted  followers,  ^Onias,  comprehending  how  dangerous  the  con- 
tention was  and  how  Apollonius  ™  as  the  governor  of  Coelesyria  and  Phoe- 
nicia, by  his  rage  was  increasing  Simon's  malice,  •''betook  himself  to  that 
king  not  to  be  an  accuser  of  his  fellow-citizens,  but  mindful  of  both  the 
pubHc  and  the  private  welfare;  *^for  he  saw  that  unless  the  king  made  some 
provision  the  state  could  not  again  obtain  peace,  and  that  Simon  would  not 
cease  from  his  folly. 

"But  w^hen  Seleucus  was  dead  and  Antiochus  Eager- 


Hisforij  of   the   Hasmo- 
iieans 

I  3Iac.  1  lOXow  there 
came  forth  from  [Alex- 
ander's successors]  a  sin- 
ful root,  Antiochus  Epi- 
plianes,  son  of  Antiochus 
the  king,  who  had  been  a 
hostage  at  Rome,  and  he 
began  to  reign  in  the  one 
hundred  and  thirty-sev- 
enth year  of  the  Syrian 
rule."  ^^In  those  days 
there  appeared  from 
among  the  people  of  Is- 
rael those  who  disre- 
garded the  law,  who  per- 
suaded manv,  saving.  Eet 
us  go  and  make  a  cove- 
nant with  the  heathen 
about  us;  for  since  we 
have  stood  aloof  from 
them  many  evils  have  be- 
fallen us.  ^-.Vnd  the  pro- 
posal met  with  approval. 
^^And  certain  of  the  peo- 
ple acted  with  prompt- 
ness, and  went  to  the  king 
who  gave  them  the  right 
to  do  as  the  heathen. 
^^Then  they  built  a  place 
for  gj'mnastic  exercise  in 


and  cus- 
toms 


who    was    called    Epiphanes    [Illustrious]    sue-  certain 
ceeded   to   the  kingdom.   Jason   the  brother  of  f'o''- 

tntc 

Onias  surreptitiously  obtained  the  high  priest-  Jews  to 
hood^  by  promising  to  the  king  at  an  audience  Greek 
three  hundred  and  sixty  talents  of  silver 
from  another  fund  eighty  talents.  ^Moreover, 
he  undertook  to  assign*^  a  hundred  and  fifty  more, 
if  he  might  be  allowed  by  his  authority  to  set  up 
for  himself  a  Greek  place  for  gymnastic  exercise 
and  a  special  place  for  the  youths,  and  to  register 
the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  as  the  citizens  of 
Antioch.  ^^With  the  assent  of  the  king,  he  se- 
cured the  ofKce,  and  at  once  brought  over  those 
of  his  own  race  to  the  Greek  fashion.  ^k\nd  set- 
ting aside  the  privileges  settled  upon  the  Jews  by 
the  king,  through  the  efforts  of  John  the  father 
of  Eupolemus,  who  went  on  the  embassy  to  the 
Romans  for  friendship  and  alliance,  and  abol- 
ishing the  lawful  modes  of  life,  he  introduced 
new  customs  forbidden  by  the  law;  ^^for  he 
gladly  established  a  Greek  place  for  gymnastic 
exercise  under  the  citadel  itself;  and  induced  the 
noblest  of  the  young  men  to  wear  the  Greek  cap. 
^■^There  was  such  an  extreme  of  Hellenism  and 
a  withdrawal  to  alien  customs  because  of  the 
superlative  infamy  of  Jason,  that  ungodly  man 
and  no  high  priest,  ^'^that  the  priests  were  no 
longer  zealous  for  the  services  of  the  altar ;  but 
despising  the  sanctuary  and  neglecting  the  sac- 
rifices, they  hastened  to  take  part  in  that  which 
was  unlawfully  provided  in  the  palaistra,  after 
the  proclamation  of  the  discus-throwing;   ^^de- 


■"II  Mac.  4*  Hort  conjectures,  but  wnhoui  textual  support,  that  the  original  read, 
Apolloniun,  the  son  of  Menestheua.  But  this  Apollonius  was  probably  the  same  as  the  one 
mentioned  in  3^. 

"  I  .M.ac.  1'"  I.e.,  in  17.5  n.c.  The  Syrian  (lit.,  Greek)  rule  refers  to  that  of  the  Seleucid 
Syrian  kingdom,  established  in  ."512  n.c.     Cf.  §  108,  note  ^. 

"11   -Mac.  4"  Following  cursive  texts. 


I  Mac.  11^]  CAUSES   OF   THE   STRUGGLE  [II  Mac.  4i5 

Traditional  History  of  the  Maccahean  Struggle 


History   of  the   Hasmo- 
neans 

Jerusalem  according  to 
the  customs  of  the  hea- 
then. ^^They  also  made 
themselves  uncircum- 
cised,  and,  forsaking  the 
holy  covenant,  fraternized 
with  the  heathen,  and 
sold  themselves  to  do 
evil. 


spising  what  was  esteemed  by  their  fathers  and 
deeming  the  Greek  honors  best  of  all.  ^'^For 
these  reasons  severe  calamity  overtook  them; 
and  the  men  whose  ways  they  emulated,  and 
whom  they  wished  to  be  like  in  every  respect, 
these  became  their  enemies  and  chastisers.  ^'^For 
it  is  not  a  light  thing  to  sin  against  the  laws  of 
God.     This  the  course  of  time  will  show. 


Jason's       ^^When  certain  games  held  every  fifthP  year  were  celebrated  at  Tyre,  and 
t*o  Itler^  ^^^  ^^"g  "^^^  present,  ^^the  vile  Jason  sent  envoys  from  Jerusalem,  Antio- 
cules      chians,  bearing  three  hundred  drachmas  of  silver'i  for  the  sacrifice  to  Her- 
cules.    But  the  bearers  requested  that  they  would  not  use  them  for  sacrifice, 
since  it  was  not  fitting,  but  reserve  them  for  other  expenses.     ^^So  this  money 
intended  by  the  sender  for  the  sacrifice  to  Hercules,  because  of  the  bearers, 
went  for  the  equipment  of  the  galleys. 
Anti-         2iwhen  Apollonius  the  son  of  Menestheus  was  sent  into  Egypt  on  account 
vLit*to  o^  the  enthronement  of  Philometor'"   as  king,  Antiochus,   discovering  that 
Jej-u-      the  latter  had  become  hostile  to  his  rule,  gave  heed  to  his  own  security.     He 
therefore  came  to  Joppa  and  then  went  on  to  Jerusalem.     ^^Here  he  was 
magnificently  received  by  Jason  and  the  city,  and  was  brought  in  with  torches 
and  shoutings.     Afterward  he  led  his  army  down  into  Phoenicia. 
Sup-  ^^Atter  an  interval  of  three  years  Jason  sent  Menelaus,  a  brother  of  the 

fng"of     Simon  already  mentioned,  to  carry  the  money  to  the  king  and  to  make  re- 
Jason     ports  concerning  some  necessary  matters.     24]3u|-  \^^^  \yy  commending  him- 
Mene-     self  to  the  king,  and  extolling  him  with  the  mien  of  a  man  of  influence,  secured 
h^igh^^    the  high  priesthood  for  himself,  outbidding  Jason  by  three  hundred  talents 
priest     of  silver.     25j^g  returned  with  the  royal  mandates,  although  he  was  not  at 
all  worthy  of  the  high  priesthood,  but  had  the  passion  of  a  cruel  tyrant  and 
the  rage  of  a  savage  beast.     -^''Then  Jason,  who  had  supplanted  his  own 
brother,  being  supplanted  by  another,  was  driven  as  a  fugitive  into  the  country 
of  the  Ammonites,  27and  Menelaus  had  possession  of  the  office.     But  none  of 
the  money  which  had  been  promised  to  the  king  was  duly  paid,  though 
Sostratus  the  governor  of  the  citadel  demanded  it  -^(for  he  had  charge  over 
the  collection  of  the  revenues).     For  this  cause  they  were  both  called  by  the 
king  to  his  presence;  ^^and  Menelaus  left  his  own  brother  Lysimachus  as 
his  deputy  in  the  high  priesthood;  and  Sostratus  left  Crates,  the  governor  of 
the  Cyprians. 
Murder       ^*^While  such  was  the  state  of  affairs,  it  transpired  that  the  citizens  of 
Onias     Tarsus  and  Mallus  revolted,  because  they  were  to  be  given  as  a  present  to 
fiistiea-  Aiitiochis  the  king's  concubine.     ^^The  king  therefore  came  thither  in  all 

tion  of 

Mene- 
laus P  11  Mac.  4'8  Really  every  fourth  year,  probably  in  imitation  of  the  Olympic  games. 

1  II  Mac.  419  The  sum  is  surprisingly  small,  not  more  than  fifty  dollars.     The  Syr.  and 
certain  MSS.  read,  three  thousand,  three  hundred. 

'  42'  Following  the  reading  of  the  Lat.  and  the  cursive  Gk.  MSS. 


ATROCITIES  OF  THE  JEWISH  LEADERS     [II  Mac.  4^1 

Traditional  History  of  the  Maccahean  Struggle 

haste  to  settle  matters,  leaving  for  his  deputy  Andronicus,  a  man  of  high 
rank.  -^-Then  Menelaus,  thinking  that  he  had  found  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity, presented  to  Andronicus  certain  gold  vessels  of  the  temple,  which  he 
had  stolen;  others  also  he  had  already  sold  at  Tyre  and  the  neighboring 
cities.  ^-^And  Onias,  who  had  withdrawn  into  a  sanctuary  at  Daphne,^ 
located  near  Antioch,  when  he  had  positive  information  of  this,  sharply  re- 
proved him.  ^^Therefore  Menelaus  took  Andronicus  aside  and  besought 
him  to  kill  Onias.  He,  being  persuaded  to  use  treachery,  came  to  Onias 
and  swore  with  uplifted  hand  and  gave  him  his  right  hand*  and  so,  though 
he  was  suspected,  persuaded  him  to  come  forth  from  the  sanctuary;  then 
he  immediately  despatched  him  without  regard  for  justice. 

^^On  account  of  this  not  only  Jews  but  also   many  of  the  other  nations,  Punish- 
were  provoked  and  full  of  indignation  over  the  unjust  murder  of  the  man.  "1"^^"'  " 
^*^When  the  king  had  returned  from  the  places  in  Cilicia,  the  Jews  who  were  "'"■■- 
in  the  city  complained  because  Onias  had  been  wrongfully  slain.     ■^'And 
the  Greeks  showed  their  indignation.     Antiochus  therefore  was  heartily  sorry, 
and  was  moved  to  pity,  and  wept,  because  of  the  sober  and  well-ordered  life 
of  him  who  was  dead;  ^^and  burning  with  indignation,  he  at  once  stripped 
Andronicus  of  his  j)urple  robe,  tore  off  his  garments  and,  after  leading  him 
round   through   the  whole  city  to  that  very  place  where  he  had  committed 
the  impiety  against  Onias,  he  there  put  the  murderer  to  death.     Thus  the 
Lord  rendered  to  him  the  punishment  he  deserved. 

2^Xow  when  many  temple  thefts  had  been  committed  in  the  city  by  Lysim-  Death 
achus,  with  the  consent  of  Menelaus,  and  a  report  was  circulated  outside,  the  "einpte- 
people  gathered  together  against  Lysimachus,  after  many  gold  vessels  had  been  robber, 
already  carried  away.     *^At  the  uprising  of  multitudes  who  were  filled  with  achus 
anger,  Lysimachus  armed  about  three  thousand  men  and  assumed  the  offen- 
sive.    A  certain  Auranus,  a  man  advanced  in  years  and  no  less  also  in  wick- 
edness, led  the  onset.    '*Uiut  as  soon  as  they  were  aware  of  the  attack  of  Lysim- 
achus, some  caught  up  stones,  others  logs  of  wood,  and  some  took  handfuls 
of  the  ashes  that  lay  near,  and  flung  them  all  pell-mell  upon  Tyvsiinacluis's 
men.     ^~liY  these  means  they  wounded  many  of  them,  some  they  struck  to  the 
ground,  and  all  of  them  they  forced  to  flee.     The  temple-thief  himself  they 
killed  beside  the  treasury. 

'^•^An    accusation    regarding    these    matters    was    laid   against  ISIenelaus.  Unjust 
^And  when  the  king  arrived  at  Tyre,  the  three  men,  who  were  sent  by  the  f,^['",f " 
senate,  pleaded  the  cause  before  him.     '^''IJut  just  when  he  was  worsted,  ,*j|y"^ 
Menelaus  })romised  much  money  to  Ptolemy  the  son  of   Dorymenes  to  win  aii<l  ilie 
over  the  king.     **'^Thereupon  Ptolemy,  taking  the  king  aside  into  a  cloister.  J"-^,*^"'" 
as  it  were  to  take  the  air,  won  him  over,     ^z^^,,,]  Mfiu-laus,  who  was  the  cause  "f  ".'<; 
of  all  the  evil,  he  acquitted  of  the  accusations;  but  those  ha|)less  men,  who,  reprc- 
if  they  had  addressed  even  Scythians,"  would  have  been  discharged  uncon-  J'f^'"'" 


sonta- 
es 


a  4x1  The  more  natural  I'.nR.  idiom  has  been  adopted. 

'  4'^   Lit.,  riiiHinf)  rtf/lil  liiinri  villi  odllis. 

"  4"  Cf.  Cicero's  oration  aKaitist  Vcrres  II,  5''". 


II  Mac.  447]    CAUSES  OF  THE  MACCABEAN  STRUGGLE 

Traditional  Historij  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle 

demned,  them  lie  sentenced  to  death.  '^^Quickly  then  did  those  who  had 
pleaded  in  behalf  of  the  city  and  the  people  and  the  holy  vessels  suffer  un- 
just punishment.  ^^For  this  reason  even  certain  Tyrians,  aroused  to  indig- 
nation, provided  magnificently  for  their  funeral.  ^*^But  Menelaus  through 
the  cupidity  of  the  authorities,  remained  in  his  office,  where  he  grew  in  wick- 
edness and  was  a  great  conspirator  against  his  fellow-citizens. 


§  171.  Repeated  Sackings  of  Jerusalem  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes, 


Histori/  of  the 
Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  1  i^Now 

w  h  e  n  Antiochus 
saw  that  his  au- 
thority was  well 
established,  h  e 
thought  to  reign 
over  Egypt,  that 
he  might  reign 
over  the  two  king- 
doms,   ^^go  \^Q  [xi- 

vaded  Egypt  with 
a  great  multi- 
tude, with  char- 
iots and  elephants 
and  horsemen,  and 
with  a  great  navy. 
^^And  he  made 
war  against  Ptol- 
emy king  of  Egypt. 
And  Ptolemy  was 
defeated  by  him 
and  fled,  and  many 
fell  mortally 
wounded.  ^9\nd 
they  gained  pos- 
session   of    the 


I  Mac.  l'"-"",  II  Mac.  5'-^^ 
Traditional  History 

II  Mac.  5  ^Now  about  this  time  Antiochus  made  his  .Tason's 
second  expedition  into  Egypt.     ^It  then  happened  that  thfe"^"*^' 
throughout  all  the  city,  for  a  period  of  nearly  forty  days,  attack 
there  were  seen  horsemen  speeding  in  troops^'  through  jeni- 
the  air,  wearing  robes  inwrought  with  gold  and  equipped  ^fj™g 
with    full    armor    and    spears;    ^also    the    drawing    of  tlie  ab- 
swords,  and  squadrons  of  horse  in  array,  and  repeated  Xnti- 
encounters  and  pursuits  on  both  sides,  and  shaking  of  '^^'^^^ 
shields  and  multitudes  of  lances,  and  casting  of  darts, 
and  flashing  of  golden  trappings,  and  girding  on  of  all 
kinds  of  armor.  ^Therefore  all  men  prayed  that  the  vision 
might  portend  good.    ^But  when  a  false  rumor  arose  that 
Antiochus  was  deceased,  Jason  took  at  least  a  thousand 
men,  and  made  a  sudden  assault  upon  the  city.     When 
those  who  were  on  the  wall  had  been  routed,  and  the  city 
was  at  last  on  the  point  of  being  captured,  Menelaus 
took   refuge    in    the   citadel.     "^But  Jason   unsparingly 
slaughtered    his    own    fellow-citizens    without    consid- 
ering that  success  against  kinsmen  is  the  greatest  ill- 
success,^  but  imagining  that  he  was  setting  up  trophies 
over  enemies  and  not  over  fellow-countrymen.     ^jJqw- 
ever,  he  did  not  obtain  the  office,  but  only  shame  as  the 
result  of  his  conspiracy;  and  he  passed  again  a  fugitive 
into  the  country  of  the  Ammonites.     *At  the  last  there- 
fore he  met  with  a  miserable  end,  after  being  impris- 
oned'^ at  the  court  of  Aretas  the  prince  of  the  Arabians, 


§  171  II  Mac.  5  dates  the  first  sacking  of  Jerusalem  in  168  B.C.  in  connection  with  Anti- 
ochus's  second  Egyptian  campaign.  I  Mac.  1,  however,  connects  it  probably  rightly  with  the 
first  in  170-169  B.C.  This  is  consistent  with  2^.  II  Mac.  appears  to  have  confused  and  com- 
bined the  two  events.  Later,  in  June  168  b.c,  the  Romans  succeeded  in  overcoming  the  Mace- 
donian Greek  Empire  and  at  once  made  a  peremptory  demand  that  Antiochus  retire  from 
Egypt,  which  he  was  on  the  point  of  annexing  to  his  kingdom.  His  chagrin  doubtless  intensified 
the  bitterness  of  his  persecution  of  the  Jews. 

V  II  Mac.  5-  The  Gk.  order  puts,  in  troops,  after  equipped. 

""  II  Mac.  5''  The  Gk.  contains  a  play  on  the  word  success:  good  success  and  ill-success. 

^  II  Mac.  5'  Following  a  reading  found  in  several  important  te.xts. 


394 


I  Mac.  119]  THE   SACKING    OF   JERUSALEM  [II  Mac.  58 


Historij  of  the 

Hasmoncans 
strong  cities  in  the 
land  of  Egypt,  and 
he  took  the  spoils 
of  Egypt. 


Traditional  History 

fleeing  from  city  to  city,  pursued  by  all  men,  hated  as  an 
apostate  from  the  laws,  and  held  in  abomination  as  the 
public  executioner  of  his  country  and  his  fellow-citizens, 
he  was  driven  out  into  Egypt.  ^And  he  who  had  driven 
many  from  their  own  country  perished  himself  in  a 
strange  land,  ha\dng  crossed  the  sea  to  the  Lacedemo- 
nians, expecting  to  gain  protection  because  thev  were 
near  of  kin.^  ^'^Thus  he  who  had  cast  out  a  multitude 
unburied  had  none  to  mourn  for  him,  nor  had  he  any 
funeral  at  all,  or  place  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  fathers. 


at  Jeru 
salein 


His  -^Then  after  Antiochus   had 

of^he^'^  concfuered  Egypt  he  returned  in 
temple  the  hundred  and  forty-third 
year,''  and  went  up  against  Is- 
rael and  Jerusalem  with  a  great 
multitude.  -^And  he  insolently 
went  into  the  sanctuary,  and 
took  the  golden  altar,  and  the 
candelabrum,  22an(l  all  that  be- 
longed to  the  table  of  the  show- 
bread,  and  the  cups  for  liba- 
tions, and  the  bowls,  and  the 
golden  censers,  and  the  curtain 
and  the  garlands  and  decora- 
tions which  were  on  the  front 
of  the  temple — he  scaled  it  all 
off.  ^^iVnd  he  took  the  silver 
and  the  gold  and  the  precious 
vessels,  and  the  hidden  treas- 
ures whi(;h  he  found.  2i\ij(l 
taking  all,  he  went  away  into 
his  own  land,  having  made  a 
great  slaughter,  and  spoken  very 
insolently.  ^^Thus  a  great 
mourning  came  ujion  Israel  in 
all  their  places. 

''And    the    rulers    and    elders 

{groaned, 
The  virgins  and  young  men  were 

made  feeble. 
''And  the  l)eauty  of  the  women  was 

changed 


11  When  tidings  of  what  had  happened  His 
came  to  the  king,  he  thought  that  Judea  te*"of " 
was  in  revolt.  Thereupon  settin<j  out  from  V^*' 

1  o  Jews 

Egypt  in  a  furious  temper,  he  took  the  and 
city  by  force  of  arms,  ^^and  commanded  ofYhe^'^ 
his  soldiers  to  cut  down  without  mercy  temple 
those  whom  they  chanced  to  meet  and  to 
slay  those  who  went  uyt  into  their  houses. 
^^There  was  killing  of  young  and  old,  tak- 
ing away  of  boys,  women  and  children, 
slaying  of  maidens  and  infants.  ^  *In  the 
three  days  alone  eighty  thousand  were  lost, 
forty  thousand  were  ])ut  to  death,  and  as 
many  sold  as  were  slain.  ^^IJut  not  con- 
tent with  this,  he  presumed  to  enter  the 
most  holy  temple  of  all  the  earth,  guided 
by  INlcnclaus,  who  had  proved  himself  a 
traitor  both  to  the  laws  and  to  his  country, 
i^and  with  his  polluted  hands  he  seized 
the  sacred  vessels,  and  what  had  been 
dedicated  by  other  kings  for  the  augmen- 
tation of  the  glory  and  honor  of  the  place 
he  dragged  away  with  his  profane  hands. 
i''And  Antiochus  was  elated  in  mind,  not 
y)erceiving  that  because  of  the  sins  of  those 
who  dwelt  in  the  city  the  Sovereign  Lord 
had  been  provoked  to  anger  a  little  while, 
and  that  on  this  account  his  protection 
was  withdrawn  from  the  |)lace.  i*^IIad  it 
not  been  that  they  were  already  en  I  angled 
by  many  sins,  this  man,  like  Ileliodorus, 
who  was  sent  by  King  Seleucus  to  view  the 


«I1   .\l:u^  .".'   (1.   1    Mac.   12'. 
b  I  Mac.  P"  109  u.c. 


395 


I  Mac.  i27] 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Every  bridegroom  took  up  a  lam- 
entation. 

She  that  sat  in  the  marriage  cham- 
ber was  in  heaviness. 
^'And  the  land  was  shaken  because 
of  its  inhabitants 

And  all  the  house  of  Jacob  was 
clothed  with  shame.'* 


CAUSES   OF  THE   STRUGGLE 


LII  Mac.  518 


Traditional  History 

treasury,  would,  as  soon  as  he  pressed 
forw' ard,  have  been  scourged  and  turned 
back  from  his  daring  deed.  ^^However, 
the  Lord  did  not  choose  the  nation  for  the 
place's  sake,  but  the  place  for  the  sake  of 
the  nation.''     ^O'pjjgpgfQpg  ^jg^  ^}^g  place 

itself,  having  shared  the  calamities  which 
befell  the  nation,  afterward  partook  of  its 
benefits;  and  what  was  forsaken  in  the 
wrath  of  the  Almighty  was,  at  the  recon- 
ciliation of  the  great  Sovereign,  restored 
again  with  all  glory. 


I.ater         29^\^fter  two  years  the  king  sent  a  chief 
d^j-fng    of  collectors  of  tribute  to  the  cities  of  Judah, 
and dis-  ^j^q  came  to  Jerusalem  with  a  great  multi- 
tiing  of  tude.     ^"^And  he  spoke  words  of  peace  to 
salem     them  in  perfidy,  and  they  trusted  him  so 
that  he  attacked  the  city  suddenly,  and  in- 
flicted a  severe  blow  on  it,  and  destroyed 
many  people  from  Israel.     ^^And  he  took 
the  spoils  of  the  city,  and  set  it  on  fire,  and 
pulled  down  its  houses  and  walls  on  every 
side,     ^^xhey  took  captive  the  women  and 
the  children,  and  gained  possession  of  the  cat- 
tle.    ^^Then  they  walled  in  the  city  of  Da- 
vid with  a  great  and  strong  wall,  with  strong 
towers,  and  it  served  as  a  citadel.     ^^And 
they  put  there  lawless  people,  impious  men, 
who  fortified  themselves  in  it.     '^'^And  they 
stored  up  weapons  and  food  and,  gathering 
together  the  spoils  of  Jerusalem,  they  stored 
them  there. 

^*And  the  citadel  became  a  great  trap, 
And  served  as  a  place  of  ambush  against  the 
sanctuary, 
And  an  e\'il  adversary  to  Israel  continually. 
^'And  they  shed  innocent  blood  on  every  side  of 
the  sanctuary 
And  polluted  the  sanctuary. 
2*Then  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  fled  because 
of  this, 
And  she  became  the  habitation  of  foreigners; 


2^As  for  Antiochus,  when  he  Succes 
had  carried  away  from  the  giaugh- 
temple  a  thousand  eight  hun-  t^rs 
dred  talents,  he  departed  in  all  Jews 
haste  for  Antioch,  imagining 
in  his  arrogance  that  he  could 
make  the  land  navigable  and 
the  sea  passable  by  foot,  be- 
cause his  heart  was  elated. 
^-Moreover  he  left  governors 
to  afflict  the  race:  at  Jerusa- 
lem, Philip,  by  race  a  Phryg- 
ian, and  in  character  more  bar- 
barous than  he  who  set  him 
there;  ^^and  at  Gerizim,  An- 
dronicus;  and  besides  these, 
Menelaus,  who,  worse  than  all 
the  rest,  bore  himself  inso- 
lently^ toward  his  fellow-citi- 
zens. And  with  a  spirit  hos- 
tile to  the  Jews,  ^^he  sent  that 
arch-villain  Apollonius  with  an 
army  of  twenty-two  thousand, 
and  commanded  him  to  slay 
all  those  who  were  of  mature 
age,  and  to  sell  the  women  and 
the  younger  men.  ^-^And  upon 
his  arrival  at  Jerusalem,  he 
pretended  to  be  a  man  of  peace 


« II  Mac.  5"  Cf.  Mk.  212. 

<i  I  Mac.  126-28  As  frequently  in  descriptive  passages  of  this  character  the  author  falls  into 
poetic  measures,  possibly  quoting  from  a  familiar  elegy. 
»  II  Mac.  5^  Following  Gk.,  Lat.,  Syr.,  and  Theod. 


396 


I  Mac.  138]  THE   SACKING   OF   JERUSALEM         [II  Mac.  525 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

And  she  became   strange   to   those  who  were 
born  in  her, 
And  her  children  forsook  her. 
'*Her  sanctuary  was  laid  waste  like  a  wilderness, 
Her  feasts  were  turned  into  mourning, 
Her  sabbaths  into  a  reproach. 
Her  honor  into  contempt, 
'"So  great  as  was  once  her  glory,  so  now  was  her 
dishonor. 
And  her  exaltation  was  turned  into  mourning. 


Traditional  History 

and  waited  until  the  lioly  sab- 
bath dav.  Then  finding  the 
Jews  at  rest  from  work,  he  com- 
manded his  men  to  parade  in 
arms.  -^And  he  put  to  the 
sword  all  those  who  came 
forth  to  tlic  spectacle;  and 
running  into  tlie  city  with  the 
armed  men,  he  slew  great  mul- 
titudes. 


§  172.  Antiochus's  Measures  to  Root  out  Judaism,  I  Mac.  1"'S  II  Mac.  6*" 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  3Iac.  1  "^^Then  King  Antiochus  wrote 
to  his  whole  kingdom  the  command  that  all 
should  be  one  people,  "^-and  that  each  should 
give  up  his  own  laws.  And  all  the  nations 
acceded  to  the  demand  of  the  king.  '^^jMany 
Israelites  too  consented  to  worship  him  and 
sacrificed  to  the  idols,  and  profaned  the  sab- 
bath. ^"^And  the  king  sent  letters  by  mes- 
sengers to  Jerusalem  and  the  cities  of  Judah 
commanding  them  to  follow  customs  for- 
eign to  the  land,  '^^and  to  prevent  the  making 
of  whole  burnt-offerings  and  sacrifices  and 
libations  in  the  sanctuary,  and  to  profane 
the  sabbaths  and  feasts,  '**^and  pollute  the 
sanctuary  and  the  holy  things,  "^'to  build 
altars,  temples,  and  shrines  for  idols,  and  to 
sacrifice  swine's  flesh  and  unclean  beasts; 
'^^also  to  leave  their  sons  uncircumcised,  to 
stain  their  souls  w  ith  all  manner  of  unclean- 
ness  and  profanation,  ^^so  that  they  might 
forget  the  law,  and  change  all  the  customs. 
^^And  that  whoever  would  not  do  as  the  king 
commanded  should  die.  ^Kphu^  ^^  wrote  to 
his  whole  kingdom;  and  apj)ointed  overseers 
over  all  the  [)eo|)le.  who  commanded  the 
cities  of  Judali  to  sacrifice  city  by  city. 
52Then  many  of  the  people  gathered  to 
them,  every  one  who  had  forsaken  the  law; 
and  they  did  evil  things  in  the  land,  ^^and 


Traditional  History 

II  Mac.  6  ^Not  long  after 
this  the  king  sent  an  aged 
Athenian  to  compel  the  Jews 
to  depart  from  the  laws  of 
their  fathers,  and  to  live  no 
more  after  the  laws  of  God; 
^and  also  to  pollute  the  sanct- 
uary in  Jerusalem,  and  to  call 
it  by  the  name  of  Zeus  Olym- 
pios  and  the  one  in  Gerizim 
by  the  name  of  Zeus  Zenios 
[the  Hospitable],^  for  such  were 
they  who  dwelt  in  the  ])lace. 
'^But  hard  and  utterly  grievous 
was  the  visitation*^  t)f  this  evil. 
^For  the  temple  was  filled  w  ith 
debauchery  and  revellings  by 
the  heathen,  who  dallied  with 
harlots  and  cohabited  with 
women  in  the  sacred  precincts, 
and  moreover  brought  inside 
things  that  were  not  j)r(>per. 
•"^The  altar,  too,  was  filled  with 
unholy  things  prohibited  by 
the  laws. 

^'And  a  man  could  neither 
keep  the  sabbatli,  nor  ob.serve 
the  feasts  of  all  the  fathers,  nor 
so  much  as  confess  himself  to 


PoUu- 
tion 
of  the 
temple 


Prohi- 

hitioii 

n(  all 

•lowisli 

roliK- 

iou.s 

rites 


'  II  Mac.  &  Here  the  hospitahty  of  the  Samaritans  seems  to  be  recognized. 
K  II  .Mac.  G'  Or,  hard  and  yrievous  even  for  the  multiludea. 

397 


I  Mac.  153] 


CAUSES   OF  THE   STRUGGLE 


[II  Mac.  66 


Pollu- 
tion 
of  the 
temple 
and 

destruc- 
tion 
of  the 
books 
of  the 
law 


Murder 
of  those 
faithful 
to  the 
law 


Intro- 
duc- 
tion: 
the  dis- 
cipU- 
nary 
value  of 
mis- 
fortune 


Hisiory  of  the  Hasmoneans 

caused  the  Israelites  to  hide  themselves 
in  all  their  places  of  refuge. 

54Qj^  \\^Q  twenty-fifth  day  of  Chisleu, 
in  the  one  hundred  and  forty-fifth  year,'^ 
they  built  an  abomination  of  desolation^ 
upon  the  altar;  and  in  the  cities  of 
Judah  on  every  side  they  built  idol  altars. 
And  at  the  doors  of  the  houses  and  in 
the  streets  they  burnt  incense,  ^e^j^^j 
tearing  in  pieces  the  books  of  the  law 
which  they  found,  they  set  fire  to  them. 
5''And  wherever  a  book  of  the  covenant 
was  found  in  the  possession  of  anyone, 
and  if  anyone  obeyed  the  law,  the  king's 
sentence  delivered  him  to  death.  58'p}^us 
they  did  in  their  might  month  by  month 
to  those  Israelites  who  happened  to  be 
in  the  cities.  -^^And  on  the  twenty-fifth 
day  of  the  month  they  sacrificed  upon  the 
idol  altar  which  was  upon  the  altar  [of 
God].  60^n(]  tlie  women  who  had  cir- 
cumcised their  children  they  put  to  death 
according  to  the  commtmd.  "^^And  they 
hanged  their  babes  about  their  necks, 
and  destroyed  their  households,  with 
those  who  had  circumcised  them.  ^^But 
many  in  Israel  made  strong  resolutions 
not  to  eat  unclean  things,  •^^dioosing  to 
die  that  they  might  not  be  defiled  with 
the  meats,  and  might  not  profane  the 
holy  covenant.  So  they  died.  And  ex- 
ceedingly great  woe  came  upon  Israel. 


Traditional  History 

be  a  Jew.  ''But  on  the  king's 
birthday,^  every  month,  they  were 
led  along  under  bitter  constraint 
to  the  sacrificial  meal,  and  when 
the  feast  of  [Bacchus]  Dionysia 
came,  they  were  compelled  to 
go  in  procession  in  honor  of 
Dionysos,  wearing  wreaths  of 
ivy.  ^A  decree  was  also  issued 
to  the  neighboring  Greek  cities, 
at  the  suggestion  of  Ptolemy, 
that  they  should  act  in  the  same 
way  against  the  Jews,  and  should 
have  sacrificial  meals,  ^and  should 
slay  those  who  did  not  choose  to 
go  over  to  the  Greek  rites.  Any- 
one then  could  see  what  misery 
had  arisen,  ^"^for  two  women  were 
brought  up  for  having  circum- 
cised their  children;  and  these, 
when  they  had  led  them  pub- 
licly round  about  the  city,  with 
the  babes  hung  on  their  breasts, 
they  cast  down  headlong  from 
the  wall.  ^^And  others  who  had 
hastily  gathered  in  the  caves 
near  by  to  keep  the  seventh  day 
secretly,  being  betrayed  to  Philip, 
were  all  burnt  together,  because 
they  scrupled  to  defend  them- 
selves, out  of  regard  for  the 
honor  of  that  most  holy  day. 


§  173.  The  Martyrs  for  the  Law,  II  Mac.  6>2-7" 
Traditional  History  of  the  Maccahean  Struggle 

II  Mac.  6  i"I  beseech  therefore  those  who  read  this  book,  not  to  be  dis- 
couraged because  of  the  misfortunes,  but  to  consider  that  these  punishments 
were  not  for  the  destruction,  but  for  the  training  of  our  race.  ^^Yov  it  is  a 
sign  of  great  beneficence  when  the  ungodly  are  not  let  alone  any  length  of 

h  I  Mac.  l'-^  Dec,  168  B.C.     Cf.  452.  59.     go  Josephus. 

>  I  Mac.  \^  Cf.  Dan.  usi,  12",  9-^  Matt.  24i5,  Mk.  13".  Probably  an  altar  to  Zeus,  called, 
Lord  of  heaven  (Shdmtu),  here  designated  by  a  play  on  the  title  as,  abomination  of  desolation 
(ShokuQ  Meshomern). 

J  II  Mac.  6''  Grimm  suggests  that  the  author  has  here  confused  the  annual  birthday  with 
the  monthly  sacrifice.     Cf.  II  Mac.  1"'^. 

§  173  While  these  stories  have  probably  been  magnified  in  transmission  and  are  clearly 
adapted  by  the  author  of  the  book  to  his  didactic  aims,  they  undoubtedly  embody  many  au- 
thentic historical  facts  and  give  a  vivid  idea  of  the  intensity  of  the  crisis  and  the  powerful 
influences  which  gave  Judaism  its  final  form. 

398 


THE   MARTYRS   FOR   THE    LAW         [H  Mac.  G^^ 

Traditional  History  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle 

time,  but  quickly  meet  with  retribution.  ^^While  indeed  in  the  case  of  the 
other  nations  the  Sovereign  Lord  patiently  waits,  and  punishes  only  when 
they  have  attained  to  the  full  measure  of  sins,  he  decided  that  it  should  not  be 
so  in  our  case,  ^^that  he  might  not  take  vengeance  on  us  afterward,  when  we 
had  reached  the  limit  of  our  sins.  ^^'Therefore  he  never  withdraws  his  mercy 
from  us;  though  he  disciplines  with  misfortunes,  he  does  not  forsake  his  own 
people.  ^'But  let  what  we  have  said  suffice  as  a  reminder;  with  this  short 
digression  we  must  proceed  to  the  narrative. 

^^Eleazar,  one  of  the  principal  scribes,  a  man  already  advanced  in  years  Su- 
and  of  a  most  noble  countenance,  was  compelled  to  open  his  mouth  to  eat  jev"-^ 
swine's  flesh.  ^^But  he,  welcoming  death  with  renown  rather  than  life  w-ith  tjon  of 
pollution,  spat  it  out  and  advanced  of  his  own  accord  to  the  instrument  of  aged 
torture,'^  -'^as  men  ought  to  come  who  are  resolute  to  repel  such  things  as  it  '^^^''^^^' 
is  unlawful  to  taste  for  the  mere  love  of  life.  -^Hiut  those  who  had  charge 
of  the  forbidden  sacrificial  meal,  on  account  of  their  old-time  acquaintance 
with  the  man,  took  him  aside  and  privately  besought  him  to  bring  flesh  of 
his  own  providing,  such  as  was  proper  for  him  to  use,  and  to  pretend  to 
eat  of  the  flesh  from  the  sacrifice,  as  had  been  commanded  by  the  king,  --that 
by  so  doing  he  might  be  delivered  from  death,  and  through  his  old  friend- 
ship with  them  might  receive  kind  treatment.  -'^But  he,  having  formed  a 
high  resolve,  and  one  that  became  his  years  and  the  dignity  of  old  age  and 
the  gray  hairs  wdiich  he  had  reached  Avith  honor,  and  the  noble  life  which  he 
had  lived'  from  his  youth,  but  still  more  the  holy  laws  of  God's  ordaining, 
declared  his  mind  accordingly,  promptly  bidding  them  send  him  to  Hades. 
2'^For  it  becomes  not  our  years  to  dissemble,  said  he,  that  thereby  many  of 
the  young  should  suppose  that  Eleazar,  a  man  ninety  years  old,  had  gone 
over  to  an  alien  religion,  ^''and  .so  they. by  reason  of  my  dissimidation  and 
for  the  sake  of  this  brief  and  momentary  life,  should  be  led  astray  through 
me,  and  I  bring  a  stain  and  pollution  upon  my  old  age.  ^ep^j.  gygn  if  for 
the  present  I  shall  be  freed  from  the  punishment  of  men,  yet  shall  I  not  es- 
cape the  hands  of  the  Almighty,  whether  living  or  dead.  -'Therefore,  by 
manfully  parting  with  my  life  now,  I  will  show  myself  worthy  of  my  old  age, 
28and  leave  behind  a  noble  example  to  the  young  to  die  willingly  and  nobly 
a  glorious  death  for  the  sacred  and  holy  laws.  And  when  he  had  said  these 
words,  he  went  immediately  to  the  instnmient  of  torture.  -^But  those  who  led 
him  changed  the  good-will  they  bore  him  a  little  while  before  into  ill-will,  be- 
cause these  words  of  his  were,  as  they  thought,  sheer  madness.  ^^When  he  was 
about  to  die  from  the  blows,  he  groaned  aloud  and  said.  To  the  Lord,  who  hath 
the  holy  knowledge,  it  is  manifest  that,  whereas  I  might  have  been  delivered 
from  death,  I  endure  grievous  pains  in  my  body  by  being  scourged;  but  in  my 
soul  I  gladly  suffer  these  things  for  fear  of  him.  ^igo,  then,  in  such  a  manner 
did  this  man  die,  leaving  his  cleath  as  an  example  of  nobleness  and  a  memorial 
of  virtue  not  only  to  the  young  but  also  to  the  great  body  of  his  nation. 


''  6'»  The  exact  nature  of  the  instrument  of  torture  is  not  known.     It  was  probably  some 
wheel-shaped  instrument  on  which  the  victim  was  stretched  and  then  beaten. 
'  023  Restoring  what  appears  to  have  been  the  original  text. 

399 


II  Mac.  7I]     CAUSES  OF  THE  MACCABEAN  STRUGGLE 

Traditional  Histonj  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle 

Volun-        7  ^It  came  to  pass  also  that  seven  brothers,  together  with  their  mother, 
martyr-  were  at  the  king's  command  seized  and  tortured  with  scourges  and  cords, 
(Join  of  to  compel  them  to  taste  of  the  abominable  swine's  flesh.     ^^\\i  one  of  them 
broth-    acting  as  spokesman  said,  What  would  you  ask  and  learn  of  us  ?     For  we 
death     ^^^  ready  to  die  rather  than  transgress  the  laws  of  our  fathers.     ^Then  the 
of  the     king  fell  into  a  rage  and  gave  orders  to  heat  pans  and  caldrons.     "^And  as 
soon  as  these  were  heated,  he  gave  orders  to  cut  out  the  tongue  of  him  who 
had  been  their  spokesman,  and  to  scalp  him"^  and  to  cut  off  his  extremities, 
while  the  rest  of  his  brothers  and  his  mother  were  looking  on.     ^And  when 
he  was  completely  mutilated,  but  still  breathing,   [the  king]  ordered  him 
brought  to  the  fire  and  fried  in  the  pan.     As  the  vapor  from  the  pan  spread 
far,  they  and  their  mother  exhorted  one  another  to  die  nobly,  speaking  thus: 
^The  Lord  God  beholdeth,  and  in  truth  hath  compassion  upon  us,  as  Moses 
declared  in  his  song,  which  witnessed  against  them   openly,  saying,  '  And 
he  shall  have  compassion  upon  his  servants. '"^ 
Of  the        '^ After  the  first  had  died  in  this  manner,  they  brought  the  second  to  the 
seconc     jjiQcl^ii^gjo  q^^  tearing  from  his  head  the  skin  with  the  hair,  they  asked 
him.  Will  you  eat  before  your  body  bears  the  penalty  in  every  hmb .''     ^But 
he  answered  in  the  language  of  his  fathers  and  said  to  them,  No.     Therefore 
he  also,  hke  the  first,  underwent  the  torture  that  followed.     ^And  when  he 
was  at  the  last  gasp  he  said.  You,  indeed, °  wretch,  release  us  from  this  present 
life,  but  th§  King  of  the  world  shall  raise  up  us,  who  have  died  for  his  laws, 
to  an  eternal  renewal  of  life. 
Of  the        ^0\fjgj.  iiijji  t}^g  third  was  made  an  object  of  mocking.     And  when  bidden, 
*  ^^        he  promptly  put  out  his  tongue,  and  stretched  forth  his  hands  courageously, 
^^and  nobly  said.  From  HeavenP  I  have  received  these,  and  for  the  sake  of 
his  laws  I  contemn  them,  and  from  him  I  hope  to  receive  them  back  again; 
^^so  that  the  king  himself  and  those  who  were  him  were  astonished  at  the 
young  man's  spirit,  for  he  did  not  at  all  regard  the  pain. 
Of  the        ^^When  he  too  was  dead,  they  maltreated  and  tortured  the  fourth  in  like 
^fourth    j^^anner.     ^^And  as  he  was  at  the  point  of  death  he  spoke  thus:  It  is  pleas- 
ing to  us  when  we  die  at  the  hands  of  men  to  look  for  the  hopes  which  are 
from  God,  that  we  shall  be  raised  up  again  by  him.     For  you,  however, 
there  shall  be  no  resurrection  to  life. 
Of  the        ^^x\nd  next  after  him  they  brought  the  fifth,  and  maltreated  him.     ^®But 
he  looked  at  the  king*^  and  said,  Because  you  have  authority  among  men, 
though    only  mortal   yourself,  you    do   what   you   will;   yet   think  not  that 
our  race  has  been  forsaken  by  God.      ^^Persist  in  your  course,  and  you 
shall  behold  how  his  sovereign  power  will  torture  you  and  your  descend- 
ants ! 


™  7*  The  Greek  word  means,  to  scalp  in  Scythian  fashion   ef.  '. 

■•  1^  The  author  here  follows  the  Gk.  of  Dt.  32^. 

°  T'  The  mocking  referred  to  seems  to  have  been  a  regular  practice  before  execution. 
Cf.  Mt.  2729,  Heh.  ll'». 

p  7"  Heaven  here  as  in  I  Mac.  is  clearly  used  as  a  substitute  for  the  name  of  the  Deity. 
Cf.  §  169,  note  ^. 

1  7""  The  Gk.  has  only,  him,  where  king  must  be  supplied. 

400 


THE    INIARTYRS   FOR   THE   LAW         [II  Mac.  7i8 
Traditional  History  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle 

i^And  after  him  they  brought  the  sixth.     And  when  lie  was  about  to  die  Of  the 
he  said,  Be  not  vainly  deceived,  for  we  suffer  these  things  for  our  own  doings,  ®'^*^ 
because  we  have  sinned  against  our  own  God.     On  this  account  are  such 
mar\-ellous  things  come  to  pass.     ^^But  think  not  that  you  who  have  at- 
tempted to  fight  against  God  shall  be  unpunished. 

20But  above  all  was  the  mother  marvellous  and  worthy  of  an  honored  Brave 
memorv';  for  when  she  looked  on  seven  sons  perishing  within  the  space  of  ta^""^' 


tation 


one  day,  she  bore  it  with  a  good  courage  because  of  her  hope  in  the  Lord,  of  ^^e 
-^She  exhorted  each  one  of  them  in  the  language  of  their  fathers,  filled  with  "^° 
a  noble  temper  and  stirring  up  her  woman's  thought  with  manly  passion, 
saying  to  them,  --I  know  not  how  you  came  into  my  womb,  neither  was  it 
I  who  bestowed  on  you  your  spirit  or  your  hfe,  and  it  was  not  I  who  brought 
into  order  the  elementary  substance  of  each  of  you.  ^S'pj^gj.^fQj.^^  ^|jg  Creator 
of  the  world,  by  whose  fashioning  man  came  into  being  and  by  whose -devising 
all  things  were  made,  wilK  in  mercy  give  back  to  you  again  both  your  spirit 
and  your  hfe,  as  you  now  contemn  your  own  selves  for  the  sake  of  his  laws. 
^■*But  Antiochus  thinking  that  he  was  despised,  and  suspecting  the  reproachful 
voice,  while  the  youngest  was  yet  alive,  not  only  urged  with  words,  but  also 
promised  with  oaths  that  he  would  make  him  rich  and  to  be  envied  as  well, 
if  he  would  turn  from  the  customs  of  his  fathers,  and  that  he  would  take  him 
for  his  Friend  and  intrust  him  with  affairs.  ^^But  as  the  young  man  gave 
no  heed,  the  king  summoned  his  mother,  and  exhorted  her  that  she  should 
counsel  the  lad  to  save  himself.  26\f{^gj.  j^g  j^^^j  exhorted  her  with  many 
words,  she  undertook  to  j)ersuade  her  son.  ^^But  beirding  toward  him,  in 
mockery  of  the  cruel  tyrant,  she  spoke  thus  in  the  language  of  her  fathers: 
My  son,  have  pity  on  me  who  carried  you  nine  months  in  my  w'omb,  and 
gave  you  suck  three  years,  and  nourishing  and  training  you,  reared  you  up 
to  this  age.  -^^I  beseech  you,  my  child,  to  look  upon  the  heaven  and  the  earth, 
and  see  all  things  w'hich  are  therein,  and  recognize  that  God  made  them 
not  of  things  which  were,  and  that  so  also  the  race  of  men  has  come  into 
being.  -^Fear  not  this  executioner,  but,  proving  yourself  worthy  of  your 
brothers,  accept  your  death,  that  in  the  mercy  of  God  I  may  receive  you 
again  with  your  brothers. 

^'^As  soon  as  she  had  finished  speaking,  the  young  man  said.  For  whom  are  Fidelity 
you  waiting  ?     I  obey  not  the  command  of  the  king,  but  I  hearken  to  the  yo„ng. 
command  of  the  law  which  was  given  to  our  fathers  through  Moses.     ^^But  est  son 
you,  who  have  devised  all  manner  of  evil  against  the  Hebrews,  shall  in  no 
wise  escape  the  hands  of  God.     "^-For  we  are  suffering  because  of  our  own 
sins;  •^•^and  if  for  reproof  and  discipline  our  living  Lord  hath  been  angered 
a  little  while,  yet  shall  he  again  be  reconciled  with  his  own  servants.     "^4Jut 
you,  O  unholy  man  and  of  all  men  most  vile,  be  not  in  your  wild  pride  vainly 
lifted  up  with  uncertain  hopes,  raising  your  hand  against   tlie  cliildrcii  of 
Heaven;  -^^for  not  yet  have  you  escaped  the  judgment  of  tlie  Almighty  God 

'  7^  Some  manuscripts  have  the  present  here  instead  of  the  future.     The  context  favors 
the  latter. 

401 


II  Mac.  735]    CAUSES  OF  THE  MACCABEAN  STRUGGLE 

Traditional  History  of  the  Maccabean  Struggle 

who  keepeth  watch.  ^Gp^j.  tl^gse  our  brothers  having  endured  a  brief  agony 
which  brings  everlasting  Hfe,''  have  now  died  under  God's  covenant;  but 
you  through  the  judgment  of  God,  shall  receive  just  punishment  for  your 
arrogance,  ^/g^^  j^  jjj^g  j^y  brothers,  give  up  both  body  and  soul  for  the 
laws  of  our  fathers,  calling  upon  God  that  he  may  become  speedily  gracious 
to  the  nation;  and  that  you  amidst  trials  and  plagues  may  confess  that  he 
alone  is  God;  ^S^nd  that  in  me  and  in  my  brothers  the  wrath  of  the  Almighty 
which  has  been  justly  brought  upon  our  whole  race  may  be  stayed.*  39'p]^gj.g_ 
upon  the  king,  falling  into  a  rage,  treated  him  worse  than  all  the  rest,  being 
exasperated  at  his  mocking.  ^^So  he  also  died  pure  from  pollution,  putting 
his  whole  trust  in  the  Lord.     '^^And  last  of  all  after  her  sons  the  mother  died. 

Conclu-      "^-Let  this  now  suffice  which  has  been  said  concerning  the  sacrificial  meals 

^^°"       and  the  extreme  tortures. 

§  174.  The  Uprising  of  Mattathias  and  his  Sons,  I  Mac.  2^-^^ 
History  of  the  Hasmoneans  * 

Family  I  Mac.  2  ^At  that  time  arose  Mattathias  the  son  of  John  the  son  of 
Matt  a-  Simeon,  a  priest  of  the  sons  of  Joarib,^  from  Jerusalem;  and  he  dwelt  in 
thias      Modein.     ^^nd  he  had  five  sons,  John,  who  was  surnamed  Gaddis,"^  ^gj^^on, 

who  was  called  Thassi,  ■* Judas,  who  was  called  Maccabeus,^^  ^li^leazar,  who 

was  called  Avaran,  Jonathan,  who  was  called  Apphus. 
His  ^When  he  saw  the  sacrilegious  acts  that  were  being  committed  in  Judah 

o^'er"     ^iid  i^  Jerusalem,  ^he  said, 

the  fate 

and'  ^  Woe  to  me !    Why  was  I  born 

people  To  see  the  ruin  of  my  people, 

And  the  niin  of  the  holy  city,'' 
And  to  dwell  there  while  it  was  being  given  into  the  hands  of  the  foe, 

The  sanctuary  into  the  liands  of  foreigners? 
^The  temple  has  become  as  though  it  had  no  glory,'' 

Its  glorious  vessels  have  been  carried  into  capti\ity. 
^Her  children  have  been  slain  in  the  streets. 

Her  young  men  by  the  sword  of  the  enemy. 
^"What  people  has  not  taken  possession  of  her  palace, 
And  seized  upon  her  spoils  ? 

'  7^  Lit.,  agony  of  everlasting  life.  Hort  conjectures  that  the  original  read,  having  en- 
dured a  short  agony,  have  now  drunk  of  everflowing  life. 

t  738  Following  the  reading  of  many  important  texts.     RV,  that  thou  7nayest  stay  the  wrath. 

§  174  II  Mac.  says  nothing  of  Mattathias.  Po.ssibly  his  act  was  recorded  in  one  of  the 
sections  in  Jason's  hi.story  omitted  by  the  epitomizer.     Judas  is  introduced  abruptly  in  5-'. 

"  2'  Cf.  1  Chr.  24'. 

^  2-  The  meaning  of  these  secondary  names  is  not  clear.  Torrey.  in  Ency.  Bib.,  Ill,  2851, 
suggests  that  they  were  the  names  given  at  birth,  while  those  by  which  they  were  commonly 
known,  are  the  ones  which  they  later  received  as  ijrinces  of  the  Jewish  people. 

"  2*  The  popular  interpretation,   Hammer,  is  doubtful. 

^  2'  The  poetic  parallelism  of  this  veise  anrl  the  following  is  evident.  The  rhythm 
seems  to  have  been  that  commonly  used  in  songs  of  lamentation:  a  long  line  followed  by  a 
shorter  one,  as  in  Lam.,  thus  giving  the  effect  of  a  wail.  The  thought  is  clearly  parallel  to 
that  of  Lam.  and  such  Pss.  as  74  and  79. 

"  2*  The  Gk.  te.xts  have  a  different  reading  which  is  not  in  accord  with  the  context.  The 
above  is  based  upon  a  restoration  of  the  Heb.  suggested  by  Torrey.  Syr.,  The  temple  was  before 
as  a  man  in  glory. 

402 


THE   UPRISING   OF   MATTATIIIAS         [I  Mac.  2^^ 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

*^A11  her  adornments  have  been  taken  away, 

From  freedom  she  has  been  reduced  to  slavery. 
*-And  now  our  lioly  thin<js,  our  beauty  and  our  glory  have  been  laid  waste. 

And  tlie  heathen  have  poUuted  them. 
"Why  should  we  still  live.'' 

^^And  Mattathias  and  his  son  tore  their  clothes,  and  put  on  sackcloth,  and 
mourned  bitterly. 

^^Now  the  king's  officers  who  were  enforcinf];  the  apostasy,  came  into  the  His  re- 
city  of  ^lodein  to  sacrifice.     ^*^And  many  of  Israel  went  over  to  them,  but  fofioV" 
Mattathias    and   his   sons   offered   resistance.^     ^"Then    the  king's   officers  t'*'' 
said  to  ^lattathias.  You  are  a  ruler  and  a  man  honored  in  this  city  and  mands 
strengthened    by  sons    and    brothers.     ^*^Now  therefore    come  first  and  do  "^iiti- 
what  the  king  commands,  as  all  the  nations  have  done,  the  men  of  Judah  "chus 
too,  with  those  who  remain  in  Jerusalem.     Then  you  and  your  house  shall 
be  in  the  number  of  the  king's  Friends,*'  and  you  and  your  sons  shall  be 
honored  with   silver  and  gold  and  many  gifts.     ^^But  Mattathias  replied 
with  a  loud  voice,  If  all  the  nations  included  in  the  king's  dominion*^^  obey 
him,  in  that  each  is  untrue  to  the  worship  of  his  fathers  and  chooses  to  follow 
his  command,  -^yet  I  and  ray  sons  and  my  brothers  will  walk  in  the  cov- 
enant made  with  our  fathers. '  ^ijjgaven  forbid  that  we  should  forsake  the 
law  and  the  ordinances.     ^-We  will  not  listen  to  the  king's  words,  to  go  aside 
from  our  w^orship,  either  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left. 

23And  when  he  had  finished  saying  these  things  a  Jew  came  in  sight  of  all  His  hot 
to  sacrifice  on  the  altar  that  was  in  Modein  according  to  the  king's  command.  ^^Ltwn 
2'*When  jNIattathias  saw  it  his  zeal  was  kindled  and  he  trembled  inwardly,  ^i'"' 
And    he    let    his    anger    take    possession    of    him,    as    was    right,    and    he  resist- 
ran  and  slew  him  upon  the  altar.     ^^Also  he  killed  at  that  time  the  king's 
officer,  who  was  compelling  men  to  sacrifice,  and  pulled  down  the  altar. 
^^Thus  he  showed  his  zeal  for  the  law,  just  as  Phinehas  did  in  the  case  of 
Zimri  the  son  of  Salu.°     -''Then  ^Fattathias   cried  out  in  the  city  with  a 
loud  voice,  saying,  Whoever  is  zealous  for  the  law  and  will  maintain  the 
covenant,  -^let  him  follow  me.     And  he  and  his  sons  fled  into  the  moun- 
tains, and  left  behind  all  that  they  had  in  the  city. 

§  175.  The  Fortunes  of  the  Fugitives,  I  Mac.  g^"  <«,  II  Mac.  5",  8'-' 


auce 


History  of  tfie  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  3  29Xhen  many  who  sought  justice  and 
right  went  down  into  the  wilderness,  "^^to  dwell  there 
with  their  sons  and  wives  and  cattle,  because  the  evils 
were  becoming  ever  harder  for  them  to  bear.  '^^And  it 
was  reported  to  the  king's  officers  and  to  the  forces  that 


Traditional  His- 
tory 

II  3Iac.  5  27n„t  Hard- 
Judas,  who  is  also  ^nd^ 

called  Maccabeus,  fl^i'iKJi- 

...  .        ter  of 

With    about    nme  the 

others     withdrew  ,1'.^'" 


IVOS 


•>  2"  Ok.,i/'cr^;  ijtithereil  tofieUicr.  Imt  a  Hhsht  emendation  nixes  (lie  above. 
«  2'"  The  A-i'wr/'s  Friends  const  itntod  a  favored  class  in  tlie  state. 
^  2"  Lit.,  in  the  house  of  the  kinydom. 
•  2^  Cf.  Num.  25«-8. 

403 


I  Mac.  ^231]  CAUSES  OF  THE   STRUGGLE 

History  of  the  Hasmoncans 


were  in  Jerusalem,  the  city  of  David,  that  certain  men, 
who  had  broken  the  king's  command  had  gone  down 
into  the  hiding  places  in  the  wilderness.  ^^gQ  niany 
pursued  after  them,  and  having  overtaken  them  en- 
camped against  them,  and  drew  up  the  line  of  battle 
against  them  on  the  sabbath  day.  ^^And  they  said  to 
them.  Things  have  gone  far  enough,^  now  come  forth 
and  obey  the  command  of  the  king  and  you  shall  live. 
3^But  they  said.  We  will  not  come  forth,  neither  will  we 
do  as  the  king  commands,  to  profane  the  sabbath  day. 
^^Then  they  at  once  offered  them  battle.  ^''But  they 
made  no  resistance,^  neither  did  they  cast  a  stone  at 
them,  nor  stop  up  the  places  of  concealment,  for  they 
said.  Let  us  all  die  in  our  innocency:  3' let  heaven  and 
earth  bear  witness  for  us,  that  you  put  us  to  death  un- 
justly. 3^Then  they  rose  up  against  them  in  battle  on 
the  sabbath,  and  thus  they  died  with  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren and  cattle,  to  the  number  of  a  thousand  souls. 


Their 
later 
success- 
ful 

armed 
resist- 
ance 


[II  Mac.  527 

Traditional   His- 
tory 

into  the  wilder- 
ness.^ He  and 
h  i  s  companions 
kept  themselves 
alive  in  the  moun- 
tains after  the 
manner  of  wild 
beasts.  And  they 
subsisted  con- 
stantly on  a  diet 
of  herbs  to  avoid 
participating  in 
the  pollution. 


^^When  Mattathias  and  his  friends 
knew  it  they  mourned  bitterly  over  them. 
^^And  they  said  to  each  other,  If  we  all  do 
as  our  brothers  have  done,  and  do  not 
fight  against  the  heathen  for  our  lives  and 
our  customs,  they  will  now  quickly  de- 
stroy us  from  off  the  earth.  "^^So  they 
took  counsel  that  day,  saying.  Whoever 
shall  come  against  us  for  battle  on  the  sab- 
bath day,  let  us  fight  against  him,  and  we 
will  by  no  means  all  die,  as  our  brothers 
died  in  the  hiding  places.  ■*"Then  there 
gathered  together  to  them  a  company  of 
Hasideans,*  brave  men  of  Israel,  every 
one  who  offered  himself  willingly  for  the 
law^  ^^And  all  who  fled  from  the  evils 
were  added  to  them,  and  strengthened 
them. 

^*And  they  mustered  a  host, 
And  smote  the  sinners  in  their  anger 
And  the  lawless  in  their  wrath. 


8  ^But  Judas  who  is  also  called 
Maccabeus,  and  his  companions, 
making  their  way  secretly  into 
the  villages  summoned  their  kins- 
men and,  attaching  to  themselves 
those  who  had  continued  in  the 
Jewish  religion,  gathered  to- 
gether as  many  as  six  thousand. 
^And  they  called  on  the  Lord,  to 
look  mercifully  upon  the  people 
wdio  were  oppressed  by  all,  and 
to  have  compassion  on  the  sanct- 
uary which  had  been  profaned 
by  the  ungodly  men,  ^and  to 
have  pity  on  the  city  which  was 
suffering  ruin  and  would  soon  be 
levelled  to  the  ground;  also  to 
hearken  to  the  blood  which  cried 
to  him,  ^and  to  remember  the  un- 
righteous slaughter  of  the  inno- 
cent children,  and  the  sacrilegious 


'  II  Mac.  5-^  So  Gk.,  Syr.,  and  Lat.  Into  the  wilderness  is,  however,  omitted  in  many  Gk. 
texts. 

e  I  Mac.  2^  Lit.,  Th^/s  far,  i.e.,  things  have  gone  far  enough. 

•>  I  Mac.  236  Lit.,  nnsicered  not. 

'  I  Mac.  2^  Or,  A  sidenns  or,  Chasidim,  the  pious,  the  devotees  of  the  law,  who  later  crystal- 
lized into  the  party  of  the  Pharisees.     Cf.  also  7'^. 


404 


I  Mac.  2^^]  FORTUNES   OF   THE    FUGITIVES  [II  Mac.  8^ 


History  of  the  Ha&moneans 

And  the  rest  fled  to  the  heathen  for  safe- 
ty. '^^Also  Mattathias  and  his  friends 
went  about  and  pulled  down  the  altars, 
^^and  circumcised  by  force  the  children 
who  were  uncircumcised,  as  many  as  they 
found  in  the  territory  of  Israel.  "^"Thus 
they  pursued  the  sons  of  arrogance,J  and 
the  work  prospered  in  their  hand.  "^^They 
took  the  direction  of  affairs  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  heathen  and  of  the  kings, 
nor  did  they  yield  ground  to  the  sinner. 


Traditional  History 

acts  that  had  been  committed 
against  his  name;  and  to  show 
his  hatred  of  wickedness.  ^Xs 
soon  as  Maccabeus  had  an  or- 
ganized army,  the  heathen  at 
once  found  him  irresistible,  for 
the  wrath  of  the  Lord  was 
changed  into  mercy.  ^(^Qmiijg 
unawares  he  set  fire  to  cities  and 
villages.  And  he  won  back  the 
most  important  positions,  putting 
to  flight  great  numbers  of  the 
enemy.  For  such  assaults  he 
especially  took  advantage  of  the 
heights.''  And  reports  of  his 
courage  spread  abroad  every- 
where. 


§  176.  Death  of  Mattathias,  I  Mac.  2<«-'« 
History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  3Iac.  2  ■*9When  the  time  approached  for  Mattathias  to  die  he  said  to  his 
sons,  Now  insolence  and  insult  have  grown  strong,  and  a  period  of  reversals 
has  come,  with  flaming  wrath. 

'"Now,  my  sons,  be  zealous  for  the  law, 

And  give  your  lives  for  the  covenant  of  your  fathers. 
''And  remember  the  deeds  which  your  forefatliers  did  in  their  generations; 

And  win  great  glory  and  everlasting  fame. 
'^Was  not  Al)raham  found  faithful  wlicii  tested  ? 

And  it  was  c-ountcd  to  him  as  righteousness. 
'^Joseph  in  the  time  of  his  distress  kept  the  commandment, 

And  became  lord  of  Egypt. 
'*Phinchas  our  father,  because  he  was  so  zealous. 

Received  the  covenant  of  an  everlasting  priesthood. 
"Joshua  for  carrying  out  the  word  of  God, 

Became  a  judge  in  Israel. 
''Caleb  for  bearing  witness  in  the  congregation, 

Obtiiined  a  heritage  in  the  land. 
"David  for  being  merciful. 

Inherited  a  kingly  throne  for  ever  and  ever. 
'^Elijah  liecause  lie  was  so  zealous  for  the  law. 

Was  taken  up  into  heaven. 
"Hananiah,  Azariah,  Mishael  believed, 

And  were  rescued  from  the  Harae. 
'"Daniel  l)ecause  of  his  innocence. 

Was  delivered  from  the  mouth  of  lions. 


Fare- 
well 
exhor- 
tation 
of 

Matta- 
thias 


i  I  Mac.  2''  Lit.,  sons  of  pride. 

''  II  Mac.  8"  Following  Gk.A  and   several   MSS.     Another   reading  is,  seized   convenient 
places,  i.e.,  those  adapted  to  his  strategic  plans. 

405 


I  Mac.  261     CAUSES  OF  THE  IVIACCABEAN  STRUGGLE 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

^^And  thus  consider  from  generation  to  generation 

None  who  put  their  trust  in  hmi  ever  want  strength. 
^^Then  be  not  afraid  of  the  w^ords  of  a  sinful  man; 

For  his  glory  shall  be  dung  and  worms. 
^^To-day  he  is  exalted,  but  to-morrow  he  cannot  be  found, 

Because  he  has  returned  to  dust,  and  the  memory  of  him  has  perished. 
^*Then  my  sons  be  strong,  and  show  yourselves  men  in  behalf  of  the  law; 

So  doing  you  shall  obtain  glory. 

His  ap-  ^^And,  behold,  Simon  your  brother,  I  know  that  he  is  a  man  of  counsel; 

point-  Obey  him  always;    let  him  be  your  adviser. 

Simon  '''Judas  Maccabeus,  too,  he  has  been  a  man  of  war  from  his  youth; 

and  He  shall  be  your  captain,  and  fight  the  battle  of  the  people. 

Judas  '''And  take  to  yourselves  all  law-abiding  men, 

And  avenge  the  wrong  of  your  people. 
^^Render  a  recompense  to  the  heathen. 

And  give  heed  to  the  commands  of  the  law. 

His  69'p}j^g  jjg  blessed  them  and  was  gathered  to  his  fathers.     '^^And  he  died 

and        in  the  one  hundred  and  forty-sixth  year,  and  his  sons  buried  him  in  the  sepul- 
burial     chres  of  his  fathers  at  ^lodein,  and  all  Israel  made  a  great  lamentation  for 
him. 

n 

THE    WARS    AND    ACHIE\T:MENTS    OF   JUDAS    ^L\CCABEUS, 

I  Mac.  3-9,  II  Mac.  SS-M^e 

§  177.  Judas's  Victory  over  Apollonius  and  Seron,  I  Mac.  3'-^* 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Cour-  I  Mac.  3  ^Then  his  son  Judas,  who  was  called  INIaccabeus,  rose  up  in 

prow-     his  place.     2\n(l  all  his  brothers  helped  him,  as  did  all  those  who  had  sup- 
ess  and  ported  his  father,  and  they  fought  w  ith  gladness  the  battle  of  Israel. 

deeds  of ■ 

Judas  .j-j^g  Wars  and  Achievements  of  Judas. — The  brief  period  from  167  to  161  B.C.  was  the 

most  active  and  dramatic  in  Israelitish  liistory.  It  witnessed  five  great  victories,  in  each  of 
which  the  fortunes  of  the  Jews  hung  in  the  balance.  Poorlj-  armed,  ill-organized,  and  unaccus- 
tomed to  war,  the  .Tews  faced  large  armies  containing  some  of  the  best  equipped  and  trained  sol- 
diers of  the  age.  They  won  because  they  were  banded  together  in  a  last  desperate  struggle  for 
their  lives,  their  homes,  and  their  religion,  while  their  foes  were  inspired  by  no  patriotic  or  noble 
motives,  but  for  the  most  part  were  simply  mercenaries.  Above  all,  the  Jews  had  at  their  head 
one  of  the  bravest,  most  unselfish,  and  able  leaders  of  antiquity.  He  always  chose  battle-fields 
in  which  natural  conditions  greatly  favored  the  defenders.  By  an  appeal  to  their  faith  and  pa- 
triotism and  by  his  own  personal  magnetism,  Judas  welded  his  followers  together  as  one  man  and 
then  suddenly,  like  a  thunder-bolt,  launched  them  against  their  enemies.  On  the  same  battle- 
fields— the  deep,  narrow  valleys  which  led  up  from  the  western  coast  plain  to  the  Judean  high- 
lands— Judas  eclipsed  the  ancient  victories  of  David  against  the  Philistines.  History  repeated 
itself.  The  spirit  of  that  early  heroic  age  was  revived.  1  and  H  Mac,  like  1  Sam.,  recount  the 
old  inspiring  story  of  right,  represented  by  a  few  brave,  un.selfish  men,  successful  against  proud, 
confident  injustice  and  tyranny.  In  less  than  a  decade  Judas  and  his  brothers  transformed  the 
weak,  j'ielding  .Jews  into  a  powerful  factor  in  the  politics  of  the  East  and  laid  the  foundations  of 
the  Maccabean  kingdom,  which  in  extent  and  wealth  ultimately  equalled  that  of  David.  Above 
all  they  established  the  freedom  of  religious  worship,  which  the  heathen  never  again  seriously 
attempted  to  take  away  from  the  .lews. 

§  177  The  panegyric  with  which  the  account  of  Judas's  wars  opens  recalls  David's  tribute 
to  Saul  and  Jonathan  at  their  death  (cf.  especially.  His  memory  is  blessed  forever).  The  form  is 
highly  poetical.  It  may  be  from  the  author  of  I  Mac,  whose  loyalty  and  devotion  it  well  ex- 
presses, or  may  com.e  from  a  popular  song  of  praise  and  lamentation  over  the  departed  hero. 

406 


VICTORY  OVER  APOLLONIUS  AND  SERON    [I  Mac.  33 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

^He  spread  far  and  wide  the  fame  of  his  glory, 

And  put  on  his  breastplate  Uke  a  giant. 

And  girded  on  his  weapons  of  war, 

And  set  battles  in  array, 

Protecting  the  army  with  his  sword. 
*He  was  like  a  lion  in  his  deeds. 

And  as  a  lion's  whelp  roaring  for  prey. 
^He  pursued  the  lawless,  seeking  them  out. 

And  he  burnt  up  those  who  troubled  his  people. 
*U'he  lawless  shrunk  for  fear  of  Iiim, 

And  all  the  workers  of  lawlessness  were  greatly  terrified; 

And  deliverance  was  attained  through  him. 
'He  angered  many  kings. 

And  made  Jacob  glati  with  his  acts; 

And  his  memory  is  blessed  forever. 
*He  went  about  among  the  cities  of  Judah, 

And  destroyed  the  godless  from  the  land. 

And  turned  away  the  wrath  of  God  from  Israel. 
*And  he  was  renowned  to  the  ends  of  the  earth." 

i^hen  ApoUonius  gathered  the  heathen  together  and  a  great  army  from  Defeat 
Samaria  to  fight  against  Israel.     ^^And  when  Judas  learned  of  it,  he  went  fig^'tii 
out  to  meet  him,  and  defeated  and  slew  him;  and  many  fell  mortally  wounded,  of  4>'ol- 
while  the  rest  fled.     ^-And  they  captured  their  spoils,  and  Judas  took  the 
sword  of  ApoUonius,  with  which  he  fought  all  his  days. 

^^When  Seron,  the  commander  of  the  army  of  Syria,  heard  that  Judas  Seron's 
had  gathered  a  large  force  of  faithful  men  about  him,  who  went  with  him  to  vance 
w^ar,  ^"^he  said,  I  will  make  myself  famous  and  gain  renown  in  the  kingdom;  against 
for  I  will  fight  with  Judas  and  those  with  him,  who  are  defying  the  command 
of  the  king.     ^^And  there  went  up  with  him  also  a  mighty  army  of  the  god- 
less to  help  him,  to  take  vengeance  on  the  Israelites. 

i^As  he  approached  the  ascent  of  Bethhoron  Judas  went  forth  to  meet  Judas's 
him  with  a  small  company.     ^'^But  when  they  saw  the  army  coming  to  meet  befofe^ 
them,  they  said  to  Judas,  How  sliall  we,  few  as  we  are,  be  able  to  battle  against  ^''^  , 
so  great  a  multitude  ?  and  we  arc  faint  also,  having  tasted  no  food  to-day. 
^^Then  Judas  said.  It  is  an  easy  thing  for  many  to  be  shut  up  in  the  hands 
of  a  few;  and  with  Heaven  it  is  equally  easy  to  save  by  many  or  by  few;  ^^for 
victory  in  battle  does  not  depend  upon  the  size  of  an  army,  but  from  Heaven 
comes  the  strength.     ^^^They  come  to  us  full  of  insolence  and  lawlessness,  to 
destroy  us  with  our  wives  and  children  and  to  plunder  us;  ^ibut,  as  for  us, 
we  are  fighting  for  our  lives  and  our  laws.     22\n(i  \^q  himself  will  crush  them 
before  our  face;  so  do  not  be  afraid  of  them. 

"^■^Xow  when   he  had  finished  speaking,  he  leaf)cd  suddenly  upon   th(>in.  Defeat 
and  Seron  and  his  army  were  put  to  flight  before  him.     - 'And  they  |)ursucd  "i^'^i^t 
them  by  the  descent  of  Bethhoron  to  the  plain,  and  there  fell  of  them  about  g.f^^^^ 
eight  hundred  men;  but  the  rest  fled  into  the  land  of  the  Philistines. 


•  3»  Vs.  SI",  and  he  oalhcrrd  those  who  vtcre  about  to  perish,  is  in  the  Ok.  practically  a  du- 
plicate of  ">».  It  makes  little  sense.  The  evident  conclusion  of  the  panegyric  is  '*.  Vs.  <"' is 
therefore  due  to  a  copyist's  error. 

407 


I  Mac.  325] 


THE  WARS   OF  JUDAS 


ed  Syr- 
ian 
treas- 
ury 


§  178.  Departure  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes  for  Persia  and  his  Appointment 
of  Lysias  as  Regent,  I  Mac.  3^^" 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Meas-  I  Mac.  3  ^^Now  the  fear  of  Judas  and  his  brothers  and  the  dread  of  them 
subdue  began  to  fall  upon  the  nations  round  about  them,  ^e^j^j  jjjg  reputation 
the^  reached  the  king,  for  every  nation  was  telling  of  the  battles  of  Judas.  -''But 
and  to  when  King  Antiochus  heard  these  things,  he  was  filled  with  indignation 
the  and  sent  and  gathered  together  all  the  forces  of  his  realm,  a  very  strong  army. 
Ad  Svr'  ^^^nd  ^^  opened  his  treasury  and  gave  his  forces  pay  for  a  year,  and  com- 
manded them  to  be  ready  for  every  emergency.  -^Q^j^j  seeing  that  money 
was  scarce  in  his  treasury  and  that  the  tributes  of  the  country  were  small, 
because  of  the  dissension  and  calamity  which  he  had  brought  upon  the  land, 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  away  the  laws  which  had  been  in  force  from  the 
earliest  days,  ^^he  feared  that  he  should  not  have  enough,  as  at  other  times, 
for  the  expenses  and  the  gifts  which  he  had  formerly  given  with  a  liberal 
hand,  in  which  he  had  surpassed  the  kings  who  had  been  before  him.  ^^And 
he  was  exceedingly  perplexed  in  his  mind,  and  determined  to  go  into  Persia 
and  to  take  the  tributes  of  the  countries  and  to  gather  much  money. 

2"So  he  left  Lysias,  an  honorable  man  and  one  of  the  royal  family,  in 
the  mil-  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  king  from  the  River  Euphrates  to  the  borders  of 
itary  Egypt  and  to  bring  up  his  son  Antiochus,  until  he  returned.  ^^And  he  de- 
livered to  him  the  half  of  his  forces  and  the  elephants,  and  gave  him  charge 
of  all  the  things  that  he  wished  to  have  done  and  concerning  those  who 
dwelt  in  Judea  and  in  Jerusalem,  ^^that  he  should  send  a  force  against  them, 
V  to  root  out  and  destroy  the  strength  of  Israel  and  the  remnant  of  Jerusalem, 
and  to  take  away  their  memory  from  the  place,  ^^and  that  he  should  make 
foreigners  dwell  in  all  their  territory  and  should  divide  their  land  to  them 
by  lot.  ^^Then  the  king  took  the  remaining  half  of  the  forces  and  set  out 
from  Antioch  his  capital,  in  the  one  hundred  and  forty-seventh  year,*'  and, 
crossing  the  Euphrates,  he  went  through  the  upper  countries. 


Divis- 
ion of 


§  179.  Defeat  of  the  Syrian  Generals,  I  Mac.  S^'-i^^  II  Mac.  8' 


8-38 


The  in- 
vading 
Syrian 
army 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  3  ^^Now  Lysias  chose 
Ptolemy  the  son  of  Dorymenes, 
and  Nicanor,  and  Gorgias,  influ- 
ential men  among  the  king's 
Friends,  ^^and  with  them  sent 
forty  thousand  footmen  and  seven 
thousand  horsemen  to  go  into  the 
land  of  Judah  to  destroy  it,  as  the 


Traditional  History 

II  Mac.  8  ^But  when  Philip  saw  the 
man  [Judas]  little  by  little  gaining  ground 
and  advancing  more  and  more  in  his  vic- 
tories, he  wrote  to  Ptolemy,  the  governor 
of  Coelesyria  and  Phoenicia,  that  he 
should  support  the  king's  cause.  ^The 
latter  quickly  appointed  Nicanor  the  son 
of  Patroclus,  one  of  the  Chief  Friends, 


b  337    165  B.C. 

§  179  I  Mac.  has  a  consistent,  straightforward  narrative,  but  II  Mac,  dependent  upon  pop- 
ular report  (cf.  Introd..  p.  SS),  is  very  confused.  In  8'°-*''  the  author  gives  in  the  place  of  the 
engagement  with  Gorgias  an  account  of  a  battle  in  which  Bacchides  (mentioned  only  in  I  Mac.  7) 
and  Timotheus  figure.  Apparently  he  has  introduced  here  in  a  wrong  setting  an  account  of 
later  events. 


408 


I  Mac.  339]     DEFEAT  OF  THE  SYRIAN  GENERALS     [II  Mac.  8^ 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

king  had  ordered.  ^'^And  they  set 
out  with  all  their  army  and 
pitched  their  camp  near  Emmaus 
in  the  plain.  "^^And  the  mer- 
chants of  the  country  heard  the 
rumors  about  them,  and  taking 
silver  and  gold  in  large  quan- 
tities, and  shackles,  they  came 
into  the  camp  to  get  the  Israelites 
for  slaves.  There  were  added  to 
them  the  forces  of  Syria  and  of 
the  Philistines. 


Traditiorml  Hidory 

and  sent  him  in  command  of  a  heathen 
army  of  no  less  than  twenty  thousand 
from  all  nations,  to  destroy  the  whole 
race  of  Judea.  And  with  him  he  asso- 
ciated Gorgias,  a  general  and  one  who 
had  had  experience  in  military  affairs. 
^^And  Nicanor  determined  to  make  up 
for  the  king  from  the  captive  Jews  the 
tribute  of  two  thousand  talents  which  he 
was  to  pay  to  the  Romans.  ^^And  imme- 
diately he  sent  to  the  cities  upon  the  sea 
coast,  inviting  them  to  buy  Jewish  slaves, 
promising  to  allow  ninety  slaves  for  a 
talent,  not  expecting  the  judgment  which 
was  to  overtake  him  from  the  Almighty. 


Atti- 
tude of 
the 
Jews 
and 
the  ex- 
horta- 
tions 
Judas 


^-Then  Judas  and  his  brothers  saw 
that  evils  were  increasing  and  that 
the  forces  were  encamping  in  their 
territory,  and  when  they  learned  of  the 
^■f  commands  which  the  king  had  given 
to  destroy  the  people  and  make  an  end 
of  them,  ^^they  said  to  each  other, 

I>et  us  raise  up  the  ruin  of  our  people 
And  let  us  fight  for  our  people  and  the 
sanctuary  != 

'*^So  the  congregation  was  gathered 
together,  that  they  might  be  ready  for 
battle  and  that  they  might  pray  and 
ask  for  mercy  and  compassion. 

*'And  Jerusalem  was  without  inhabitant, 

like  a  wilderness, 
There  was  none   of    her  offspring  wlio 

went  in  or  out. 
And  the  sanctuary  was  trodden  down. 
And  foreigners  were  in  the  citadel, 
The  city  had  become  a  lodging  place  for 

the  licathen, 
And  joy  was  taken  away  from  Jac(jb, 
And  the  pipe  and  the  harp  ceased. 

^^hen  they  gathered  together  and 
came  to  Mizpeh,  opposite  Jerusalem; 
for  in  Mizpeh'^  there  was  a  place  of 


^-But  tidings  came  to  Judas  con- 
cerning the  sending  out  of  Nicanor; 
and  when  he  informed  his  followers 
of  the  army's  presence,  ^^those  who 
were  cowardly  and  distrustful  of  the 
judgment  of  God  ran  away  and  left 
the  coiuitry.  ^"^But  the  others  sold 
all  they  had  left  and  likewise  be- 
sought the  Lord  to  deliver  those 
whom  the  impious  Nicanor  had  sold 
before  he  met  them;  ^^and  if  not  for 
their  own  sakes,  yet  for  the  sake 
of  the  covenants  made  with  their 
fathers,  and  because  he  had  called 
them  by  his  revered  and  glorious 
name.  '^Then  ISIaccabeus  gathered 
his  men  together,  six  thousand  in 
number,  and  exhorted  them  not  to 
be  smitten  with  dismay  at  the  enemy 
nor  to  fear  the  great  nuiltitude  of 
the  heathen  who  were  unrighteously 
coming  against  them,  but  to  contend 
nobly.  '"And  he  pictured  before 
their  eyes  the  outrage  which  had 
been  wickedly  p('r|)ctra(ed  upon  the 
sanctuary,  and  the  shameful  treat- 
ment and  mocking  of  the  city,  and 
further  the  overthrow  of  their  an- 


«  I  Mac.  .3<'  So  \Mr.     The  Gk.  is  corrupt, 
d  I  Mac.  3"  Cf.  1  Sam.  7'-». 

409 


I  Mac.  346] 


THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 


[II  Mac.  817 


Prep- 
ara- 
tions 
for  the 
battle 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

prayer  for  Israel.  47\n(j  they  fasted 
that  day,  and  put  sackcloth  and  ashes 
on  their  heads  and  tore  their  clothes, 
48and  spread  out  the  book  of  the  law — 
one  of  those  in  which  the  heathen  had 
been  painting  images  of  their  idols.® 
49 And  they  brought  the  priests'  gar- 
ments with  the  first-fruits,  and  the 
tithes,  and  they  cut  the  hair  of  the  Xaz- 
iriteswhohad  accomplished  their  days. 
^°And  they  cried  aloud  toward  Heaven, 
sapng,  ^Yhat  shall  we  do  with  these 

them 
trod- 


us 


are  making 


and  whither  shall  we  carry 
away  .''  ^^For  thy  sanctuary  is 
den  down  and  profaned,  and  thy 
priests  are  in  sorrow  and  humiliation. 
^^And  now  the  heathen  have  assem- 
bled together  against  us  to  destroy 
Thou  knowest  what  plans  they 
ainst  us.  ^^How  shall 
we  be  able  to  stand  before  them,  ex- 
cept thou  be  our  help  ?  ^^  \nd  they 
sounded  with  the  trumpets,  and  cried 
with  a  loud  voice. 

^^And  after  this  Judas  appointed  leaders  of  the 
people,  commanders  over  thousands,  over  hun- 
dreds, over  fifties,  ^^and  over  tens.  And  he  told 
those  who  were  building  houses  and  those  who 
were  planting  vineyards  and  those  who  were  afraid, 
to  return,  each  to  his  own  house,  as  the  law 
commanded.'*  ^'Then  the  army  removed  and  en- 
camped upon  the  south  side  of  Emmaus.  ^^And 
Judas  said,  Gird  yourselves  and  be  valiant  men; 
and  be  ready  in  the  morning  to  fight  with  these 
heathen  who  are  assembled  together  against  us  to 
destroy  us  and  our  sanctuary.  ^QpQj.  j^  jg  better 
for  us  to  die  in  battle,  than  to  see  the  misfortunes 
of  our  nation  and  of  the  sanctuary,  ^o^vfeverthe- 
less,  let  Heaven  do  whatever  be  his  will. 


Traditional  Histortj 

cestral  mode  of  living.  ^^For  they, 
said  he,  trust  to  arms  and  likewise  to 
deeds  of  daring,  but  we  trust  in  the 
Almighty  God,  who  is  able  with  a 
nod  to  cast  down,  not  those  alone 
who  are  coming  against  us,  but  the 
whole  world.  ^^And  he  also  re- 
counted to  them  the  help  given  from 
time  to  time  in  the  days  of  their 
ancestors,  both  how  they  were  de- 
livered in  the  time  of  Sennacherib, 
when  one  hundred  and  eighty -five 
thousand  perished,^  ^^and  how  in 
Babvlonia  at  the  battle  which  was 
fought  against  the  Gauls,  only  eight 
thousand  in  all  engaged  in  battle 
with  four  thousand  Macedonians, 
but  when  the  Macedonians  were 
hard  pressed,  the  eight  thousand 
destroyed  the  one  hundred  and 
twenty  thousand,  because  of  the 
succor  which  they  had  from  Heaven; 
and  how  they  took  great  booty.  ^ 


2iAfter  he  had  with 
these  words  made  them 
of  good  courage  and 
ready  to  die  for  the 
laws  and  their  country, 
he  divided  his  army 
into  four  parts.  ^^Xs 
leaders  of  the  several 
corps,  he  appointed 
h  i  s  brothers  Simon 
and  Joseph  and  Jona- 
than, assigning  to  each 
fifteen  hundred  men. 
23a]\Joreover  he  also  ap- 
pointed Eleazar  to  read 
aloud  the  sacred  book. 
And  he  gave  ac  a  watch- 
word. The  Help  of  God. 


^  I  Mac.  3^*  Following  an  acute  conjecture  of  Professor  Torrey.     The  text  is  obscure. 
'  II  Mac.  8'9  Cf.  II  Kgs.  1^^. 

E  II  Mac.  8-"  Perhaps  this  is  a  reference  to  a  popular  tradition  of  a  battle  between  Anti- 
ochus  the  Great  and  Molon,  a  rebellious  governor  of  Media. 
1 1  Mac.  35«  Dt.  205-9. 


410 


I  Mac.  4I]     DEFEAT  OF  THE  SYRIAN  GENERALS    [II  Mac.  823b 


Gor- 

gias's 

futile 

night 

march 


Judas"s 
exhor- 
tation 
to  his 
men 


Defeat 
and 
pursuit 
of  the 
Greeks 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

4  ^And  Gorgias  took  five  thousand 
footmen,  and  a  thousand  chosen  horse- 
men, 2and  the  army  set  out  by  night,  that 
it  might  fall  upon  the  army  of  the  Jews 
and  attack  them  suddenly.  And  the  men 
of  the  citadel  were  his  guides.  ^But  when 
Judas  heard  of  it,  he  broke  camp  with  his 
vahant  men,  that  he  might  attack  the 
king's  army  which  was  at  Emmaus,"^wlule 
as  yet  the  forces  were  dispersed  from  the 
camp.  ^And  w^hen  Gorgias  came  to  the 
camp  of  Judas  by  night,  he  found  no  one. 
Then  he  looked  for  them  in  the  mountains, 
thinking  that  ^the  men  were  fleeing  from 
him. 

But  as  soon  as  it  was  day,  Judas  ap- 
jjeared  in  the  plain  with  three  thousand 
men;  only  they  had  neither  armor  nor 
swords  as  they  wished.  "When  now  they 
saw  the  camp  of  the  heathen  strongly  for- 
tified and  cavalry  about  it  and  experienced 
warriors  thei'e,  ^Judas  said  to  the  men 
who  were  with  him,  Fear  not  their  mul- 
titude neither  be  afraid  of  their  attack. 
^Remember  how  our  fathers  were  saved 
in  the  Red  Sea,  when  Pharaoh  pursued 
them  with  a  host.  ^^And  now  let  us  cry 
to  Heaven,  if  he  will  show  favor  to  us^ 
and  will  remember  the  covenant  made 
with  our  fathers  and  destroy  this  army 
before  our  face  to-day,  ^Hhat  all  the 
heathen  may  know  that  there  is  one  who 
redeemeth  and  saveth  Israel. 

^^Then  when  the  foreigners  lifted  up 
their  eyes  and  saw  them  coming  toward 
them,  ^^they  went  from  their  camp  to  bat- 
tle. And  those  who  w^ere  with  Judas 
sounded  their  trumpets  and  joined  battle; 
^^and  the  heathen  were  defeated  and  fled 
into  the  plain.  ^'^But  all  who  were  in  the 
rear  fell  by  the  sword,  and  they  pursued 
them  to  Gazara'^  and  to  the  plains  of  Idu- 


Traditional  Ilistonj 

-•^bXheu  leading  the  first  corps 
Iximself,  he  joined  battle  with 
Nicanor.  -^And,  since  the  Al- 
mighty fought  on  their  side,  they 
slew  of  the  enemy  over  nine 
thousand,  wounded  and  disabled 
the  greater  part  of  Nicanor's 
army,  and  compelled  all  to  flee. 
^^Tliey  also  took  the  money  of 
those  who  had  come  there  to  buy 
them.  And  after  they  had  pur- 
.sued  them  for  some  distance, 
they  were  obliged  to  return  be- 
cause of  the  time,  ^Hov  it  was 
the  day  before  the  sabbath  and 
therefore  they  made  no  eifort  to 
chase  them  far.  27^Y}^gj^  ^j^^y 
had  gathered  the  arms  of  the 
enemy,  and  had  stripped  off 
their  spoils,  they  gave  their  at- 
tention to  the  sabbath,  blessing 
and  thanking  the  Lord  exceed- 
ingly, wdio  had  saved  them  to 
this  day,  for  his  mercy  had  begun 
to  distil  upon  them.*  2S\f^gi.  ^he 
sabbath,  w' hen  they  had  given  of 
the  spoils  to  those  who  had  been 
tortured,  and  to  the  widows  and 
orphans,  they  distributed  the 
rest  among  themselves  and  their 
children.  ^O'l-'j^^^^j  when  they  had 
completed  these  things  and  had 
made  a  common  supplication, 
they  besought  the  merciful  I^ord 
to  be  wholly  reconciled  with  his 
servants. 

30And  in  an  encounter  with  the 
forces  of  Timotheus  and  Bac- 
chides  they  killed  over  twenty 
thousand  of  them  and  made 
themselves  masters  of  exceedingly 
high  strongholds  and  divided  very 


Vic- 
tory 
over 
the 
forces 
led  by 
Ni- 


'  11  Mac.  8^'  So  Lat.  and  many  important  Gk.  codices 
show  them  mercy. 


Most  MSS.  read,  and  had  begun  to 


Vic- 
tory 
o\er 
the 
Greek 
forces 
under 
Timo- 
theus 
and 

Bacchi- 
des 


i  I  Mac.  4i<i  So  Luc.  and  Gk.A. 
•<  I  Mac.  4'5  The  O.T.  Gezer.      The  following  plains  of  Idumea  is  doubtful,  as  is  also 
Gk.A,  Judea. 

411 


I  Mac.  4I5] 


THE  WARS   OF  JUDAS 


[II  Mac.  8^0 


Histonj  of  the  Hasmoneans 

mea  and  Azotus'  and  Jamnia,  and  there 
fell  of  them  about  three  thousand  men. 
Flight  ^^When  Judas  and  his  army  returned 
forces  from  pursuing  them,  ^'he  said  to  the  peo- 
under  ^iXe,  Do  not  be  greedy  for  the  spoils,  since 
g'ias  there  is  a  battle  before  us,  ^^and  Gorgias 
and  his  army  are  near  us  in  the  moun- 
tain. But  stand  now  against  our  enemies 
and  fight  them,  and  aftenv^ard  you  may 
openly  take  the  spoils.  ^^While  Judas  was 
still  speaking  there  appeared  a  part  of 
them,  looking  out  from  the  mountain; 
2^and  these  saw  that  their  army  had  been 
put  to  flight  and  that  the  Jews  were  burn- 
ing their  camp,  for  the  smoke  that  was 
seen  showed  what  had  been  done.  -^^And 
when  they  perceived  these  things,  they 
were  thrown  into  a  panic,  and  seeing  the 
army  of  Judas  also  in  the  plain  ready  for 
battle,  2-they  all  retreated  into  the  land 
of  the  Philistines.'^  23\nd  Judas  returned 
to  sack  the  camp,  and  they  took  much 
gold  and  silver  and  blue  and  sea-purple° 
and  great  riches.  24^}^gjj  ^^y  returned 
home  and  sang  a  song  of  thanksgiving 
and  gave  praise  to  Heaven,  because  he 
is  good,  because  his  mercy  endureth  for- 
ever.P  ^S'pj^ug  Israel  had  a  great  deUver- 
ance  that  day. 
Dis-  2^But  the  foreigners,  as  many  as  had 

age^'  escaped,  came  and  told  Lysias  all  the 
ment  of  things  that  had  happened.  27  4n(j  -when 
he  heard  it,  he  was  astonished  and  dis- 
couraged, because  neither  had  Israel  met 
with  reverses  as  he  wished  nor  had  what 
the  king  commanded  been  reaUzed. 


Traditional  History 
much  plunder,  giving  the  tort- 
ured and  orphans  and  widows 
and  moreover  the  aged  also  an 
equal  share  with  themselves. 
^^  All  the  arms  of  the  enemy  which 
they  had  gathered  they  stored  up 
carefully  in  the  most  suitable 
places,  and  the  rest  of  the  spoils 
they  carried  to  Jerusalem.  ^-^And 
they  killed  Phylarches™  of  Timo- 
theus's  forces,  a  most  impious 
man,  and  one  who  had  done  the 
Jews  much  harm.  ^^As  they  kept 
the  feast  of  victory  in  the  city  of 
their  fathers,  they  burned  those 
who  had  set  the  sacred  gates 
on  fire,  and  among  them  Calhs- 
thenes,  who  had  fled  into  a  httle 
house;  and  so  they  received  the 
suitable  reward  for  their  impiety. 

2^ Also  the  thrice-accursed  Ni-  Flight 
canor,  who  had  brought  the  thou-  nomin" 
sand  merchants  to  buy  the  Jews,  ^?^^^^ 
was  through  the  help  of  the  Lord  of  Ni- 
humbled  by  those  who  in  his  eyes  '^'"^°'" 
were  held  to  be  of  least  account. 
2°Taking  off  his  sumptuous  ap- 
parel, shunning  all  company,  he 
came  through  the  midst  of  the 
land,  like  a  fugitive  slave,  to  An- 
tioch,  supremely  unfortunate  in 
the    destruction    of   his    army.** 
3^ And  he  who  had  taken  upon 
himself  successfully  to  obtain  the 
tribute  for  the  Romans  from  the 
captives   of  Jerusalem   declared 
openly  that  the  Jews  had  one  who 
fought  for  them,  and  that  on  this 
account  the  Jews  were  invulner- 
able, because  they  foUowed  the 
laws  ordained  by  him. 


>  I  Mac.  4«  Ashdod. 

^  II  Mac.  8^2  It  is  not  clear  whether  this  is  a  proper  name  or  a  title. 
"  I  Mac.  4^  Lit.,  strangers. 

o  I  Mac.  423  So  the  Sinaitic  text.     The  reference  is  to  the  famous  Tyrian  purple  made  from 
sea-sheUs. 

p  I  Mac.  4=4  Cf.  Ps.  1181-4-  29,  136,  and  often  in  Chr. 

1 1I  Mac.  8^5  Other  MSS.  read,  having  met  great  misfortune,  the  destruction  of  his  army. 

412 


I  Mac.  428] 


VICTORY   OVER    LYSIAS 


[II  Mac.  Hi 


i;  180.  Victory  over  Lysias  at  Bethsura,  I  Mac.  4=«-''5,  II  Mac.  ll'-12* 


Brav- 
ery of 
the 

Jews  in 
meeting 
and 
van- 
quish- 
ing the 
huge 
army  of 
Lysias 


History  of  the  Hasmonecms 

I  Mac.  4  -^Now  in  the  next  year  [Ly- 
sias] gathered  together  sixty  thousand  picked 
footmen  and  five  thousand  horsemen,  that 
he  might  subdue  [the  Jews].  -^When  they 
came  to  Idumea  and  encamped  at  Bethsura, 
Judas  met  them  with  ten  thousand  men. 
^*^As  he  saw  that  the  army  was  strong,  he 
prayed  and  said,  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Saviour 
of  Israel,  who  didst  shatter  the  attacking 
power  of  the  mighty  man  by  the  hand  of 
thy  sen-ant  David,''  and  didst  deliver  the 
army  of  the  heathen  into  the  hands  of  Jon- 
athan the  son  of  Saul,  and  of  his  armor- 
bearer.^ 

^'Shut  up  this  army  in  the  hand  of  thy  people 
Israel, 
And  let  them  be  ashamed  of  their  army  and 
their  horsemen. 
''Give  them  faintness  of  heart. 
And  let  their  bold  courage  melt  away. 
And  let  them  tremble  at  their  destruction. 
'^Cast  them  down  by  the  sword  of  those  who  love 
thee, 
So  that  all  may  know  thy  name  who  praise  thee 
with  thanksgiving. 

^■^Then  they  joined  battle;  and  there  fell  of 
the  army  of  Lysias  about  five  thousand  men, 
and  they  fell  on  the  spot  before  them." 


Traditional  Ilintonj 

II  Mac.  11  iNow  a  httle 
later  Lysias,  the  king's  guar- 
dian and  kinsman  and  prime- 
minister,  greatly  displeased  at 
what  had  happened,  -collected 
about  eighty  thousand  foot- 
men and  all  his  horsemen  and 
came  against  the  Jews.  He 
plaimed  to  make  the  city  a 
dwelling-place  for  Greeks,  and 
to  levy  tribute  on  the  temple, 
^as  on  the  other  sacred  places 
of  the  heathen,  and  to  put  up 
the  high  priesthood  for  sale 
each  year.  "^He  had  no  regard 
for  the  might  of  God,  but  was 
puffed  up  with  his  ten  thousand 
footmen  and  his  thousands  of 
horsemen  and  eighty  elej)hants. 
^As  soon  as  he  came  into  Judea 
and  drew  near  to  Bethsura, 
which  was  a  strong  place  dis- 
tant about  three-fifths  of  a  mile*^ 
from  Jerusalem  he  pressed  it 
hard.  ^'But  when  Maccabeus 
and  his  men  learned  that  he  was 
besieging  the  strongholds,  with 
lamentations  and  tears  they 
and  all  the  people  besought 
save  Israel.  '^Maccabeus,  him- 
the  others    to  encounter  the 


iii?:iy 


the  Lord  to   send   a   good   messenger   to 
self    the    first,    took    up    arms,  and  exhorted 

danger  with  him  and  succor  their  fellow-countrymen;  and  very  wi 
they  set  forth  with  him.  ^But  while  they  were  still  there,  close  to  Jerusalem, 
there  appeared  at  their  head  one  on  horseback  in  white  ajiparel,  brandish- 
ing weapons  of  gold.  ^Then  all  together  they  praised  the  merciful  (Jod 
and  were  strengthened  in  heart,  ready  to  strike  down  not  men  only  but  the 


§  180  Again  I  Mac.  is  clearly  right  in  placing  the  first  campaign  of  Lysias  before  the  death 
of  Antiochus  IV.  II  Mac.  dates  it  a  year  later,  and  adds  an  account  of  a  treaty,  the  historical 
basis  of  which  must  have  been  the  terms  agreed  \irion  after  the  Jews  were  defeated  by  Lysijus  in 
bis  second  campaign.  C:f.  §  185.  The  author  of  II  Mac,  however,  has  another  account  ot  tliat 
treaty,  13-'-^',  ami  definitely  associates  with  the  first  campaign  the  present  treaty,  and  the  let- 
ters whicli  he  ai)i)ends. 

'  I  Mac.  4'"Cf.  I  Sam.  17. 

•  1  Mac.  4"'('f.  I  Sam.  14.  ,,.,.. 

HI  .Mac.  ll'Gk.,  five  stadia.  Some  MSS.  read,  five  achonoi  or  leagues,  which  is  much 
nearer  the  actual  distance. 

"  I  .Mac.  4''''  Lit.,  und  the;/  fell  over  against  them. 

113 


II  Mac.  119] 


THE  WARS   OF  JUDAS 


Traditional  History 

wildest  beasts  and  walls  of  iron,  ^^they  advanced  in  array  with  him  whc 
came  from  Heaven  to  fight  on  their  side,  for  the  Lord  had  mercy  on  them. 
^ ^Hurling  themselves  like  lions  on  the  enemy  they  slew  of  them  eleven  thou- 
sand footmen  and  sixteen  hundred  horsemen  ^^and  forced  all  the  rest  to 
flee.  But  the  greater  part  of  them  escaped  wounded  and  naked.  And 
Lysias  also  saved  himself  by  shameful  flight. 


History  of  the  Hasmo- 
neans  : 

Lysi-  I  Mac.  4     35B^it  when 

treat  to  Lysias    saw   that  his  army 
P'"*'"  ,     Avas    retreatinor,    and     the 

pare  for  111 

anoth-  boldness  that  had  come 
tack  upon  those  who  were  with 
Judas,  and  how  they  were 
ready  either  to  live  or  to 
die  nobly,  he  removed  to 
Antioch  and  gathered  to- 
gether hired  soldiers,  that 
he  might  come  again  into 
Judea  with  a  still  greater 


force. 


^^But  as  he  was  a  man  not  without  under-  Lysi- 
standing,  after  reflecting  upon  the  defeat  which  freaty 
had  befallen  him,  he  considered  that  the  He-  yith 
brews  could  not  be  overcome,  because  the  Al- 
mighty God  fought  on   their  side,  and  so  he 
sent  again  ^*and  persuaded  them  to  come  to 
terms  on  perfectly  just  conditions,  and  prom- 
ised that  he  would  also  constrain  the  king  to 
become  their  friend.     ^^And  Maccabeus  gave 
consent  to  all  that  Lysias  proposed,  for  what- 
ever requests  ]Maccabeus  delivered  in  writing 
to  Lysias  concerning  the   Jews  the  king  al- 
lowed. 


His  let- 
ter to 
the 
Jews 


Letter 
of  An- 
tiochus 
V  con- 
cerning 
the 
Jews 


^^For  the  letter^  written  to  the  Jews  from  Lysias  was  to  this  effect: 

Lysias  to  the  people  of  the  Jews,  greeting.  ^'''John  and  Absalom,  your 
messengers,  having  delivered  the  document  signed  by  you,^'  inquired  concern- 
ing the  things  therein.  ^^Whatever,  therefore,  needed  also  to  be  brought 
before  the  king,  these  I  reported,  and  whatever  was  possible  he  allowed. 
i^If  then  you  will  preserve  your  good-will  toward  the  state,  henceforth  I  also 
will  endeavor  to  contribute  to  your  welfare.  ^'^In  regard  to  the  particulars, 
I  have  given  order,  both  to  these  men  and  to  those  who  are  sent  from  me, 
to  confer  with  you.  ^ip^re  you  weU.  ^Yritten  in  the  one  hundred  and  forty- 
eighth  vear,  on  the  twentv-fourth  dav  of  the  month  Dioscorinthus.^ 

2-And  the  king's  letter  was  to  this  efi^ect: 

King  Antiochus  to  his  brother  Lysias,  greeting.  ^3^^^  q^j.  father  de- 
parted to  the  gods,  it  was  our  wish  that  the  subjects  of  our  kingdom  should 
attend  to  the  care  of  their  own  afi"airs  undisturbed.  24jj3^yj[j-^g  heard  that 
the  Jews  object  to  our  father's  purpose  to  convert  them  to  the  Greek  usages, 
preferring  their  own  manner  of  living  and  requesting  that  their  own  customs 
be  allowed  to  them — ^^we  therefore,  desiring  also  that  this  nation  should 
be  free  from  disturbance,  decide  that  their  temple  be  restored  to  them,  and 
that  thev  Uve  according  to  the  customs  which  were  in  the  days   of  their 


vll  Mac.  Ill"  Or,  letters. 

w  111"  Or  possibly,  the  document  written  belotv. 

J  1 1-1  This  word  is  evidently  a  corruption,  either  for  the  Cretan  name  of  a  month  (Dioscuri) 
or  else  of  the  Macedonian  month,  Dius,  November  (so  Syr).     Probably  it  is  for  March.     11^. 

414 


VICTORY   OVER   LYSIAS  [II  Mac.  1125 

Traditional  History 

ancestors,  ^eyou  will  therefore  do  well  to  send  to  them,  and  give  them 
the  right  hand  of  friendsliij),  that  they,  knowing  our  purpose,  may  be  in 
good  spirits  and  gladly  devote  themselves  ta  their  own  ail'airs. 

-'And  to  the  nation  the  king's  letter  was  as  follows:  His 

King  Antiochus  to  the  senate  of  the  Jews  and  to  the  other  Jews,  greeting.  ||iem*° 
2Slf  you  fare  well,  we  have  our  desire.  We  ourselves  also  are  in  good  health. 
29]Menelaus  informed  us  that  you  desired  to  depart  and  attend  to  your  own 
business.  ^^They,  therefore,  who  depart  up  to  the  thirtieth  day  of  Xanthi- 
cus'"^  shall  have  our  friendship,  ^iwith  full  permission  to  the  Jews  to  use 
their  own  laws,  even  as  heretofore;  and  none  of  them  shall  be  in  any  way 
molested  for  what  was  done  in  ignorance,  ^^j  have  moreover  sent  Menelaus 
to  encourage  you.  •'^•'^Fare  you  well.  Written  in  the  hundred  and  forty-eighth 
year,*^  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  Xanthicus.  34^^]  ^^jjc  Romans  also  sent  to 
them  a  letter  which  read  thus: 

Quintus  jNIemmius  and  Titus  Manlius,  ambassadors  of  the  Romans,  to  Letter 
the  Jewish  ])eople,  greeting.     ^^In  regard  to  the  concessions  which  Lysias  the  t'he'" 
king's  kinsman  granted  vou,  we  also  give  consent.     ^^'But  as  for  the  things  ^°- 
which  he  judged  should  be  referred  to  the  king,  as  soon  as  you  have  con- 
sidered these  send  some  one  at  once  that  we  may  publish  such  decrees  as 
befit  your  case,  for  we  are  on  our  way  to  Antioch.     "^"Therefore  send  some 
one  quickly,   that  we  also  may  learn  what  is  your  opinion.     ^sp^j-gy^rgU 
Written  in  the  one  hundred  and  forty-eighth  year,  on  the  fifteenth  day  of 
Xanthicus. 

12  ^When    these  agreements  had  been    made    Lysias    departed    to    the  Lysi 
king,  and  the  Jews  attended  to  their  farming. 


as's  de- 
parture 


§  181.  Purification  of  the  Temple  and  Restoration  of  its  Service,  I  Mac. 

4*«'".  II  Mac.  10'-» 

Traditional  History 


History  oj  the  Hasmoneans 

I  3Iac.  4  ^*^Then  Judas  and  liis  brothers  said, 
Now  that  our  enemies  have  been  defeated,  let  us  go 
up  to  cleanse  the  sanctuary  and  to  dedicate  it  again; 
so  they  went  up  to  Mount  Zion.  ^'^And  all  the  army 
was  gathered  together  and  went  up  to  Mount  Zion. 
2^And  when  they  saw  the  sanctuary  laid  desolate,  the 
altar  profaned,  the  gates  burnt,  and  shrubs  growing 
in  the  courts,  as  in  a  forest  or  as  on  one  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  the  priests'  chambers  pulled  down,  •^'^they  tars  which  had  been 
tore  their  garments  and  made  great  lamentation,  built  in  the  market 
^•^and  putting  ashes  upon  their  heads,  they  fell  prone  1  place     by     the     for 


II  Mac.  10  ^Then  Cere; 
Maccabeus  and  those  "leans- 
who  were  with  him,  i"K:i'>tl 

11  •  1  c   ■"csto- 

under  the  guidance  of  ration 
the    Ivord,    recovered  temple 
the   temple   and    the 
city.        ^^Vnd     they 
pulled   down   the  al- 


•  l]3o  xhe  Macedonian  name  of  the  Jewish  month  Nisan  (Mar. -Apr.). 

•>  !!•»  10.5  B.C. 

§  181  I  Mac.  10'  makes  the  periofi  durinc  which  the  temple  was  desecrated  two  years; 
Josephus  three  and  one-half  years;  but  1  .Mac.  exactly  three  years,  from  Dec,  108  (I'"')  to  Dec, 
166  (4"^). 

415 


I  Mac.  440] 


THE  WARS   OF  JUDAS 


[II  Mac.  102 


Insti- 
tution 
of  the 
feast  of 
dedica- 
tion 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

upon  the  ground.  Then  they  blew  a  signal  on  the 
trumpets  and  cried  to  Heaven.  4i\n(j  Judas  ap- 
pointed certain  men  to  fight  against  those  who  were 
in  the  citadel,"^  until  he  should  have  cleansed  the 
sanctuary.  42^jjj  }^g  chose  priests  who  were  unim- 
peachable observers  of  the  law,  ^s^lio  cleansed  the 
sanctuary  and  carried  out  the  polluted  stones  to  an 
unclean  place.  44\j^(j  ^^\^^y  deliberated  as  to  what 
they  should  do  with  the  altar  of  burnt-offerings  which 
had  been  profaned,  ^o'pi^py  finally  reached  this  wise 
decision :  to  pull  it  down  lest  it  should  be  a  reproach 
to  them,  because  the  heathen  had  defiled  it.  So  they 
pulled  down  the  altar  46and  laid  the  stones  on  the 
temple  mount  in  a  convenient  place,  until  there  should 
come  a  prophet  to  give  an  oracle  concerning  them. 
4' Then  they  took  whole  stones  as  the  law*^  required 
and  built  a  new  altar  after  the  design  of  the  former. 
4^They  also  rebuilt  the  sanctuary  and  the  inner  parts 
of  the  temple  and  consecrated  the  courts,  ^s^pj^gy 
also  made  the  holy  vessels  new  and  brought  the 
candlestick  and  the  altar  for  burnt-offerings  and  for 
incense  and  the  table  into  the  temple.  ^0\n(j  tJ^gy 
burned  incense  on  the  altar  and  lighted  the  lamps 
that  were  on  the  candlestick,  and  they  gave  light  in 
the  temple.  °^Then  they  set  loaves  upon  the  table 
and  spread  out  the  veils.  So  they  finished  all  the 
work  they  had  undertaken. 


^^And  they  arose  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
twenty-fifth  day  of  the  ninth  month,  which  is 
the  month  Chislev,  in  the  one  hundred  and  forty- 
eighth  year,®  ^^and  offered  sacrifice  according 


Traditional  History 


eigners 


and  also  the 
sacred  places.  ^And 
when  they  had 
cleansed  the  sanct- 
uary they  made  an- 
other altar  for  sacri- 
fice, and  they  struck 
sparks  from  stones 
and  got  fire  out  of 
them,  and  offered 
sacrifices,  after  an  in- 
terval of  two  years, 
and  attended  to  the 
incense  and  lights 
and  the  setting-forth 
of  the  showbread. 
^After  doing  these 
things,  they  pros- 
trated themselves  and 
besought  the  Lord 
that  they  might  fall 
no  more  into  such 
evils;  but  that,  if  ever 
they  should  sin  again, 
they  might  be  chas- 
tened by  him  with 
forbearance  and  not 
be  dehvered  to  blas- 
pheming and  bar- 
barous heathen. 
^Now  on  the  same  day 
that  the  sanctuary  was 
profaned  by  foreigners, 
upon  that  very  day  it  came 


to  the  law  upon  the  new  altar  of  burnt-offering  to  pass  that  the  cleansing 

which  they  had  made,      ^^^bout  the  same  time  of  the  sanctuary  occurred, 

and  on  the  same  day,  in  which  the  heathen  had  even   on  the  twenty-fifth 

profaned  it,  was  it  dedicated  again  with  songs  day  of  the  same  month, 

and  harps  and  lutes  and  with  cymbals.     ^^And  which  is  Chislev.      ^And 

all  the  people  prostrated  themselves  and  wor-  j  they  kept  eight  days  with 

shipped  and  gave  praise  to  Heaven,  who  had  j  gladness  in  the  manner  of 

given  them  good  success.    ^^And  they  celebrated  the   feast   of   tabernacles, 

the  dedication  of  the  altar  eight  days,  and  offered  remembering  how  that  not 


"  I  Mac.  4^1  I.e.,  to  distract  their  attention  and  thus  to  anticipate  an  unexpected  sally. 
^  I  Mac.  4"  Ex.  20^5.  Dt.  278. 
'  I  Mac.  452  Dec,  165  b.c. 


416 


I  Mac.  456]        PURIFICATION  OF  THE  TEISIPLE        [II  Mac.  lO^ 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

jurnt-offerlngs  with  gladness  and  sacrificed  a 
sacrifice  of  deliverance  and  praise.  5- \iij  ^i,gy 
decorated  the  front  of  the  temple  with  crowns 
of  gold  and  small  shields  and  rededicated  the 
gates  and  the  priests'  chambers  and  made  doors 
for  them.  ^^And  great  joy  reigned  among  the 
people,  because  the  reproach  of  the  heathen  had 
been  removed.  59\j^(j  Judas  and  his  brothers 
and  the  whole  congregation  of  Israel  decreed  that 
the  days  of  the  dedication  of  the  altar  should  be 
kept  in  their  seasons  from  year  to  year  for  the 
period  of  eight  days,  from  the  twenty-fifth  day  of 
the  month  Chislev,  with  gladness  and  joy.  60\|- 
that  time  also  they  fortified  Mount  Zion  with 
high  walls  and  strong  towers  all  round,  lest  by 
any  chance  the  heathen  should  come  and  tread 
them  down,  as  they  had  done  before,  ^i^^^jjj  j^g 
stationed  there  a  force  to  keep  it,  and  they  forti- 
fied Bethsura,*^  that  the  peo})le  might  have  a 
stronghold  in^  Idumea. 


Traditional  Historij 

long  before,  during  the 
feast  of  tabernacles  they 
w^ere  dwelling  in  the  moun- 
tains and  in  the  caves  like 
wild  beasts.  "Therefore 
bearing  wands,  wreathed 
with  leaves  and  fair 
boughs  and  palms  also, 
they  offered  up  hymns  of 
thanksgiving  to  him  who 
had  successfully  brought 
to  pass  the  cleansing  of 
his  own  place.  ^They 
ordained  also  with  a  com- 
mon statute  and  decree, 
for  all  the  nation  of  the 
Jews,  that  they  should 
observe  these  days  every 
year. 


§  182.  Successful  Campaigns  against  the  Surrounding  Nations,  I  Mac.  5. 

II  Mae.  10'^  38^  12=  « 

Traditional  ITistory 

II  Mac.  10  ^"^But  Gorgias,  when  he  became 
governor  of  the  district,  maintained  a  force  of 
mercenaries  and  at  every  turn  kept  up  war  with 
the  Jews,  ^^^nd  together  with  him  the  Idu- 
means  also,  being  masters  of  important  strong- 
holds, were  harassing  the  Jews;  and  by  receiving 
the  refugees  from  Jerusalem,  were  attempting 
to  keep  up  war.  ^^ijy^  Maccabeus  and  his  men, 
having  made  solemn  supplication,  and  having 
besought  (xod  to  fight  on  their  side,  rushed  U|)on 
the  strongholds  of  the  Idumeans,  ''and  by  a  vig- 
orous assault  made  them.selves  ma.sters  of  the 
positions  and  repulsed  all  who  fought  upon  the 
wall  and  slew  those  who  fell  in  their  way.     They 


History  of  the  Hasmo- 
neans 

I  Mac.  5  ^Now  when 
the  heathen  round  about 
heard  that  the  altar  had 
been  built  and  the  sanct- 
uary dedicated  as  it  was 
formerly,  they  were  very 
angry  and  concluded  -to 
destroy  the  race  of  Jacob 
that  was  in  the  midst  of 
them,  and  they  began  to 
slay  and  destroy  among 
the  people.  -^Judas,  how- 
ever, fought  against  the 
people  of  Esau  in  Idumea 


Slaugh 
ter  of 
the 
Idu- 
means 
and 
other 
foes  of 
the 
Jews 


'  I  Mac.  4"'  So  Syr.  and  Codex  .55.     The  other  Gk.  texts  add,  to  keep  it. 

«  I  Mac.  4'"   So  Ok.      Other  C,]i.  icxts,  a f;mnst. 

§  182  I  Mac.  has  a  much  simf>ler  and  more  consistent  narrative.  That  the  account  of 
Timotheii.s'.s  cainr>aiKn  in  II  Mar;,  helonus  Ijcforo  the  account  of  his  rlcath  in  10  is  iierfeotiy  clear. 
At  certain  points  Ijoth  sources  arc  evidently  dcpciidcnt  iipoii  popular  tradition,  and  are  there- 
fore somewnat  vague  and  confusing.  It  is  also  difficult  to  identify  the  parallels,  for  the  varia- 
tions are  exceedingly  wide. 

417 


IM 


AC.  O 


r.S 


] 


THE  WARS   OF   JUDAS 


[II  Mac.  1017 


Historij  of  the  Hasmo- 
neans 


at  Akrabattine,^  because 
they  besieged  Israel,  and 
he  defeated  them  with  a 
great  slaughter  and  hum- 
bled their  pride  and  took 
their  spoils.  *He  remem- 
bered the  wickedness  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Baean, 
who  were  a  source  of  an- 
noyance and  of  danger, 
lying  in  ambush  for  them 
along  the  roads.  ^And 
they  were  shut  up  by  him 
in  the  towers,  and  he  be- 
sieged them  and  destroyed 
them  utterly  and  burned 
the  towers  of  the  place, 
with  all  who  were  in 
them. 


Out- 
rage 
upon 
the 

Jews  at 
Joppa 


Judas's 
ven- 
geance 
upon 
Joppa 
and 
Jamnia 


Traditional  History 


killed  no  fewer  than  twenty  thousand.  ^^Then, 
since  no  less  than  nine  thousand  had  fled  into 
two  exceedingly  strong  towers,  supplied  with  all 
things  needed  for  a  siege,  ^^Maccabeus  left  Simon 
and  Joseph,  and  also  Zaccheus  and  those  who  were 
with  him,  a  force  sufficient  to  besiege  them  and 
himself  departed  to  places  where  he  was  most 
needed.  ^^But  the  officers  of  Simon,'  yielding 
to  covetousness,  were  bribed  by  certain  of  those 
who  were  in  the  towers,  and  upon  the  receipt  of 
seventy  thousand  drachmas  let  some  of  them  slip 
away.  -^iWhen  this  act  was  reported  to  Macca- 
beus, he  gathered  the  leaders  of  the  people  to- 
gether, and  accused  these  of  having  sold  their 
fellow-countrymen  for  money  by  setting  their  en- 
emies free  to  fight  against  them.  ^-So  he  slew 
these  men  for  having  turned  traitors  and  forth- 
with captured  the  two  towers,  ^sgupceeding  with 
his  arms  in  all  things,  he  put  to  death  in  the  two 
strongholds  more  than  twenty  thousand. 
13  ^But  certain  of  the  governors  of  districts,  Timotheus  and  Apollonius 
the  son  of  Genneus,  and  Hieronymus  also  and  Demophon,  and  besides  these 
Nicanor  the  governor  of  Cyprus,  would  not  permit  them  to  enjoy  tranquillity 
and  live  in  peace.  ^And  men  of  Joppa  perpetrated  this  most  impious  deed: 
they  invited  the  Jews  who  dwelt  among  them  to  go  with  their  wives  and 
children  into  the  boats  which  they  had  provided,  as  though  they  had  no  ill- 
will  toward  them,  '^but  in  accordance  with  the  common  decree  of  the  city. 
And  when  these  accepted,  because  they  desired  to  live  in  peace  and  suspected 
nothing,^  they  took  them  out  to  sea  and  drowned  them,  not  less  than  two 
hundred  in  all. 

^But  as  soon  as  Judas  heard  of  the  cruelty  done  to  his  fellow-countrymen, 
he  gave  command  to  the  men  who  were  with  him,  and  calling  upon  God  the 
righteous  Judge,  he  came  against  the  murderers  of  his  fellow-countrymen 
and  set  the  harbor  on  fire  by  night  and  burned  the  boats  and  put  to  the  sword 
those  who  had  fled  thither.  "As  the  town  was  closed  against  him,  he  with- 
drew, intending  to  come  again  to  root  out  the  whole  community  of  the  men 
of  Joppa.  ^But  learning  that  the  men  of  Jamnia  were  also  disposed  to  act  in 
the  same  manner  against  the  Jews  who  were  living  among  them,  ^he  likewise 
attacked  the  Jamnites  by  night  and  set  fire  to  the  harbor,  together  with  the 
fleet,  so  that  the  glare  of  the  light  was  seen  as  far  as  Jerusalem,  twenty -seven 
and  one-half  miles  away. 

•»  I  Mac.  5^  Probably  in  the  region  of  the  Scorpion  Pass  at  th«  south  of  the  Salt  Sea, 
cf.  Num.  344. 

'  II  Mac.  10^"  Or,  Simon  and  those  who  were  with  him. 

>  II  Mac.  12*  Or,  iiihen  these  were  thinking  that  they  (the  men  of  Joppa)  desired  peace  and 
would  awake  no  suspicion. 

418 


CAMPAIGN   IN   GILEAD  [I  Mac.  56 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.   5  ^Then  he  passed  over  to  the  Ammonites  and  found  a  strons:  Defeat 
force  and  many  people,  with  Timotheus  as  their  leader.     "And  he  fought  ^l^^^ 
many  battles  with  them,  and  they  were  defeated  before  him,  and  he  con-  monites 
quered  them.    ^Then  when  he  had  gained  possession  of  Jazer  and  its  villages, 
he  returned  again  into  Judea. 

^Then  the  heathen  who  were  in  Gilead'^  gathered  together  against  the  Re- 
Israelites  who  were  on  the  borders  to  destroy  them.     i*^And  they  fled  to  the  Cut-**  ° 
stronghold  of  Dathema  and  sent  letters  to  Judas  and  his  brothers,  saying,  fff^^j'^ 
The  heathen  who  are  about  us  have  gathered  together  against  us  to  destroy  and 
us,  ^^and  they  are  preparing  to  come  and  get  possession  of  the  stronghold  to 
which  we  have  fled  for  refuge,  and  Timotheus  is  the  leader  of  their  forces. 
i^Now  therefore  come  and  rescue  us  from  their  power,  for  many  of  our  men 
have  fallen;  ^^and  all   our  countrymen  who  dwell  in  the  land  of  Tob,'  have 
been  put  to  death,  and  they  have  carried  into  captivity  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren and  their  possessions.     And  they  destroyed  there  about  a  thousand  men. 
^'^While  the  letters  were  being  read,  there  came  other  messengers  from  Gal- 
ilee with  their  garments  torn,  bringing  a  message  of  similar  import,  ^'^saying, 
That  there  were  gathered  together  against  them  men  of  Ptolemais,™  of  Tyre, 
of  Sidon,  and  from  all  heathen  Galilee  to  destroy  them  completely. 

^^Now  when  Judas  and  the  people  heard  these  things,  a  great  assembly  Prep- 
came  together  to  consult  what  they  should  do  for  their  kinsmen  who  were  il^n?. 
in  distress  and  beintj  attacked  by  the  heathen.     ^"And  Judas  said  to  Simon  f"rthe 

o  J  _  _  cam- 

his  brother,  Choose  men,  and  go,  rescue  your  countrymen  who  are  in  Galilee,  paign 
but  Jonathan  my  brother  and  I  will  go  into  the  land  of  Gilead.     ^^And  he  oilead 
left  Joseph  the  son  of  Zacharias  and  Azarias,  as  leaders  of  the  people,  with  ^"^jji 
the  rest  of  the  army  in  Judea,  in  order  to  guard  it.     ^^And  he  gave  orders  to 
them,  saying.  Take  charge  of  the  heathen  until  we  return,     ^o^j^j  ^q  Simon 
were  assigned  three  thousand  men  to  go  to  Galilee  and  to  Judas  eight  thou- 
sand men  to  go  into  the  land  of  Gilead. 

^^Then  Simon  went  into  Galilee  and  fought  many  battles  with  the  heathen,  Simon's 
and  the  heathen  were  defeated  by  him.     22\j^j  j^g  pursued  them  to  the  gate  cesses 
of  Ptolemais.     And  there  fell  of  the  heathen  about  three  thousand  men.  jptial- 
and  he  took  the  spoils  from  them.     ^S'pij^y  j^qq]^  \\i{\\  them  those  who  were 
in  Galilee  and  in  Arbatta,  with  their  wives  and  their  children  and  all  that  they 
had,  and  brought  them  into  Judea  with  great  rejoicing. 


^^Meanwhile  Judas 
Maccabeus  and  his  broth- 
er Jonathan  crossed  the 
Jordan  and  went  three 
days'  journey  in  the  wil- 
derness,    ^s-pj^gj^  they 


Traditionnl  Ilistortj 

II  Mac.   12  ^^Now  when  they  had  withdrawn  Judas's 
a    mile    from    there,   as   they   marched    against  „Vee"t.-  ^ 
Timotheus,    .\rabians   attacked    him — no    fewer  ■^'.>j|_ 
than   five   thousand   footmen   and   five   hundred  tho 
horsemen.     ^^ After   a    severe   battle   had    been  an'.'rhia'' 
fought  and  Judas  and  his  followers  by  the  help  ^^'^J^'^j^ 


many 


^  I  Mac.  S"  Gilead  is  here  a  designation  of  all  the  ea,st-.Iordan  region.  HlronR- 

'  I  Mac.  .')'■'  Cf.  .IikIk.  Ill,  II  Sam.  10".     Other  MSS.  read,  Tubiaa.  "lo'i's 

o>  I  .Mac.  5'^  The  O.T.,  Accho. 

no 


I  Mac.  525] 


THE  WARS   OF   JUDAS 


[n  Mac.  1211 


Defeat 

■and 

Hight 

of  Ti- 

iriothe- 

as's 

forces 


Histori/  of  the  Hasmo- 
neans 

encountered  the  Nabate- 
ans,  who  met  them  in  a 
peaceable  manner  and 
told  them  all  about  what 
had  befallen  their  kins- 
men in  the  land  of  GiJead, 
2*^and  how  many  of  them 
were  shut  up  in  Bosora, 
Bosor,  Alema,  Cashphor, 
Maked,  and  Carnaim — 
all  these  cities  are  strong 
and  great  — •  -'^and  how 
they  were  shut  up  in  the 
rest  of  the  cities  of  the 
land  of  Gilead,  and  that 
[their  foes]  had  decided 
to  encamp  against  the 
strongholds  on  the  next 
day  and  to  take  them  and 
destroy  all  these  men  in 
one   day.      ^S'pj^gj.g^jpQj^ 

Judas  and  his  army 
turned  suddenly  by  the 
way  of  the  wilderness  to 
Bosora;  and  he  took  the 
city  and  put  all  the  men 
to  the  sword,  and  taking 
all  their  spoils,  he  burned 
the  city. 

29Then  he  set  out  from 
there  by  night  and 
marched  until  he  reached 
the  stronghold.  ^^And 
when  the  morning  came, 
they  looked  up  and  there 
were  people  carrying  lad- 
ders and  engines  of  war 
to  take  the  stronghold, 
and  thev  were  fiofhting 
against  them.  ^^  A  n  d 
Judas  seeing  that  the  bat- 
tle had  begun  and  hearins: 
the  alarm  of  the  city  ris- 


Traditional  History 


of  God  had  had  good  success,  the  defeated  nomads 
besought  Judas  to  grant  them  friendship,  prom- 
ising that  they  would  give  cattle  and  in  other 
ways  be  a  help  to  them.  ^-Judas,  thinking 
that  they  would  indeed  be  useful  in  many 
ways,  agreed  to  live  in  peace  with  them;  and  so, 
receiving  pledges  of  friendship,  they  departed  to 
their  tents.  ^^He  also  attacked  a  certain  city, 
secured  by  mounds  and  fenced  about  with  walls 
and  inhabited  by  all  sorts  of  peoples,  named 
Caspin.  i^They  who  were  within,  trusting  to  the 
strength  of  the  walls  and  to  their  store  of  pro- 
visions, behaved  rudely  toward  Judas  and  his 
followers,  railing  and  even  blaspheming  and 
speaking  impious  words,  ^^gut  calling  upon 
the  great  Sovereign  of  the  world,  who  without 
battering  rams  or  mechanical  contrivances  hurled 
down  Jericho  in  the  times  of  Joshua,  Judas  and  his 
followers  rushed  wildly  against  the  wall,  ^^and 
took  the  city  by  the  will  of  God,  and  made  such 
unspeakable  slaughter  that  the  adjoining  lake, 
which  was  four  hundred  yards  wide,  appeared 
to  be  filled  with  the  deluge  of  blood. 


I'From  there  they  withdrew  about  eighty -four 
miles  and  made  their  way  to  Charax,  to  the 
Jews  who  are  called  Tubieni.  ^^And  they  did 
not  find  Timotheus  in  that  district,  for  he  had 
departed  from  the  district  without  accomplish- 
ing anything,  but  had  left  behind  a  very  strong 
garrison  in  a  certain  post.  ^^Dositheus  and 
Sosipater,  two  of  Maccabeus's  captains,  sallied 
forth  and  destroyed  those  who  had  been  left  by 
Timotheus  in  the  stronghold,  more  than  ten 
thousand  men.  -'^Then  Maccabeus,  having  ar- 
ranged his  army  into  divisions  and  set  them  over 
one  of"  the  divisions,  marched  in  haste  against 
Timotheus,  who  had  with  him  a  hundred  and 


"I!  Mao.  122"  Most  MSS.  read,  set  these  over  the  divisions.     But  in  ^^  they  are  over  one 
division.     The  word,  one  of,  has  apparently  fallen  out  of  the  verse. 


420 


I  INlAc.  531]      CAMPAIGN  AGAINST  TIMOTHEUS        [II  Mac.  IS^O 


History  of   the  Hasmo- 
neans 

ing  to  heaven  with  trum- 
pets and  great  noise,  ^-he 
said  to  the  men  of  his 
army,  Fight  to-day  for 
your  kinsmen,  ^s^hen  he 
went  forth  behind  them 
in  three  companies, p  and 
they  sounded  witli  their 
trumpets  and  cried  out  in 
prayer.  34^^,]  ^j^g  army 
of  Timotheus  perceived 
that  it  was  Maccabeus, 
and  they  fled  before  him. 
So  lie  defeated  them  with 
a  great  slaugliter,  and 
there  fell  of  them  on  that 
day  about  eight  thousand 
men.  ^o^hen  he  turned 
aside  to  Mizpeh  and 
fought  against  it  and 
captured  it  and  slew  all  its 
men  and  took  the  spoils 
from  it  and  burned  it. 
36From  there  he  departed 
and  took  Casphor,  Ma- 
ked,  Bosor,  and  the  other 
cities  of  the  land  of 
Gilead. 

3"Now  after  these 
things  Timotheus  gath- 
ered another  army,  and 
encamped  op])osite  Ra- 
phon  beyond  the  brook. 
3^And  Judas  sent  men 
to  spy  out  the  camp. 
And  they  brought  him 
word  saying.  All  the 
heathen  who  live  about 
us  have  gathered  to- 
gether to  them  a  very 
great  army.  ■^^They 
have   also   hired    Ara- 


Traditional  History 

twenty  thousand  footmen  and  two  thousand  five 
hundred  horsemen.  -^As  soon  as  Timotheus 
heard  of  the  advance  of  Judas,  he  at  once  sent 
away  the  \\omen  and  the  children  and  also  the 
baggage"  into  the  fortress  called  Carnion;  for 
the  place  was  hard  to  besiege  and  difficult  of 
access  because  of  the  narrowness  of  the  ap- 
proaches on  all  sides.  --But  when  the  first  di- 
vision of  Judas  appeared  in  sight  and  terror  fell 
upon  the  enemy  and  fear,  because  the  manifesta- 
tion of  him  who  beholdetli  all  things  came  upon 
them,  they  rushed  headlong  in  flight,  carried  this 
way  and  that,  so  that  they  were  often  hurt  by 
their  own  men  and  pierced  with  the  jioints  of 
their  swords.  ^3  ^j^^j  Judas  continued  the  pur- 
suit the  more  hotly,  putting  the  guilty  sinners 
to  the  sword,  and  he  destroyed  as  many  as  thirty 
thousand  men.  -"timotheus  himself,  falling  in 
with  the  division  of  Dositheus  and  Sosipater, 
besought  them  with  much  deception  to  let  him 
go  in  safety,  because  he  had  in  his  power  the 
parents  of  many  and  the  brothers  of  some;  if  he 
should  die  little  regard  would  be  shown  to  these. 
2^ After  he  had  with  many  words  confirmed  the 
agreement  to  restore  them  without  hurt,  they 
let  him  go  that  they  might  .save  their  kinsmen. 


10  24Now  Timotheus.  who  had  been  before  de-  Secontl 
feated  by  the  Jews,  having  gathered  together  for-  ^I'Vi- 
eign  forces  in  great  numbers  and  having  collected  "i<Jtl>e- 
not  a  few  of  the  horsemen  who  were  of  Asia,  came  the 
with  the  avowed  purpose  of  taking  Judea  by  force  of'car- 
of  arms.     -''As  he  drew  near,  Maccabeus  and  his  ^'^^^ 
men  sjjriiikled  earth  upon  their  heads  and  girded 
their  loins  with  sackcloth  in  supplication  to  God. 
^''And  falling  down  upon  the  step  before  the  altar, 
they  besought  him  to  be  gracious  to  them  and  to 
be  an  enemy  to  their  enemies  and  an  adversary  to 
their  aflversaries,  as  the  law  declares.''       -"Then 
rising   from  their  prayer  they  took  up  their  arms 
and   aflvanced   some  distance  from   the  city,   but 


°  II  Mac.  12^'  Gk.,  rest  of  the  ha(/fi(iiin. 

P  I  Mac.  ry"  For  tlio  sainn  tactics  cf.  Judg.  7'",  1  Sam.  11".  II  Sam.  18^ 

1  II  Mac.  1(>«  Cf.  J-:x.  23". 

421 


I  Mac.  539] 

Historij  of  the  Hasmo- 

neans 

bians  to  help  them,  and 
they  are  camping  be- 
yond the  brook,  ready 
to  come  against  you  to 
battle.  Then  Judas 
went  to  meet  them. 
4'^And  Timotheus  said 
to  the  officers  of  his 
army,  when  Judas  with 
his  army  was  near  the 
brook  of  water,  If  he 
gets  over  ahead  of  us, 
we  shall  not  be  able  to 
withstand  him,  for  he 
will  be  more  than  a 
match  for  us.  ^igut  if 
he  is  afraid  and  halts 
across  the  river,  we 
will  cross  to  him  and 
overcome  him.  ^^Now 
when  Judas  came  near 
the  brook  of  water,  he 
ordered  those  who  kept 
the  record  of  the  people 
to  remain  by  the  brook 
and  commanded  them, 
saying.  Allow  no  one  to 
halt,  but  let  all  come  to 
the  battle.  ^"^XnA  he 
crossed  over  ahead  of 
them  and  all  the  people 
after  him.  And  all  the 
heathen  were  defeated 
before  him,  and  cast- 
ing away  their  weapons, 
they  fled  to  the  temple 
at  Carnaim.  '^'^And 
they  captured  the  city 
and  burned  the  temple, 
together  with  all  who 
were  in  it.  Thus  Car- 
naim was  subdued,  and 
they  were  no  longer 
able  to  offer  resistance 
to  Judas. 


THE  WARS   OF  JUDAS 


[II  Mac.  1027 


Traditional  History 


halted  when  they  drew  near  to  the  enemy.  ^^Just 
as  the  dawn  was  breaking,  both  alike  charged;  the 
one  side  having,  as  a  pledge  of  success  and  victory — 
beside  their  valor — their  trust  in  the  Lord,  the 
other  making  their  passion  their  leader  in  the 
strife.  "^But  when  the  battle  grew  fierce,  there 
appeared  from  heaven  to  their  adversaries  five 
noble-looking  men  on  horses  with  bridles  of  gold 
and  leading  on  the  Jews.  And  they,  taking  Mac- 
cabeus in  the  midst  of  them  and  covering  him 
with  their  own  armor,  guarded  him  from  wounds, 
while  upon  their  adversaries  they  shot  forth  arrows 
and  thunderbolts.  Confused,  therefore,  with  blind- 
ness, filled  with  bewilderment,  they  were  cut  to 
pieces.  ^^Twenty  thousand,  five  hundred,  besides 
six  hundred  horsemen,  were  slain.  ^^Timotheus 
himself  fled  into  a  stronghold  called  Gazara,  a 
very  secure  fortress,  where  Chereas  was  in  com- 
mand. ^^But  Maccabeus  and  his  men  cheerfully 
laid  siege  to  the  fortress,  twenty-four  days.  ^^And 
they  who  were  within,  trusting  in  the  strength  of 
the  place,  blasphemed  exceedingly  and  hurled 
forth  impious  words.  ^^But  at  the  dawn  of  the 
twenty-fifth  day  certain  young  men  of  the  com- 
pany of  Maccabeus,  inflamed  with  anger  because 
of  the  blasphemies,  assaulted  the  wall  manfully 
and  with  furious  courage  and  cut  down  all  who 
came  in  their  way.  ^e^^d  others  by  a  movement 
on  the  opposite  side,  climbing  up  in  like  manner 
against  the  garrison,  set  fire  to  the  towers  and, 
kindling  pyres,  burned  the  blasphemers  alive; 
while  others  broke  open  the  gates,  and,  having 
given  entrance  to  the  rest  of  the  force,  occupied 
the  city.  ^'^And  they  slew  Timotheus,  who  was 
hidden  in  a  cistern,  and  his  brother  Chereas  and 
also  Apollophanes.  ^^And  when  they  had  ac- 
complished all  this,  with  hymns  and  thanksgivings 
they  blessed  the  Lortl,  who  showed  such  great 
kindness  to  Israel  and  gave  them  the  victory. 
12  26 Judas  also  went  forth  against  Carnion  and 
the  temple  of  Atergatis  and  slew  twenty-five  thou 
sand  persons. 


422 


CAMPAIGN  IN   GILEAD 


I  M\C.  545] 

History  of  the  Hasmoncans 

^^Then  Judas  gathered  all  the  IsraeHtes 
who  were  in  the  land  of  Gilead,  from  the  least 
to  the  greatest,  with  their  wives  and  children 
and  their  household  possessions,  a  very  great 
host,  that  they  might  go  into  the  land  of  Judah. 
46And  they  came  as  far  as  E[)hron.  This  was 
a  large  and  very  strong  city  situated  directly 
on  the  pass  by  which  they  must  go;  they  could 
not  turn  aside  from  it  either  to  the  right  or 
the  left,  but  it  was  necessary  to  go  through  it. 
4"But  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  shut  them 
out,  and  stopped  up  the  gate  with  stones. 
^^Then  Judas  sent  a  peaceful  message  to  them, 
saying,  We  wish  to  pass  through  your  land  to 
go  into  our  own  land,  and  no  one  shall  do  you 
any  harm,  we  will  only  march  through  on  foot. 
But  they  would  not  open  to  him.  ^^Then 
Judas  commanded  proclamation  to  be  made 
in  the  army,  that  each  man  should  encamp  in 
the  place  where  he  was.  50^\.nd  the  men  of 
the  army  besieged  and  fought  against  the  city 
all  that  day  and  night,  and  the  city  fell  into 
his  hands.  ^^And  then  he  destroyed  all  the 
males  with  the  sword,  razed  the  city,  and  took 
the  spoils  from  it,  and  passed  through  the  city 
over  those  who  were  slain.  ^^And  they  crossed 
the  Jordan  into  the  great  plain  opposite  Beth- 
shan.  53\n(l  Judas  gathered  together  those 
who  lagged  behind  and  encouraged  the  people 
all  the  way  through,  until  he  came  into  the 
land  of  Judah.  ^^  \,„i  \\^^.y  went  up  to  Mount 
Zion  with  gladness  and  joy  and  offered  whole 
burnt  offerings,  because  not  one  of  them  had 
been  slain,  but  they  had  returned  safe  and 
sound. 


[II  Mac.  1027 


Traditional  History 

^''And  after  he  had  put 
these  to  flight  and  destroyed 
them,  he  marched  against 
Ephron  also,  a  strong  city, 
in  which  Lysias""  had  a  resi- 
dence and  multitudes  of 
peoples  of  all  nations.  And 
stalwart  young  men  sta- 
tioned before  the  walls 
made  a  vigorous  defence; 
and  there  were  great  stores 
of  engines  and  darts  there. 
-^But,  calling  upon  the  Sov- 
ereign who  with  might  break- 


Judas's 
capture 
ami  de- 
struc- 
tion of 
Ephron 
and  \'ic- 
torious 
return 
to  Je- 
rusa- 
lem 


the 


strength 


eth  m  pieces 
of  the  enemy,  they  gained 
possession  of  the  city  and 
slew  as  many  as  twenty-five 
thousand  of  those  who  were 
within,  ^aprom  there  they 
set  out  and  advanced  against 
Scythopolis,^  which  is  dis- 
tant from  Jerusalem  sixty- 
nine  miles.  "^^But  when 
the  Jews  who  were  settled 
there  testified  of  the  good- 
will that  the  Scythopolitans 
had  shown  toward  them  and 
of  their  kindly  bearing  in 
the  times  of  their  misfort- 
une, ^Hhey  gave  thanks  and 
exhorted  them  to  remain 
well-disposed  toward  their 
race  in  the  future  also.  Then 
they  went  up  to  Jerusalem, 
for  the  feast  of  weeks  was 
close  at  hand. 


55Now  while  Judas  and  Jonathan  were  in  the  land  of  Gih-ad  and  Simon  Defeat 
his  brother  in  (ialilee  before  Ptolemais,  '''''Josepli  the  son  of  Zacharias,  and  ^eph" 
Azarias,  commanders  of  the  army,  heard  of  their  exploits  and  the  wars  which  Xil^^ias 
they  had  carried  through,  and  they  said,  57Let  us  also  win  fame  and  let  us  i.pfore 
go  and  fight  against  the  heathen  who  are  around  about  us.     ''^So  they  gave 


'  II  Mac.  122'  J.y^ias  is  omitted  in  many  MSS.,  but  apparently  by  mistake. 
"  II   Mac.   12^^  Scytliopolia   is  the   Greek  name    of   Dcthalian    mentioned    m    the    parallel, 
I  Mac.  5''2. 

423 


I  Mac.  558]  THE  WARS   OF   JUDAS 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

command  to  the  men  of  the  army  which  was  with  them  and  went  toward 
Jamnia.  ^Qgyt  when  Gorgias  and  his  men  came  out  of  the  city  to  meet  them 
in  battle,  *^0Joseph  and  Azarias  were  put  to  flight  and  were  pursued  to  the 
borders  of  Judea,  and  there  fell  on  that  day  of  the  people  of  Israel  about 
two  thousand  men.  ^^Thus  the  people  suffered  a  great  disaster  because  they 
did  not  obey  Judas  and  his  brothers,  thinking  to  perform  some  exploit. 
^"But  they  were  not  of  the  same  stock  as  those  men,  by  whose  hand  deliver- 
ance was  given  to  Israel. 
judas's        ^^Then  Judas 


'"'^'=^''-  and  his  brothers 


ful  wars 
against    ^gnt 
the 
Idu- 
means 
and 
Philis- 
tines 


out  and 
fought  against  the 
people  of  Esau  in 
the  land  toward 
the  south.  And 
he  smote  Hebron 
and  the  villages 
belonging  to  it 
and  pulled  down 
its  citadel  and 
burned  the  sur- 
rounding towers. 
^^Then  he  set  out 
to  go  into  the 
land  of  the  Phi- 
listines;^' and  he 
went  through  Ma- 
rissa.  ^"On  that 
day  certain 
priests,  desiring  to 
do  exploits  there, 
were  slain  in  bat- 
tle, when  they  un- 
wisely went  out 
to  fight.  Gsxhen 
Judas  turned 
aside  to  Azotus, 
to  the  land  of  the 
Philistines,  and 
pulled  down  their 


Traditional  History 

12  ^2 After  the  feast  called  Pentecost  they  advanced 
against  Gorgias,  the  governor  of  Idumea.  ^^And  he 
came  out  with  three  thousand  footmen  and  four  hun- 
dred horsemen.  ^^And  when  they  engaged  in  battle,  it 
transpired  that  a  few  of  the  Jews  fell,  ^^jj^t  ^  certain 
Dositheus,*  of  Bacenor's  followers,  who  rode  a  horse 
and  was  a  strong  man,  laying  hold  of  Gorgias  and  taking 
him  by  his  cloak,  was  drawing  him  along  by  main  force. 
But  when  he  purposed  to  take  the  accursed  man  alive, 
one  of  the  Thracian  horsemen  bore  down  upon  him  and 
disabled  his  shoulder  so  that  Gorgias  escaped  to  Marissa. 
^^ After  Esdris^  and  his  followers  had  fought  long  and 
were  wearied,  Judas  called  upon  the  Lord  to  show  him- 
self their  ally  and  the  leader  of  their  van  of  battle. 
^'^And  then  in  the  language  of  his  fathers  he  raised 
the  battle  cry,  accompanied  by  h^Tnns,  and,  rushing  un- 
expectedly upon  the  troops  of  Gorgias,  he  put  them  to 
flight.  ^^Xhen  Judas  came  with  his  army  to  the  city  of 
AduUam;"^  and  as  the  seventh  day  drew  near,  according 
to  their  custom,  they  purified  themselves  and  kept  the 
sabbath  there.  39Qj^  ^\^q  following  day,  when  it  had 
become  necessary,  Judas  and  his  men  came  to  take  up 
the  bodies  of  those  who  had  fallen  and  to  bring  them 
back  to  be  with  their  kinsmen  in  the  sepulchres  of  their 
fathers.  ^^Under  the  garments  of  each  one  of  the  dead 
they  found  consecrated  tokens  of  the  idols  of  Jamnia,'^ 
with  which  the  law  forbids  the  Jews  to  have  anything 
to  do ;  and  it  became  clear  to  all  that  this  was  the  reason 
why  they  had  fallen.  ^^All  therefore  blessed  the  works 
of  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  who  maketh  manifest 


*  II  Mac.  1235  Evidently  not  the  Dositheus  mentioned  in  ". 

"  II  Mac.  12*'  Luc,  Gnrcjias,  but  this  is  evidently  an  attempt  to  identify  the  unexpected 
proper  name,  Esdris  (Heb.,  Esri).  The  word  means,  help  (of  Jehovah).  Like  Jasher  in  the  ear- 
lier O.T.  books,  it  is  probably  a  title  of  the  chosen  people. 

^'  I  Mac.  5*  Lit.,  strangers,  as  in  4—.  If  it  means  Philistines,  as  '*  indicates,  then  Samaria, 
supported  by  the  Gk.  MSS.,  must  be  changed  to,  Marissa,  with  Josephus. 

*  II  Mac.  1238  Gk.,  Adollam. 

'  II  Mac.  12^"  Probably  small  images  used  as  amulets. 


424 


I  SL'.c.  568] 

History  of  the 
Has-moncans 

altars  and  burned 
the  carved  im- 
ages of  tlieir  gods 
and,  taking  the 
spoil  of  their  cit- 
ies, he  returned 
to  the  land  of  Ju- 
dah.  63\n(j  ^he 
hero  Judas  and 
his  brothers  were 
greatly  honored 
by  all  Israel  and 
by  all  the  heathen 
wherever  their 
name  was  heard. 
^^And  men  gath- 
ered to  them  to 
sing  their  praise.^ 


HIS  SUCCESSFUL  CAMPAIGNS 

Tnidit ion al  II  istory 

the  hidden  things,  and  turned  to  supplication,  beseeching 
that  the  sin  committed  might  be  wholly  blotted  out. 
^-And  the  noble  Judas  exhorted  the  multitude  to  keep 
them.selves  from  sin,  because  they  had  .seen  before  their 
eyes  the  consequences  of  the  sin  of  those  who  had  fallen. 
^^And  when,  by  a  collection  among  the  men,  he  had 
gathered  as  much  as  two  thousand  drachmas  of  silver, 
he  sent  it  to  Jeru.salem  to  offer  a  sacrifice  for  sin.  In 
this  he  acted  very  well  and  honorably,  in  that  he  was 
mindful  of  the  resurrection.  ■*"*For  were  he  not  expect- 
ing that  those  who  had  fallen  would  rise  again,  it  were 
superduous  and  idle  to  pray  for  the  dead.  '^^If  then  he 
did  it,  considering  that  a  most  excellent  gift  of  grace  is 
laid  up  for  those  who  sleep  in  godliness,  holy  and  godly 
was  the  thought;  therefore  he  made  the  propitiation  for 
the  dead,  that  they  might  be  released  from  their  sin. 


183.  Death  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes  and  the  Accession  of  Eupator, 
I  Mac.  6'-",  II  Mac.  9'-«,  10»-''' 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  6  ^And  as  King  Antiochus  was  jour- 
neying through  the  upper  countries,  he  heard 
that  in  Elymais,''  in  Persia,  there  was  a  city 
renowned  for  riches,  for  silver  and  gold,  -and 
that  the  temple  there  was  exceedingly  rich  and 
that  in  it  there  were  golden  .shields  and  breast- 
plates and  arms,  which  Alexander  son  of 
Philip  the  Macedonian  king,  who  reigned  first 
over  the  Syrian  Empire,  had  there  left  behind. 
^Therefore  he  went  and  trit>d  to  take  the  city 
and  ])illage  it,  but  he  was  not  able  because  the 
matter  became  known  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  city,  and  they  arose  against  him  in  battle. 


Traditional  History 

II  Mac.  9  1  About  that 
time  it  transpired  that  An- 
tiochus had  set  out  in  dis- 
grace^ from  the  region  of 
Persia.  ^For  he  had  en- 
tered the  city  called  Persep- 
olis  and  had  attempted  to 
rob  its  temples''  and  to  hold 
the  city.  Put  when  in  con- 
se(|uence  the  people  ran  to 
defend  themselves  with  their 
weapons,  the  attack  was  re- 
pulsed.   And  Antiochus,  put 


Antio- 
chus's 
unsuc- 
cessful 
attempt 
to  plun- 
der a 
rich  _ 
Persian 
city 


«  1  Mac.  5''-''*  These  verses  belong  appropriately  at  the  close  of  the  account  of  Judas's  vic- 
torious campaJKn.  ,        ,  ^„,..^       ^^  .  ,    ,  , 

§  183  I  Mac.  dates  the  fleath  of  Antiochus  in  the  summer  of  104  n.r.  (fi"').  ^  It  is  probable, 
however,  that  it  wa.s  not  Iohk  after  tlie  redcilicatioii  of  the  temple  in  Dec,  Ui,").  The  sudden  death 
of  this  arch-enemy  furnished  the  historic  fact  aliout  whicli  Krew  up  the  traditions  preserved  in 
II  Mac.  The  letter  in  0'"-"  is  contrary  not  only  to  probability,  but  also  to  his  well-known  atti- 
tude to  the  .Jews  and  to  the  testimony  of  the  iirecediuK  context,  which  assumes,  '«.  that  there 
wa-s  no  hope  of  liis  recovery.  The  entire  account  of  his  death  was  evidently  written  with  a  di- 
dactic i)urpose  and  freely  elaborated. 

>'l  .Mao.  0'  The  (Jreek  IClurnias  may  represent  the  original  Ilel).,  hldin. 

"  II  .Viae,  y  Or,  in  diHorder. 

<i  II  .Mac.  y^  Or,  temple. 

425 


THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 


Recep- 
tion of 
the 
news 
of  the 
victo- 
ries of 
the 
Jews 


I  Mac.  64] 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

^So   he   retreated  and  set  out  from  there  in 
great  disappointment  to  return  to  Babylon. 


[II  Mac.  92 


^Then  one  came  bring- 
ing him  tidings  into  Per- 
sia, that  the  armies  which 
went  against  the  land  of 
Judah  had  been  put  to 
flight,  ^and  that  Lysias 
had  gone  at  the  head  of  a 
strong  host,  and  had  been 
defeated  before  them ; 
and  that  they  had  grown 
strong  in  arms  and  power, 
having  a  store  of  spoils 
which  they  took  from  the 
armies  which  they  had 
cut  off;  ''and  that  they 
had  pulled  down  the 
abomination®  which  he 
had  built  upon  the  altar 
that  was  in  Jerusalem; 
and  that  they  had  sur- 
rounded the  sanctuary 
with  high  walls  as  be- 
fore, and  also  Bethsura, 
his  city.  ^And  when  the 
king  heard  these  things, 
he  was  exceedingly  as- 
tonished and  moved,  so 
that  he  lay  down  upon  his 
bed,  and  fell  sick  for 
grief,  because  his  affairs 
had  not  prospered  as  he 
had  expected.  ^And  he 
was  there  a  long  while 
because  great  grief  was 
always  overcoming  him 
anew. 


His  re- 
pent- 
ance 
and 

pitiable 
end 


^•^And  when  he 
saw  that  his  end 
was  near,  he  called 


Traditional  History 

to  flight  by  the  people  of  the 
country,  had  to  break  up 
his  camp  in  disgrace. 
^Wliile  he  was  at  Ecbatana,  news  came  to 
him  of  what  had  happened  to  Nicanor  and  the 
forces  of  Timotheus.  ^Xhen  swelling  with  anger, 
he  thought  to  make  the  Jews  suffer  even  for  the 
evil  doing  of  those  who  had  put  him  to  flight. 
Therefore,  as  the  judgment  from  heaven  was 
even  then  following  him,  he  gave  orders  to  his 
charioteer  to  drive  without  ceasing  and  end  the 
journey.  For  thus  he  spoke  in  his  arrogance,  I 
will  make  Jerusalem  a  common  graveyard  of 
Jews  when  I  come  there.  '^But  the  all-seeing 
Lord,  the  God  of  Israel,  smote  him  with  a  fatal 
and  invisible  stroke;  as  soon  as  he  had  ceased 
speaking  an  incurable  pain  of  the  bowels  seized 
him  and  bitter  torments  of  the  inner  parts;  ^and 
that  most  justly,  for  he  had  tormented  other  men's 
bowels  with  many  and  strange  sufferings.  '^How- 
ever he  did  not  at  all  cease  from  his  insolence, 
but  was  still  filled  with  arrogance,  breathing 
fire  in  his  rage  against  the  Jews,  and  gave  orders 
to  hasten  the  journey.  Then  it  came  to  pass 
that  he  fell  from  his  chariot  as  it  rushed  along, 
and  had  such  a  severe  fall  that  all  the  members 
of  his  body  were  racked.  ^And  he  who  but  re- 
cently supposed  himself  to  have  the  waves  of  the 
sea  at  his  bidding,  so  abnormally^  vainglorious 
was  he,  and  who  thought  to  weigh  the  heights 
of  the  mountains  in  a  balance,  was  now  brought 
to  the  ground  and  carried  in  a  litter,  showing  to 
all  that  the  power  was  manifestly  God's;  ^so 
that  even  worms  swarmed  out  of  the  body  of  the 
impious  man,  and,  while  he  was  still  living  in 
anguish  and  pain,  his  flesh  fell  off  piecemeal, 
and  because  of  the  stench  his  corruption  was 
offensive  to  the  whole  army.  ^O^^d  the  man 
who  a  little  before  supposed  himself  able  to 
touch  the  stars  of  heaven,  no  one  could  endure 

^  to  carry  on  account  of  his  intolerable  stench. 

^^Then  at  last  sorely  stricken  he  began  in  great  part 
to  cease  from  his  arrogance,  and  to  come  to  his  senses 
under  the  scourge  of  God,   for  his  pains  increased 


•  I  Mac.  6^  Cf.  TM. 

'  II  Mac.  9^  Lit.,  beyond  the  condition  of  a  man. 

426 


I  M^c.  610] 

History  of  the 
Hasmoneans 

for  all  his  Friends, 
and   said    to   them. 
Sleep  flees  from  my 
eyes  and  my  heart 
sinks  because  of  bit- 
ter grief.      11  And  I 
said  to  myself,  To 
what  tribulation 
have  I  come,   and 
how   great   a   flood 
is  it  in  which  I  now 
am,  although  I  was 
gracious     and     be- 
loved  while   I   still 
reigned  !      i-But 
now     I     remember 
the    evils    which    I 
did    at    Jerusalem, 
and  that  I  took  all 
the  vessels  of  silver 
and  gold  that  were 
in   it,   and   sent    to 
destroy  the  inhabi- 
tants    of     J  u  d  a  h 
without  a  cause. 
1^1    perceive    that 
this    is   why    these 
evils  have  come  up- 
on me,  and  now  I 
am  about  to  perish 
through        great 
grief    in    a    foreign 
land.        i^Then  he 
called    for     Philip, 
one  of  his  Friends, 
and    set    him    over 
all     his     kingdom. 
l^And  gave  him  his 
diadem,    his    robe, 
and  his  signet  ring, 
that    he    should 


DEATH  OF  ANTIOCHUS 

Traditional  History 


[U  Mac.  911 


every  moment.  i-And  when  he  himself  could  not  en- 
dure his  own  smell,  he  spoke  these  words:  It  is  right 
that  one  should  be  subject  to  God  and  that,  being 
mortal,  he  should  not  think  himself  like  God.  i^Then 
the  vile  man  vowed  to  the  Sovereign  Lord,  who  now 
no  more  would  have  pity  upon  him,  and  said  i^that 
the  holy  city  which  he  was  hastening  to  reach,  that 
he  might  lay  it  even  with  the  ground  and  make  it  a 
common  graveyard,  he  would  declare  free.  i^And  as 
for  the  Jews  concerning  whom  he  had  decided  that 
they  were  not  even  worthy  of  burial  but  should  be 
cast  out  to  the  beasts  with  their  infants,  for  the  birds 
to  devour,  he  would  make  them  all  equal  to  citizens 
of  Athens.  i*^And  the  holy  sanctuary,  which  before  he 
had  despoiled,  s  he  would  adorn  with  goodliest  offer- 
ings, and  would  restore  all  the  sacred  vessels  many 
times  multiplied,  and  out  of  his  own  revenues  would 
defray  the  charges  connected  with  the  sacrifices. 
i~And,  besides  all  this,  that  he  would  become  a  Jew 
and  would  visit  every  inhabited  place,  proclaiming  the 
power  of  God.  i^But  his  suft'erings  did  not  cease  at 
all,  for  the  judgment  of  God  had  come  upon  him 
righteously,  and  so,  having  given  up  all  hope  for  him- 
self, he  wrote  to  the  Jews  the  following  letter  in  the 
nature  of  a  supplication,  to  this  effect: 

i^To  the  worthy  Jews,  his  fellow-citizens,  Antiochus, 
king  and  general,  wishes  much  joy  and  health  and 
prosperity,  ^^jf  you  and  your  children  prosper  and 
your  affairs  are  to  your  mind,  I  give  Cunl  very  great 
thanks,''  for  my  hope  is  in  heaven.  -'I  however  lie 
ill.*  Your  esteem  and  good-will  I  remembered  with 
affection.  On  my  return  from  the  region  of  Persia, 
being  .seized  with  a  loathsome  sickness,  1  deemed  it 
necessary  to  take  thought  for  the  common  safety  of  all, 
not  desjjairing  of  my  recovery,  22but  with  great  hope 
of  escaping  from  the  sickness.  -'^But  considering  tluit 
my  father  also,  at  the  time  when  he  led  an  army  into 
the  uj)per  country,  appointed  his  successor,  -"^in  order 
that,  if  anything  unexpected  occurred,  or  if  any  mis- 
fortune was  merely  rei)orl<'d.  the  i)eople  throughout 
the  country,  knowing  to  whom  tiie  slate  had  been  left. 


«  II  Mac  9"  Cf  3'. 

'■  II  Slac!  920  This  clause  is  omitted  in  many  MSS.  but  is  found  in  others,  and  i.s  demanded  by 
the  context. 

'  II  Mac.  9-''  /  however  lie  ill,  is  omitted  in  some  MSS.,  but  cf.  1 1-'. 

427 


I  ]\L4.C.  615] 

Histori/  of  the 
Hasmoneans 


carry  themJ  to  An- 
tiochus,  his  son,  and 
should  bring  him 
up  to  be  king.  i*^So 
King  Antiochus 
died  there  in  the 
one  hundred  and 
forty-ninth  year.'^ 
I'^And  when  Ly- 
sias  knew  that  the 
king  was  dead,  he 
set  up  Antiochus 
his  son  to  reign, 
whom  he  liad  cared 
for  while  he  was 
young,  and  he  called 
his  name  Eupator. 


Eupa- 

tor's 

policy 

toward 

the 

Jews 


THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 

Traditional  History 


{II  Mac.  924 


might  not  be  troubled ;  ^^and,  besides  all  this,  observing 
that  the  bordering  princes  and  the  neighbors  were 
looking  for  opportunities  and  were  awaiting  the  future 
event,  I  have  appointed  my  son  Antiochus  king.  Often, 
when  I  was  hastening  into  the  upper  provinces,  I  in- 
trusted him  and  commended  him  to  most  of  you;  and 
I  have  written  to  him  what  is  added  below.  -"^I  ex- 
hort you  therefore  and  beseech  you  to  remember  the 
benefits  you  have  received  in  common  and  severally, 
and  to  preserve  each  of  you  your  present  good-will 
toward  me  and  my  son.  27poj.  \  ^m  persuaded  that  he 
in  gentleness  and  kindness,  following  my  policy,  will 
maintain  friendly  relations  with  you. 

2^So  the  murderer  and  blasphemer  having  suffered 
most  grievously,  as  he  himself  had  dealt  with  other 
men,  died  in  a  strange  land,  among  the  mountains,  a 
most  pitiable  death.  ^9  \j^(j  philip^  his  foster-brother, 
conveyed  the  body  home;  and  then,  fearing  the  son  of 
xAntiochus,  he  betook  himself  to  Ptolemy  Philometor 
in  Egypt.'  10  ^Such  were  the  circumstances  of  the 
end  of  Antiochus,  who  was  called  Epiphanes. 
^^Now  will  we  declare  what  came  to  pass  under  Antiochus  Eupator,  who 
was  a  son  of  that  godless  man,  and  will  briefly  summarize  the  evils  connected 
with  his  wars.  '^For  this  man,  when  he  succeeded  to  the  kingdom,  appointed 
a  certain  Lysias  prime  minister"^  and  supreme  governor  of  Coelesyria  and 
Phoenicia.  ^"For  Ptolemy,  who  was  called  Macron,  set  an  example  of  ob- 
serving justice  toward  the  Jews  because  of  the  wrong  which  had  been  done 
to  them,  and  endeavored  to  conduct  his  dealings  with  them  peaceably. 
'•^Whereupon  he  was  accused  by  the  Friends  before  Eupator,  and  was  called 
traitor  in  every  respect,  because  he  had  abandoned  Cyprus,  which  Philo- 
metor had  entrusted  to  him,  and  had  withdrawn  himself  to  Antiochus,  called 
Epiphanes.  And  so,  failing  to  uphold  the  honor  of  his  office,  he  took  poison 
and  made  away  with  himself. 


J I  Mac.  6^5  Following  Jos.  and  Svr. 
k  I  Mac.  6'"  Summer  of  164. 

'  II  Mac.  9-«  But  of.  l.S-3, 1  Mac.  Q^'-^,  and  Jos.,  Ant.,  XII,  9',  which  contradict  the  statement. 
Philip  on  hi.?  return  was  conquered  and  put  to  death  by  Lysias. 
"  II  Mac.  10"  Or,  regent. 


428 


I  Mac.  6i«] 


BATTLE  OF  BETH-ZACHARIAS 


[11  Mac.  I3I 


184.  The  Disastrous  Battle  of  Beth-zacharias,  I  INIac.  (V^-^\  II  ]Mac.  IS'" 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  6  i^Now  those  who 
were  in  the  citadel  were  hindering 
Israel  round  about  the  sanctuary 
and  were  always  seeking  to  do  them 
harm  and  were  a  support  to  the 
heathen.  ^^But  Judas  determined 
to  destroy  them  and  called  all  the 
people  together  to  besiege  them. 
20 And  they  were  gathered  together 
and  besieged  them  in  the  hundred 
and  fiftieth  year,  and  he  made 
mounds  from  which  to  shoot  and 
engines  of  war.  ^ifhen  some  of 
those  who  were  shut  up  came  out 
and  certain  apostate  Israelites 
joined  them.  ^^Xnd  they  went  to 
the  king  and  said,  When  will  you 
finally  satisfy  justice  and  avenge 
our  brothers  ?  -^^We  were  willing 
to  serve  your  father  and  to  live  as 
he  enjoined,  and  to  obey  his  com- 
mands; 24but  because  of  this  our 
own  people  besieged  us  in  the  cita- 
del and  were  alienated  from  us; 
and  as  many  of  us  as  they  could 
find,  tliey  killed  and  despoiled  our 
inheritances.  25\ntl  not  against  us 
only  have  they  stretched  out  their 
hand,  but  also  against  all  that  bor- 
dered on  them.  -'^And  now  they 
are  to-day  encamped  against  the 
citadel  at  Jerusalem,  to  take  it, 
and  they  liavc  fortified  the  sanct- 
uary and  Belhsura.     -'^And  if  you 


Traditional  History 

II  Mac.   13  ^In  the  one  hundred  Ad- 

and  forty-ninth  year  news  was  brought  ^f ""Jf. 

to  Judas  and  his  followers  that  Antiochus  luitor 
T-,  ..,,.,       and  the 

Eupator  was  commg  with   nuntituues  well- 

against  Judea  and  with  him  Lysias  his  gerVed 


iruardian    and 


minister,    -each  fate  of 


having  a  Greek  force,  a  hundred  and  laus 
ten  thousand  footmen  and  five  thou- 
sand, three  hundred  horsemen  and 
twenty-two  elephants  and  three  hundred 
chariots  armed  with  scythes.  *^Mene- 
laus  also  joined  with  them  and  with 


great 


dissimulation     encouraged     An- 


tiochus, not  for  the  deliverance  of  his 
country  but  because  he  thought  he 
would  be  establi.shed  in  his  office.'* 
*But  the  King  6f  kings  stirred  up  the 
anger  of  Antiochus  against  the  wicked 
sinner;  and  when  Lysias  informed  him 
that  this  man  was  the  cause  of  all  the 
evils,  he  gave  orders  to  bring  him  to 
Beroea°  and  to  put  him  to  death  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  there.  ^Now  in 
that  place  is  a  tower  fifty  cubits  high, 
full  of  ashes,  with  a  revolving  contriv- 
anceP  from  every  side  of  which  is  an 
abrupt  descent  into  the  ashes.  ^Here 
they  ])ushed  forward  to  destruction 
everyone  who  is  guilty  of  sacrilege'^  or 
has  committed  any  other  conspicuous 
crime.  ^Such  was  the  death  which  it 
befell  that  law-breaker,  INIenelaus,  to 
die,  without  even  receiving  a  portion  of 
the  earth  for  a  grave,  most  justly  too, 


§  184  II  Mac.  13'  dates  the  event  in  103  n.c.  but  I  Mac.  (i-'»  wilhout  mucli  donl)t  is  correct 
in  planing  it  one  vear  later.  II  Mac.  also  in  its  zeal  to  tilorify  the  .lews,  or  liecauso  of  the  niis- 
ieading  testimony  of  the  iK)|)ular  tradition  upon  which  it  is  ha.sed.  turns  the  virtual  defeat  into 
a  partial  victory.  With  the  reduction  of  the  temple  and  the  victories  of  ,)udas,  the  interest  of 
the  epitomizer  of  II  .Mac.  in  tlie  history  wanes  and  his  riitumi  of  the  remaining  events  is  often  so 
compressed  that  the  style  is  harsh  and  the  meaniiiK  at  times  ob.scure  ljecau.se  of  the  ellipses. 

"II  Mac.  13''  The  office  of  the  hish-priest  is  meant.     Of.  4-'  ". 

o  II  Mac.  13'   Located  in  Svria  between  Antioch  and  lliorapolis. 

I'  II  .Mac.  1.3''  It  is  difficult'  to  determine  the  exact  iiaturi!  of  this  instrument.  It  wa.s  prob- 
ably a  revolviuK  ai)i)aralus  which  lifK^d  the  victiin  t<j  the  top  of  the  lower  and  dro|)ped  him  m. 
As  (jrimm  suEKcsts,  the  lushes  were  jjrobably  burning.  «     ■■   i  * 

'I  II  Mac.  13"  The  (jk.  here  reads,  thni  <M  push  forward  whoever  is  ouillu,  ftc.  A  slight 
change  in  the  Gk.  gives  the  above  reading,  which  was  probably  the  original. 

429 


I  Mac.  627]  THE  WAKS  OF  JUDAS  [U  Mac.  138 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans  |  Traditional  History 

do   not   quickly   anticipate   them,  |  ^for  as  lie  had  committed  many  sins  in 


they  will  do  greater  things  than 
these,  and  you  will  not  be  able  to 
check  them. 


relation  to  the  altar,  the  fire  and  ashes 
of  which  were  holy,  in  ashes  did  he  re- 
ceive his  death. 


28When  the  king  had  heard  this,  he  was  angry, 
and  gathered  together  all  his  Friends,  the  officers  of 
his  army,  and  those  who  commanded  the  cavalry. 
-^There  came  to  him  also  from  other  kingdoms  and 
from  isles  of  the  sea,  bands  of  hired  soldiers.  ^''So 
the  number  of  his  forces  was  a  hundred  thousand 
footmen  and  twenty  thousand  horsemen  and  thirty- 
two  elephants  trained  for  war.  ^^Then  they  went 
through  Idumea  and  encamped  against  Bethsura  and 
carried  on  the  siege  a  long  time  and  made  engines  of 
w^ar.  The  besieged,  however,  sallied  out  and  burned 
them  and  fought  valiantly.  ^^  \ii(i  Judas  departed 
from  the  citadel  and  encamped  at  Beth-zacharias, 
opposite  the  king's  camp.  ^"^Then  the  king  rose 
early  in  the  morning  and  had  his  army  set  out  at  full 
speed  along  the  road  to  Beth-zacharias  and  his  forces 
prepared  for  battle  and  the  trumpets  were  sounded. 
^'^And  they  showed  the  elephants  the  blood  of  grapes 
and  mulberries,  in  order  to  excite  them  for  the  battle. 
^^Then  they  distributed  the  beasts  among  the  pha- 
lanxes and  stationed  by  each  elephant  a  thousand 
men  armed  with  coats  of  mail  and  helmets,  with  brass 
on  their  heads;  and  to  each  beast  five  hundred  chosen 
horsemen  were  appointed.  ^^These  were  already 
there,  wherever  the  beast  was,  and  wherever  the  beast 
went,  they  went  with  him  and  did  not  separate  them- 
selves from  him.  ^'^And  upon  them  were  towers  of 
wood,  strong,  covered,  one  girded  upon  each  beast. 
Upon  them  were  engines  and  two  or  three""  men,  who 
fought  upon  them,  besides  the  Indian  who  guided 
the  elephant.  ^^The  rest  of  the  horsemen  he  sta- 
tioned on  both  sides  of  the  two  wings  of  the  army  to 
inspire  terror  and  to  protect  the  phalanxes.  ^^And 
when  the  sun  struck  the  golden  and  bronze  shields,  the 
mountain  shone  with  them  and  blazed  like  torches 
of  fire.  '^'^And  a  part  of  the  king's  army  was  spread 
out  on  the  heights,  and  some  on  the  low  ground,  and 
they  moved  firmly  and  in  good  order.  ^^And  all  who 
heard  the  noise  of  their  multitude,  and  the  march- 


^Now  the  king,  in 
a  savage  temper,  was 
coming  intent  upon 
inflicting  on  the  Jews 
the  very  w'orst  of  the 
sufferings  which  had 
befallen  them  in  his 
father's  time.  ^^But 
as  soon  as  Judas 
heard  of  these  things, 
he  charged  the  multi- 
tude to  call  upon  the 
Lord  day  and  night, 
that,  if  ever  at  any 
other  time,  he  would 
now  also  succor  those 
who  were  about  to  be 
deprived  of  the  law 
and  their  country  and 
the  holy  temple,  ^^  and 
that  he  would  not  suf- 
fer the  people,  who 
had  been  for  only  a 
httle  while  restored, 
to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  those  unholy  hea- 
then. ^2\Y}ien  they 
had  all  done  the  same 
thing  together,  be- 
seeching the  merciful 
Lord  with  weeping 
and  fastings  and  pros- 
tration for  three  days 
without  ceasing,  Ju- 
das exhorted  and 
commanded  them 
to  be  ready.  ^^After 
having  gone  apart 
with  the  elders,  he  re- 


Pravers 
of  the 
Jews 
for  de- 
liver- 
ance 
from 
the  Syr- 
ians 


■■  I  Mac.  6''  The  Gk.  text  reads,  thirty-two,  but  the  original  probably  read  as  above, 
error  was  an  easy  one. 

430 


The 


I  iVL^c.  e-ii] 


BATTLE  OF  BETH-ZACHARIAS  [II  ^Iac.  13i3 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

ing  of  the   great    numbers,  and 

arms,  trembled  because  the  army  was  very  great  and 

strong. 


the   rattling  of  the 


^^Then  Judas  and  his  army  ap- 
proached for  battle,  and  there  fell  of  the 
king's  army  six  hundred  men.  "^^Now 
when  Eleazar,  who  was  called  Avaran, 
saw  one  of  the  beasts  armed  with  royal 
breastplates,  which  was  higher  than  all 
the  beasts,  and  it  looked  as  though  the 
king  was  upon  it,  "^"^he  gave  himself  to 
save  his  people  and  to  gain  for  himself 
an  everlasting  fame;  '^^and  he  ran  upon 
him  courageously  in  the  midst  of  the 
phalanx  and  slew  on  the  right  hand  and 
on  the  left,  and  they  scattered  from 
before  him  on  either  side.  ■**^Then  he 
crept  under  the  elephant,  thrust  him 
from  beneath,  and- slew  him.  And  the 
elephant  fell  to  the  earth  upon  him, 
and  he  died  there.  *"But  when  they 
saw  the  strength  of  the  king  and  the 
fierce  onset  of  the  armies,  they  turned 
away  from  them. 

^^But  those  who  were  in  the  king's  army  went 
up  to  Jerusalem  to  meet  them,  and  the  king  en- 
camped for  a  struggle  with  Judea  and  Mount  Sion. 
^^And  he  made  peace  with  those  in  Bethsura;  for 
they  surrendered  the  city,  because  they  had  no  food 
there  to  endure  the  siege,  because  the  land  had  a 
sabbath.'^  '^^vSo  the  king  took  Bethsura  and  sta- 
tioned a  garrison  there  to  keep  it.  '^^Thcn  he  en- 
camped against  the  sanctuary  for  a  long  time;  and 
he  set  there  mounds  from  which  to  shoot  and  en- 
gines of  war  and  instruments  for  casting  stones 
and  fire,  and  pieces  to  cast  darts  and  slings,   ^^^^i 


Traditional  History 

solved  that,  before  the 
king's  army  should  in- 
vade Judea  and  make 
themselves  masters  of 
the  city,  they  should 
go  forth  and  decide 
the  matter  with  the 
helj)  of  the  Lord.^ 

after  committing  the 
the  Creator*  of  the 
exhorting    those 

him   to   contend   nobly 


i^Then, 
decision    to 
world    and 
were  with 

even  unto  death  for  laws,  temple, 
city,  country,  and  commonwealth, 
he  pitched  his  camp  near  ISIodein. 
^^And  after  giving  out  to  his  men 
the  watchword,  "  \'ictorv  is  God's," 
with  a  chosen  body  of  the  bravest 
yoimg  men  he  fell  upon  the  king's 
tent  by  night  and  slew  in  the  camp'' 
as  many  as  two  thousand  men,  and 
brought  down  the  chief  elephant, 
with  all  whowere^'  in  the  tower  upon 
him.  ^"^And  at  last  they  filled  the 
camp  with  terror  and  alarm  and 
withdrew  victorious.  ^"And  this 
was  accomplished  when  the  day 
was  already  dawning,  because  he 
had  the  Lord's  helpful  protection. 

^^Then  the  king,  hav- 
ing had  a  taste  of  the 


The 

success- 
ful at- 
who  tack 


Siege  of 
Beth- 
sura 


exceeding    boldness    of  il"'* 


final 


(liaua 
of  the 
Syria 
asmy 


the  Jews,  made  attempt  with 
by  strategy  uj)on  their 
p(Ksitions,  '-'and  he  atl- 
vanced  upon  Bethsura, 
a  strong  fortress  of  the 
Jews,  was  turned  back, 
attacked  again,  was 
again  defeated.  -^Then 
Judas  conveyed  to  those 


•  II  M.ic.  n"  Som«  manuscript!"  have,  God,  instead  of,  the  Lord. 
'  II  Mac.  1."?"  Some  manuscripts  have,  God.  instead  of,  Creator. 
"  II  Mac.  13'''  Makinc  asliclit  but  nece.s.sary  correction. 
»  II  Mac.  1 3'''  So  the  best  texts.     Others  read,  him  who  was. 
"  I  .Mac.  0*''  Cf.  Lev.  25. 

<t31 


I  IVIac.  652] 


THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 


Histonj  of  the  Hasmoneans 

they  also  erected  engines  against  those  of  the  be- 
siegers and  fought  for  a  long  time,  ^^g^t  since 
there  was  no  food  in  the  sanctuary,  because  it 
was  the  seventh  year  and  those  who  had  fled 
for  safety  into  Judea  from  among  the  heathen 
had  eaten  up  what  remained  of  the  store  of  pro- 
visions, S^tiiere  were  but  a  few  left  in  the  sanctu- 
ary, because  the  famine  became  so  severe  uj)on 
them,  and  they  scattered,  each  man  to  his  own 
home. 


[II  Mac.  1320 

Traditional  History 

within  such  things  as 
were  necessary.  2iBut 
Rhodocus,  from  the 
Jewish  ranks,  made 
known  to  the  enemy 
their  secrets.  He  was 
discovered  and  taken, 
and  shut  up  in  prison. 
22The  king  treated  with 
those  in  Bethsura  the 
second  time,  exchanged 
pledges,  departed,  at- 
tacked^ the  forces  of  Ju- 
das, and  was  overcome. 


§  185.  The  Treaty  Establishing  Religious  Freedom,  I  Mac.  6^^-*^, 

II  Mac.  13-3-28 


Compli- 
cations 
at  An- 
tioch 
and 
the 
rights 
guaran- 
teed to 
the 
Jews 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  6  ^^Now  Lysias  heard  that  Philip, 
whom  Antiochus  the  king,  had  appointed  dur- 
ing his  lifetime  to  bring  up  his  son  Antiochus 
that  he  might  be  king,  5*^had  returned  from 
Persia  and  Media  and  with  him  the  forces 
that  went  with  the  king,  and  that  he  was 
trying  to  get  control  of  the  government,  ^''^he 
hastily  decided  to  depart.  And  he  said  to  the 
king,  and  to  the  officers  of  the  army  and  to  the 
men.  We  are  growing  weaker  every  day,  our 
supplies  are  scanty,  and  the  place  v>^hich  we  are 
besieging  is  strong,  and  the  welfare  of  the  king- 
dom depends  upon  us;  "^^now  therefore  let  us 
give  the  right  hand  to  these  men  and  make  peace 
with  them  and  with  all  their  nation,  ^^and  cov- 
enant with  them  that  they  may  live  according 
to  their  own  customs  as  formerly;  for  because 
of  their  laws,  which  we  abolished,  they  were 
angered  and  did  all  these  things.  '''^This 
counsel  pleased  the  king  and  the  princes,  and 
he  sent  to  them  to  make  peace.  They  accepted 
it,  ^^and  when    he  king  and  the  princes  took 


Traditional  History 

II  Mac.  13  23Theking 
heard  that  PhiHp,who  had 
been  left  as  prime  minis- 
ter in  Antioch,  had  become 
reckless,  was  confounded, 
made  overtures  to  the 
Jews,  submitted  himself 
and  accepted  on  oath  all 
just  conditions,  came  to 
terms  with  them  and 
offered  sacrifice,  honored 
the  sanctuary  and  showed 
kindness  to  the  place, 
2^and  graciously  received 
Maccabeus,  left  Hege- 
monides  governor  from 
Ptolemais  even  to  the 
Gerrenians,^  and  came  to 
Ptolemais.  25"^}^^  men  of 
Ptolemais  were  displeased 
at  the  treaty,  for  they  were 
exceedingly      indignant;'' 


'  II  Mac.  13'^-22  The  unusual  frequency  of  asyndeton  is  undoubtedly  due  to  the  desire  of  the 
epitomizer  to  condense  at  this  point  the  contents  of  his  earlier  source. 

="11  Mac.  13-'^  This  word  is  evidently  corrupt  and  appears  in  a  variant  form  in  the  codices. 
It  means,  inhabitants  of  Gerar,  a  city  located  in  the  extreme  southwestern  part  of  Palestine. 

>>  II  Mac.  13-'  In  tiiis  extreme  condensation  of  the  data  in  his  original,  the  epitomizer  has  not 
indicated  the  object  of  their  indignation.     It  was  probably  the  Jews. 


432 


I  ^Uc.  6^1]  ATTAINMENT  OF  RELIGIOUS  FREEDOM  [II  Mac.  13-* 


Hisionj  of  the  Hasmoncans 

oath  to  them,  they  came  out  of  the  strong- 
hoUl.  '^-But  when  the  king  entered  Blount 
Sion  and  saw  the  strength  of  the  place,  he 
broke  the  oath  which  he  had  sworn  and  gave 
orders  to  pull  down  the  wall  round  about. 
^^Then  he  set  out  in  haste  and  returnctl  to 
Antioch  and  found  Philip  master  of  the  city; 
and  he  fought  against  him  and  took  the  city  by 
force. 


Traditional  History 

they  desired  to  annul  the 
articles  of  agreement. 
-''Lysias  mounted  the  ros- 
trum, made  the  best  de- 
fence that  was  possible, 
persuaded,  pacified,  made 
them  well  disposed,  and 
then  departed  to  Antioch. 
This  was  the  issue  of  the 
invasion  and  departure  of 
the  king. 


186.  Appointment  and  Rule  of  Alcimus  as  High  Priest,  I  Mac.  7'-^" 

II  Mac.  14'  '* 


History  a]  the  Hasmoneans 

I  3Iac.  7  ^In  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth 
year,''  Demetrius  the  son  of  Seleucus  escaped 
from  Rome  and  went  up  with  a  few  men  to  a 
citv  by  the  sea.'^  and  there  proclaimed  himself 
king.  -And  when  he  entered  the  palace  of  his 
fathers,  the  army  seizetl  Antiochus  and  Lysias, 
to  bring  them  to  him.  ^But  when  the  fact  was 
made  known  to  him,  he  said.  Do  not  show  me 
their  faces.  ^And  the  army  slew  them.  So 
Demetrius  sat  upon  the  throne  of  his  kingdom. 


^And  there  came  to  him  all  the  lawle-ss 
and  the  apostate  men  of  Israel,  with  Alci- 
mus,'^  their  leader,  desiring  to  be  high  priest. 
•^And  they  accused  the  people  before  the 
king,  saying,  Judas  and  his  brethren  have 
destroyed  all  your  friends,  and  have  scat- 
tered us  from  our  own  land.  'Now  there- 
fore send  a  man  whom  you  trust,  and  let 
him  go  and  see  all  the  havoc  which  he  has 
made  of  us  and  of  the  king's  country,  ami 


Traditional  History 

II  3Iac.  14  ^Now  after 
an  interval  of  three  years, 
tidings  were  brought  to 
Judas  and  his  followers 
that  Demetrius,  the  son  of 
Seleucus,  having  sailed  into 
the  harbor  of  Tripolis  with 
a  strong  army  and  a  fleet, 
■^had  taken  possession  of  the 
country,  having  made  away 
with  Antiochus  and  Lysias 
his  guardian. 
^But  one  .Vlcimus,  who  had 
formerly  been  high  priest,  and 
had  wilfully  j)olhited  himself  in 
the  period  of  fusion"  with  the 
Greeks,  perceiving  that  there 
was  no  deliverance  for  him  in 
any  way  nor  access  any  more  lo 
the  holy  altar,  "^came  to  King 
Demetrius  in  about  the  hun- 
dred and  fifty-first   vearR  and 


Acces- 
sion of 
Deme- 
trius I 


Deceit- 
ful 

claims 
and 

charges 
of  .\lci- 
mus 


§  186  Demetrius,  the  son  of  Seleucus,  had  been  carried  a-s  a  boy  of  nine  years  to  Rome, 
where  he  was  held  a.s  a  hostage.  At  last  escaping  the  vigilance  of  the  Romans  he  appeared  in 
Syria  to  be  at  once  hailed  as  the  rightful  king. 

'I  Mac.  7'    102  B.C. 

d  I  Mac.  7'  Cf.  II  Mac.  14>.  TripoUt. 

'  II  .Mac.  14'  Some  MSS.  read,  o/  separation,  but  this  was  probably  due  to  later  scribes  who 
would  admit  no  period  of  general  fu.sion.  In  ^  they  have  apparently  for  the  same  rea.son 
changed  it  in  ;dl  .MSS. 

'  I  .Mac.  7''  .\lcimus  is  a  Ok.  name  substituted  for  the  Heb.,  Eliakim. 

«  II  Mac.  14«  Cf.  I  Mac.  13",  Herod,  vii,  ". 

133 


I  Mac.  7'] 


THE  WARS  OP^  JUDAS 


[II  Mac.  144 


History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

how  he  has  punished  them  and  all  who 
helped  them.  ^So  the  king  chose  Bacchides, 
one  of  the  king's  Friends,  who  was  ruler  in 
the  province  beyond  the  River  Euphrates, 
and  was  a  great  man  in  the  kingdom,  and 
faithful  to  the  king.  ^He  sent  him  and  also 
that  godless  Alcimus,  and  confirmed  him 
in  the  high  priesthood,  and  commanded 
him  to  take  vengeance  upon  the  Israelites. 
^^So  they  set  out  and  came  with  a  great 
army  into  the  land  of  Judah,  and  he  sent 
messengers  to  Judas  and  his  brothers  with 
words  of  peace,  deceitfully.  ^^But  they 
paid  no  attention  to  their  words,  for  they 
saw  that  they  had  come  with  a  great  army. 
^^Then  there  were  gathered  together  to  Al- 
cimus and  Bacchides  a  company  of  scribes, 
to  seek  for  justice.  ^^And  the  Hasidaeans 
were  the  first  among  the  Israelites  who 
sought  peace  with  them;  ^'^for  they  said. 
One  who  is  a  descendant  of  Aaron  has  come 
with  the  forces  and  he  will  do  us  no  wrong. 
^^And  he  spoke  words  of  peace  to  them, 
and  took  oath  to  them,  saying.  We  will 
seek  the  hurt  neither  of  you  nor  of  your 
friends.  ^^And  they  put  confidence  in  him. 
But  he  seized  sixty  of  them,  and  slew  them 
in  one  day,  as  it  is  written  in  the  Script- 
ures, 

^^The  flesh  of  thy  saints     .     .     , 
And  their  blood  they  poured  out  round  about 

Jerusalem ; 
And  there  was  no  man  to  bury  them.' 

^^And  the  fear  and  hatred  of  them  fell  upon 
all  the  people,  for  they  said.  There  is  nei- 
ther truth  nor  justice  in  them;  for  they  have 
brpken  the  covenant  and  the  oaths  which 
they  made. 


Traditional  History 

presented  to  him'^  a  golden 
chaplet  and  palm,  and  more- 
over some  of  the  festal  olive 
boughs  of  the  temple.  And 
that  day  he  kej)t  quiet;  ^but  he 
gained  opportunity  to  further 
his  own  folly,  when  he  was 
called  by  Demetrius  to  a  meet- 
ing of  his  council,  and  being 
asked  what  was  the  attitude 
and  policy  of  the  Jews,  he  an- 
swered, *^Those  of  the  Jews 
who  are  called  Hasideans,^ 
whose  leader  is  Judas  Macca- 
beus, keep  up  the  war  and 
are  seditious,  not  allowing  the 
kingdom  to  obtain  peace. 
^Therefore,  having  been  de- 
prived of  my  ancestral  dignity 
— I  mean  the  high  priesthood 
— I  have  now  come  hither; 
^first  because  of  the  genuine 
regard  I  have  for  the  king's 
interests,  and  secondly  because 
I  am  also  regardful  of  my  own 
fellow  citizens;  for,  through  the 
senseless  acts  of  those  already 
mentioned,  our  whole  race  is  in 
no  slight  misfortune.  ^But  do 
you,  O  king,  inform  yourself 
regarding  these  things  in  detail, 
and  take  thought  both  of  our 
country  and  for  our  much  af- 
flicted race,  according  to  the 
gracious  kindness  with  which 
you  receive  all.  ^''For  as  long 
as  Judas  remains  alive,  it  is 
impossible  for  the  state  to  ob- 
tain peace. 


•>  II  Mac.  14<  Probably  162  B.C. 
i  II  Mac.  146  Cf.  I  Mac.  2",  §  175. 
J I  Mac.  7"  Pa.  79-3; 


They  have  given  the  corpses  of  thy  servants 
A3  food  to  the  birds  of  the  heavens ; 
The  fiesh  of  thy  saints,  to  the  beasts  of  the  earth, 
They  have  poured  out  blood  like  water, 
Round  about  Jerusalem,  and  there  was  none  to  bury  them. 

434 


I  Mac. 


719] 


RULE  OF  ALCIMUS 


[II  IVL^c.  1411 


History  0}  the  Hasmoneans 

^^Then  Bacchides  dei)arted  from  Jerusalem  and 
encamped  in  Bezeth.'^  And  he  sent  and  took  many 
of  the  deserters  that  were  with  him  and  certain  of 
the  people,  and  he  slew  them  and  cast  them  into 
the  great  well.  -^Then  he  turned  over  the  country 
to  Alcimus  and  left  with  him  an  army  to  aid  him, 
while  Bacchides  went  away  to  the  king.  ^I'pjjgjj 
Alcimus  entered  the  struggle  for  the  high  priest- 
hood. --And  there  were  gathered  to  him  all  who 
had  troubled  their  people,  and  they  became  mas- 
ters of  the  land  of  Judah  and  caused  great  conster- 
nation in  Israel.  -^And  when  Judas  saw  that  Al- 
cimus and  his  company  had  done  more  mischief 
among  the  Israelites  than  the  heathen,  -Hie  went  out 
into  the  whole  territory  of  Judea  round  about  and 
took  vengeance  on  the  men  who  had  deserted  from 
him,  and  they  were  restrained  from  going  forth 
into  the  country.  ^og^^^  when  Alcimus  saw  that 
Judas  and  his  company  were  growing  strong  and 
knew  that  he  was  not  able  to  withstand  them,  he 
returned  to  the  king  and  brought  evil  charges 
against  them,  ^eg^  ^\^q  king  sent  Nicanor,  one 
of  his  honorable  princes,  a  man  who  hated  Israel 
and  was  their  enemy,  and  commanded  him  to  de- 
stroy the  people. 


Traditional  History 

^^As  soon  as  he  had 
spoken  such  words  as 
these,  at  once,  the  rest 
of  the  king's  friends 
being  ill  disposed  toward 
Judas,  inflamed  Deme- 
trius still  more.  ^-He 
straightway  summoned^ 
Nicanor,  who  had  been 
master  of  the  elephants, 
and  having  made  him 
governor  of  Judea,  sent 
him  forth.  ^-^He  also 
gave  him  written  in- 
structions to  make  way 
with  Judas  himself  and 
to  scatter  those  who  were 
with  him,  and  to  estab- 
lish Alcimus  as  high 
priest  of  the  very  great 
temple.  ^^Then  the 
heathen  all  over  Judea 
who  had  fled  before  Ju- 
das thronged  to  Nicanor 
in  flocks,  supposing  that 
the  misfortunes  and 
calamities  of  the  Jews 
would  be  their 
good  fortune. 


Alci- 

mus's 
efforts 
to  es- 
tablish 
liimself 
as  hijjh- 
piiest 
with 
the  aid 
of  the 
Syrians 


own 


§  187.  Defeat  and  Death  of  Nicanor,  I  Mac.  T"'^",  II  Mac.  14'5-153« 
Traditional  History 


History  of  the 
Hasmoneans 

I3Iac.7  27When 
Nicanor  came  to 
Jerusalem  with  a 
great  army,  he 
sent  to  Judas  and 
his  brothers  a  mes- 
sage of  {>eaceful 
words  with  deceit- 


II  Mac.  14  i^When  the  Jews  heard  of  Nicanor's 
advance  and  the  invasion  of  tlie  heathen,  they  sprinkled 
earth  upon  their  heads  and  made  solemn  suj)plicati()ri 
to  him  who  established  his  own  people  for  all  time  and 
who  always,  making  manifest  his  presence,  upholdeth 
those  who  are  his  own  portion.  '^'Then  at  the  com- 
mand of  tlieir  leader  they'"  immediately  set  out  from 
there  and  joined  battle  with  them  at  a  village  called  Des- 


Nica- 
nor's 
oriiiinal 
treaty 
witli 
.luilas 
.and 
hiter 
hostili- 
ties 


^  I  Mac.  7"  Of.  9*.     Probably  this  was  originally,  Beerzilh,  well  of  the  olive  trees,  about  a 
half-day's  journey  north  of  .Ferusalein. 

'   II  Mac.  14'2  Soine  .MSS.  read,  appointing. 
■»  II  Mac.  14'"  Following  the  best  MSS. 


435 


I  T^Iac.  727] 

History  of  the 
Hasmoneans 


ful  intent,  saying, 
28  Let  there  be  no 
battle  between  us. 
I  will  come  with 
a  few  men,  that  I 
may  see  your  faces 
in  peace.  29\jj(^ 
he  came  to  Judas, 
and  they  saluted 
one  another  peace- 
ably. But  the 
enemies  were  pre- 
pared to  take  a\vay 
Judas,  by  violence. 
^•^And  when  the 
fact  was  clear  to 
Judas,  that  he  had 
come  to  him  with 
deceit,  he  was  very 
much  afraid  of 
him  and  would  see 
his  face  no  more. 
^^So  Nicanor  knew 
that  his  plan  was 
discovered,  and  he 
went  out  to  meet 
Judas  in  battle 
near  Capharsa- 
lama.  ^2^\n(j  there 
fell  of  those  with 
Nicanor  about  five 
hundred  men. 
Then  they  fled 
into  the  city  of 
David. 


THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 

Traditional  History 


[II  Mac.  I4I6 


sau.°  ^^SJijion  the  brother  of  Judas  had  encountered 
Nicanor  and  had  been  checked  for  a  time  on  account  of 
the  sudden  consternation  caused  by  his  adversaries. 
^^Nevertheless  when  Nicanor  heard  of  the  manliness 
of  Judas  and  his  followers  and  of  their  courage  in 
fighting  for  their  country,  he  shrank  from  bringing  the 
matter  to  a  decision  by  the  sword.  ^^He  therefore  sent 
Posidonius  and  Theodotus  and  Mattathias  to  give 
and  receive  pledges  of  peace,  ^o^^gj.  these  proposals 
had  been  long  under  consideration,  and  the  leader  had 
made  the  troops  acquainted  with  them  and  they  ap- 
peared to  be  all  of  the  same  mind,  they  consented  to 
the  agreements.  21  \n(l  t^gy  appointed  a  day  on  which 
to  meet  together  by  themselves.  And  as  he°  came 
forward,  chairs  of  state  were  set  for  them,  one  for  each. 
22Judas  had  stationed  armed  men  in  convenient  places, 
prepared  for  the  possibility  of  a  sudden  and  treacher- 
ous attempt  on  the  part  of  the  enemy ;  so  they  conferred 
together  as  was  suitable.  23jsjjga^nQj.  stayed  in  Jerusa- 
lem and  did  nothing  out  of  place,  but  dismissed  the 
crowds  of  people  who  had  gathered  together,  p  '^'^Xnd 
he  kept  Judas  always  in  his-presence;  he  had  acquired 
a  hearty  affection  for  the  man ;  25}^^  urged  him  to  marry 
and  beget  children;  so  he  married,  settled  quietly,  and 
took  part  in  common  life. 

26But  Alcimus,  perceiving  the  good-will  between  them, 
and  having  got  possession  of  the  agreements  which  had 
been  made,  came  to  Demetrius  and  told  him  that  Ni- 
canor was  disaffected  toward  the  state,  for  he  had  ap- 
pointed that  conspirator  against  his  kingdom,  Judas, 
to  be  his  successor. *3  27'phgj^  the  king,  falling  into  a 
rage  and  being  exasperated  by  the  calumnies  of  that 
most  wicked  man,  wrote  to  Nicanor,  signifying  that 
he  was  displeased  at  the  agreements,  and  commanding 
him  to  send  Maccabeus  prisoner  to  Antioch  in  all  haste. 
28When  this  message  came  to  Nicanor,  he  was  per- 
plexed and  was  much  distressed  at  the  thought  of  annulling  the  articles  which 
he  had  agreed  upon,  when  the  man  had  done  no  wrong.  29j3yt  as  he  could 
not  act  against  the  king,  he  watched  his  time  to  execute  his  purpose  by 
stratagem.     ^^Maccabeus,  however,  perceived    that  Nicanor  was  behaving 


"  II  Mac.  14'"  Some  MSS.  have  confused  the  Gk.  D  and  L  and  read,  Lessau. 
o  II  Mac.  14-'  Probably  Nicanor  is  the  one  referred  to,  for  Judas  is  introduced  in  the  next 
verse.     The  extreme  condensation  here  makes  the  meaning  obscure, 
p  II  Mac.  1423  Of.  ». 
<J  II  Mac.  14^  I.e.,  Alcimus's  successor  in  the  high-priesthood. 


436 


DEFEAT  OF  NICANOR 


[II  ^Uc.  1430 


Traditional  History 

more  harshly  in  his  deaHngs  with  liim.  and  that  he  had  become  ruder  in 
his  customary  bearing,  and  understanding  that  his  harshness  boded  no  good, 
gathered  together  many  of  his  men,  and  concealed  himself  from  Nicanor. 

3^But  the  other,  when  he  bec-ame  aware  that  he  had 
been  boldly  outwitted  by  the  man,  came  to  the  great  and 
holy  temple,  while  the  priests  were  offering  the  usual 
sacrifices,  and  commandetl  them  to  deliver  up  the  man. 
32Although  they  declared  with  oaths  that  they  had  no 


History    of    the 
Hasmoneans 

I    Mac.    7 

33X  o  w  after 
these  things  Ni- 
canor went  to 
Sion.  And  when 
some  of  the 
priests  came  out 
of  the  sanctuary, 
and  some  of  the 
elders  of  the  peo- 
ple, to  salute  him 
peaceably  and 
to  show  him  the 
whole  burnt-of- 
fering that  was 
being  offered  for 
the  king,  ^^he 
mocked  them, 
and  laughed  at 
them,  and 
abused  them,  ■" 
^•5and  talked  in- 
solently. II  e 
also  swore  in  a 
rage,  saying, 
Unless  Judas 
and  his  army 
are  now  deliv- 
ered into  my 
hands,  if  I  come 
again  in  peace, 
I  will  burn  up 
this  temple. 
^^He  went  out 
in  a  great  rage. 
Then  the  priests 
went    in     and 


knowledge  where  the  man  was  whom  he  sought,  ^^he 
stretched  forth  his  right  hand  toward  the  sanctuary,  and 
swore  this  oath.  If  you  will  not  deliver  up  to  me  Judas  as 
a  prisoner,  I  will  level  this  temple  of  God  to  the  ground 
and  will  break  down  tlie  altar,  and  I  will  erect  here  a 
temple  to  Dionysos  for  all  to  see.  34\mj  having  said  this, 
he  departed.  The  priests,  stretching  forth  their  hands  to 
heaven,  called  upon  him  who  ever  fighteth  for  our  nation, 
with  these  words,  ^-^Thou,  O  Lord,  who  in  thyself  hast 
need  of  nothing,  wast  well  pleased  that  a  sanctuary  for 
thy  habitation  should  be_set  among  us.  ^''So  now,  O  holy 
Lord,  from  whom  all  holiness  cometh,  kepp  undefiled 
forever  this  house  which  hath  been  lately  cleansed.  '^"In- 
formation was  also  given  to  Nicanor  against  one  Razis, 
an  elder  of  Jerusalem,  a  lover  of  his  countrymen  and  a 
man  of  very  good  reputation,  and  one  called  Father  of 
the  Jews  because  of  his  kindliness,  ^sp^j.  j,j  jjjg  former 
period  of  fusion^  with  the  Greeks  he  had  brought  forth  a 
defence  of  Judaism  and  had  hazarded  body  and  life  with 
all  earnestness  for  Judaism.  ^^Nicanor,  wishing  to  make 
evident  the  ill-will  which  he  bore  to  the  Jews,  .sent  over 
five  hundred  soldiers  to  take  him  prisoner;  "^^for  he  thought 
by  taking  him  prisoner  to  inflict  a  blow  upon  them.  "^^But 
when  the  troops  were  on  the  {)oint  of  taking  the  tower, 
and  were  forcing  the  door  of  the  court,  and  giving  orders 
to  bring  fire  and  burn  the  doors,  he,  surrounded  on  every 
side,  fell  upon  his  sword,  '^-preferring  to  die  nobly  rather 
than  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  guilty  sinners,  and 
suffer  outrage  unworthy  of  his  own  nobleness.  ^^But  he 
did  not  strike  true  through  the  excitement  of  the  struggle 
and,  as  the  crowd  were  now  rushing  within  the  door,  he 
ran  boldly  U[j  to  the  wall  and  cast  himself  manfully 
down  into  the  crowds.  *^They  ({uickly  gave  way,  .so  a 
space  was  made,  and  he  fell  In  the  midst  of  the  empty 
place.      ^^But  still  brc;itliiiig  and  inflamed  with  passion, 


Nica- 
nor's 
inso- 
lent 
threats 
and  the 
prayers 
and  re- 
sistance 
of  the 
faithful 
Jews 


'  I  Mac.  7^  Lit.,  polluted.     The  context  supports  the  aliovc  ineaninK. 

■  II  Mac.  M'"  All  MSS.  read,  period  o/  pre  jxt  rat  ion,  but  cf.  •*  wlierc  later  scribca  have  also 
altered  the  text. 

437 


Judas's 

prayer 

and 

great 

victory 

over 

Nica- 

nor 


THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 

Traditional  History 


[II  IVIac.  1445 


I  Mac.  736] 

Historij    of    the 
Hasmoncans 

stood  before 
the  altar  and 
the  temple;  and 
they  wept  and 
said,  37'j'  h  o  u  * 
didst  choose  this 
tempi  e  to  be 
called    by    thy 

name,  to  be  a  house  of  prayer  and  supplication  for  thy  people,     ^s^p^j^g 
vengeance  on  this  man  and  his  army,  and  let  him  fall  by  the  sword.     Re- 
member their  blasphemies,  and  let  them  live  no  longer. 
39 And    N  icanor 


he  rose  up,  and  though  his  blood  gushed  out  in  streams 
and  his  wounds  were  severe,  he  ran  through  the  crowds 
and,  standing  upon  a  steep  rock,  ^^^y^en  his  blood  was 
now  nearly  exhausted,  drew  forth  his  bowels  and  taking 
them  in  both  his  hands,  he  shook  them  at  the  crowds, 
and  calling  upon  him  who  is  the  Lord  of  the  life  and  the 
spirit  to  restore  him  these  again,  he  thus  departed. 


set  forth  from 
Jerusalem  and  en- 
camped in  Beth- 
horon,  and  there 
the  army  of  Syria 
met  him.  ^ogut 
Judas  encamped 
in  Adasa^'  with 
three  thousand 
men.  Then  Ju- 
das prayed  and 
said,  "41  When 
they  who  came 
from  the  king  blas- 
phemed, thine  an- 
gel went  out  and 
smote  among  them 
an  himdred  and 
sixty-five  t  h  o  u  - 
sand."    42£ygjj  gQ 

destroy  thou  this 
army  before  us  to- 
day, and  let  all  the 
rest  know  that  he 
hath  spoken  wick- 
edly against  thy 
sanctuary,  and 
judge  thou  him 
according  to  his 
wickedness.     ^^Sq 


Traditional  History 

1 5  ^But  Nicanor,  hearing  that  Judas  and  his  followers 
were  in  the  region  of  Samaria,  resolved  to  attack  them 
without  any  danger  on  the  day  of  rest.  ^And  when 
the  Jews  who  were  compelled  to  follow  him  said,  O  do 
not  destroy  so  savagely  and  barbarously,  but  give  due 
glory  to  the  day  which  he  who  beholdeth  all  things 
hath  honored  .above  other  days,  ^the  thrice-cursed 
wretch  asked  if  there  was  a  Sovereign  in  heaven  who 
had  commanded  to  keep  the  sabbath  day.  "^Xwd  when 
they  openly  declared.  There  is  the  living  Lord,  himself 
a  Sovereign  in  heaven,  who  bade  us  to  observe  the 
seventh  day,  ^the  other  said,  I  also  am  a  sovereign  upon 
the  earth,  who  now  command  to  take  up  arms  and  per- 
form the  king's  service  !  However  he  did  not  succeed 
in  performing  his  shocking  purpose.  ^h.nd  Nicanor, 
bearing  himself  haughtily  with  supreme  assurance, 
had  determined  to  set  up  a  public  monument  of  the 
victory  over  Judas  and  those  who  were  with  him.  "But 
Maccabeus  trusted  unceasingly  with  all  hope  that  he 
would  obtain  help  from  the  Lord.  ^And  he  exhorted 
those  who  were  with  him  not  to  be  afraid  of  the  attack 
of  the  heathen,  but,  keeping  in  mind  the  help  which 
they  had  often  received  from  heaven,  so  now  also  to 
look  for  the  victory  which  would  come  to  them  from 
the  Almighty.  ^Moreover  comforting  them  out  of  the 
law  and  prophets,  and  also  reminding  them  of  the 
conflicts  that  they  had  passed  through,  he  strengthened 
their  courage.  ^'^And  after  he  had  aroused  their  spirits, 
he  gave  them  his  commands,  at  the  same  time  pointing 


*  I  Mac.  7^'  The  characteristic  omission  of  the  name  of  God  at  the  beginning  of  the  prayer. 
"  I  Mac.  7^1  An  allusion  to  the  destruction  of  Sennacherib's  army.     Cf.  II  Kgs.  18-  ^'. 

438 


1  ISKc.  7^3] 

Hidonj  of  the 
Hasmoneans 

on  the  thirteenth 
day  of  the  month 
Adar  the  armies 
joined  battle;  and 
Nicanor's  army 
was  defeated,  and 
he  himself  was  the 
first  to  fall  in  the 
battle.  44^nd 
when  his  army 
saw  that  Nieanor 
had  fallen,  they 
threw  away  their 
weapons  and  fled. 
45And  [the  Jews] 
pursued  them  a 
day's  journey 
from  Adasa^'  as  far 
as  Gazara,  when 
they  sounded  the 
trumpet-signal 
for  the  return. 
^^Then  they  came 
out  from  all  the 
villages  of  Judea 
on  every  hand  and 
outflanked  them ; 
and  the  one  turned 
them  back  on  the 
other  army,  and 
they  all  fell  by  the 
sword,  so  that 
none  of  them  was 
left. 


DEATH  OF  NICANOR 

Traditional  History 


[II  ]Mac.  I510 


out  the  perfidy  of  the  heathen  and  their  breach  of  their 
oath.  ^^And  arming  each  one  of  them,  not  so  much 
with  confidence  in  shields  and  spears  as  with  the  en- 
couragement of  good  words,  he  made  them  all  exceed- 
ing joyful  by  relating  to  them  a  dream  in  the  highest 
degree  worthy  of  credence.  ^-And  the  vision  presented 
by  this  dream  was  as  follows:  he  saw  Onias,  who  had 
been  high  priest,  a  noble  and  good  man,  reverend 
in  bearing,  yet  gentle  in  manner  and  dignified  in  all 
points  in  speech,  and  trained  from  childhood  in  all  the 
virtues,  with  outstretched  hands  invoking  blessings  on 
the  whole  body  of  the  Jews,  ^^xhen,  in  the  same  way. 
a  man  ap})eared,  distinguished  by  gray  hair  and  noble 
bearing  and  surrounded  by  wonderful  and  most  ma- 
jestic dignity.  ^^And  Onias  spoke  and  said.  This 
is  the  lover  of  the  brothers,^  he  who  prayed  much  for 
the  people  and  the  holy  city,  Jeremiah  the  prophet  of 
God.       i^Then    Jeremiah,    stretching    forth    his    right 


hand,  delivered  to  Judas  a  sword  of  gold,  and  in  giving 
it  addressed  him  thus,  ^^Xake  the  holy  sword,  a  gift 
from  God,  with  it  shalt  thou  slay  the  foes !  ^''And 
being  encouraged  by  these  words  of  Judas,  which  were 
of  a  lofty  strain  and  able  to  incite  to  bravery  and  to 
stir  the  souls  of  the  young  with  manly  courage,  they 
determined  not  to  make  a  fortified  camp,''  but  nobly 
to  make  an  open  attack,  and,  fighting  hand  to  hand 
with  all  courage,  to  bring  the  matter  to  an  issue,  because 
the  city  and  the  sanctuary  and  the  temple  were  in 
danirer.  ^^For  their  fear  for  wives  and  children,  and 
also  for  brothers  and  kinsfolk,  had  less  weight  with 
them;  but  greatest  and  first  was  their  fear  for  the  con- 
secrated temple.  ^^And  they  also  who  were  shut  up  in 
the  city  were  in  no  little  distress,  since  they  were  troubled 
on  account  of  the  engagement  in  the  open  field.  -'Wnd 
when  all  were  already  waiting  for  the  coming  issue, 
and  the  enemies  had  already  drawn  together,  and  the  army  had  been  set 
in  battle  array,  and  the  elephants  had  taken  their  ])lace,  and  the  horsemen 
were  drawn  up  on  both  flanks,  Maccabeus,  '-'[jcneivlng  the  presence  of 
the  great  multitudes,  and  the  various  arms  with  which  they  were  equipped, 
and  the  ferocity  of  the  elephants,  holding  up  his  hands  to  heaven  called  uj^on 
the  Lord  who  worketh  wonders,  for  he  recognized  that  success  comes  not  by 


"  I  Mac.  l*"-*''  The  original  probably  read,  Ada»a,  for,  Elaaa — a  Greek  I  having  been  mis- 
taken for  d. 

"  II  Mac.  1.5'*   \,\i.,  jrii-nd  of  hrolhers.  ,      ,  1  ■ 

»  II  Mac.  15"  Probably  that  they  might  from  this  vantage-ground  attack  the   advancing 
enemy. 

4.39 


II  Mac.  1521] 


THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 


History  of  the 
Hasnioneans 


Exul- 
tation 
over 
the 
death 
of  Ni- 
canor 
and  the 
annual 
festival 
in  com- 
mem- 
oration 
of  the 
victory 


Traditional  History 

arms,  but  that  he  giveth  the  victory  to  those  whom  he  judges  worthy  of  it. 
22And  he  prayed  as  follows :  Thou,  O  Sovereign  Lord,  didst  send  thine  angel 
in  the  time  of  Hezekiah  king  of  Judea,  and  he  slew  the  army  of  Sennacherib 
as  many  as  a  hundred  and  eighty -five  thousand.  23gQ  f,Q^y  also,  O  Sovereign 
of  the  heavens,  send  a  good  angel  before  us  to  bring  terror  and  trembling. 
2-iThrough  the  greatness  of  thine  arm  let  those  who  with  blasphemy  have 
come  here  against  thy  holy  people  be  smitten  with  terror.  And  he  con- 
cluded with  these  words,  ^S^hile  Nicanor  and  his  followers  advanced  with 
trumpets  and  battle  songs,  ^eg^j.  Judas  and  his  followers  joined  battle 
with  the  enemy  with  prayers  and  supplication.  27^^^^  while  they  fought 
with  their  hands  and  prayed  to  God  with  their  hearts,  they  slew  no  less  than 
thirty-five  thousand  men,  being  made  exceeding  glad  by  God's  visible  care. 

28^n(j  when  the  engagement  was  over,  and  they 
were  returning  again  with  joy,  they  recognized  Nicanor 
lying  dead  in  full  armor.  29'piiej^  there  arose  a  great 
shout  and  tumult,  and  they  blessed  the  Sovereign  Lord 
in  the  language  of  their  fathers.  20\n(j  \^q  ^tJ^q  j^  all 
things  was  in  body  and  soul  the  foremost  champion  of 
his  fellow  citizens,  he  who  kept  through  hfe  the  good- 
will of  his  youth  toward  his  countrymen,  commanded 
to  cut  off  Nicanor's  head  and  his  hand  with  the  arm 
and  to  bring  thtm  to  Jerusalem.  ^^And  when  he  had 
arrived  there  and  had  called  his  countrymen  together 
and  set  the  priests  before  the  altar,  he  sent  for  those 
who  were  in  the  citadel.  32'p}igfi  showing  the  head  of 
the  vile  Nicanor  and  the  hand  of  the  profane  man, 
which  with  loud  boasts  he  had  stretched  out  against 
the  house  of  the  Almighty,  ^"^and  cutting  out  the  tongue 
of  the  impious  Nicanor,  he  gave  command  to  give  it 
by  pieces  to  the  birds  and  to  hang  up  the  rewards'^  of 
his  madness  opposite  the  sanctuary.  ^^And  they  all 
looking  up  to  heaven  blessed  the  Lord  who  had  man- 
ifested himself,  saying,  Blessed  be  he  who  hath  pre- 
serv'ed  his  own  place  undefiled.  ^^And  he  hung  Nicanor's 
head'^  from  the  citadel,*^  a  sign,  plain  to  all  and  visible, 
of  the  help  of  the  Lord,  ^e^nd  they  all  ordained  by  a 
vote  of  the  community,  never  to  let  this  day  pass  without 
being  celebrated,  but  to  observe  as  a  feast,  the  thirteenth 
day  of  the  twelfth  month,  which  is  called  Adar  in  the 
Assyrian  tongue,  the  day  before  the  day  of  Mordecai. 


I  Mac.  7  ^^And 
they  took  the 
spoils  and  the 
booty,  and  they 
struck  off  Ni- 
canor's head  and 
his  right  hand, 
which  he  had 
stretched  out  so 
haughtily,  and 
brought  them  and 
hung  them'^  up  in 
the  citadel*^  of  Je- 
rusalem. "^^And 
the  people  were 
very  glad.  ^^They 
also  enacted  an 
ordinance  for  the 
celebration  of  this 
day  year  by  year, 
the  thirteenth  day 
of  Adar.  sogo  the 
land  of  Judah  had 
rest  for  a  brief 
period. 


»  I  Mac.  7^'  The  Gk.  translator  made  here  an  effective  play  on  words:  his  right  hand,  which 
he  had  so  haughtilv  stretched  nut,  thev  stretched  out,  i.e.,  hung  up. 

b  I  Mac.  7"  Lit.,  bi/.  bur  cf.  II  Mac.  15«. 

'=  II  Mac.  15^  Or,  penalties,  the  reference  evidently  is  to  the  gory  proofs  of  the  conse- 
quences of  Nicanor's  follv  in  attacking  the  people  of  .lehovah. 

d  II  Mac.  15'**  So  Luc.  and  Lat.     Gk..  tipper  part  of  the  hody  (inclufling  the  head). 

«  II  Mac.  15-^  Contrary  to  the  impUcation  of  this  verse,  the  citadel  was  not  captured  by  the 
Jews  until  the  days  of  Simon. 


440 


THE  TREATY  WITH  ROME  [I  I^Iac.  8^ 

%  188.  The  Treaty  with  Rome,  I  Mac.  8 
History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  3Iac.  8  ^Now  Judas  had  heard  of  the  fame  of  the  Roman.s,  that  they  Re- 
are  excellent  men  in  dealing^  with  all  who  ally  themselves  with  them,  and  current 
make  treaties  of  friendship  with  all  those  who  come  to  them,  -and  that  thev  'P  ■'"- 
are  strong  in  war.     And  they  told  him  also  of  their  wars  and  of  their  valiant  ganl- 
deeds  which  they  did  among  the  Galatians,^  and  that  they  had  conquered  "kto-^ 
them  and  made  ihem  pay  tribute,  ^as  well  as  what  thev  did  in  the  couTitrv  nesand 
of  Spain,  in  that  they  gained  possession  of  the  mines  of  silver  and  gold  which  policy 
are  there;  ^and  that  by  their  cleverness  and  perseverance  they  had  gained  charac- 
possession  of  the  entire  land,  although  the  land  was  very  far  from  theirs,  Jer  of 
and  of  the  kings  who  had  come  against  them  from  the  ends  of  the  earth,  Ro- 
until  they  had  defeated   and  completely  overthrown  them,  while  the  rest  '"^"^ 
paid  them  annual  tribute.     ^Further  that  they  had  defeated  in  battle  Philip^ 
and  Perseus,  king  of  the  Macedonians,^  and  those  who  had  withstood  them, 
and  had  overcome  them ;  ^and  that  Antiochus,  the  great  king  of  Asia,  who  had 
come  to  make  war  against  them  with  an  hundred  and  twenty  ele])hants, 
with  horsemen  and  chariots  and  a  very  large  army,  was  also  ilefeated  by 
them;  "and  that  they  captured  him  alive,  and  imposed  upon  him  and  those 
who  reigned  after  him  the  obligation  of  paying  a  heavy  tribute,  giving  host- 
ages and  a  part  of  the  empire,^  even  the  land  of  India,  Media,  and  Lydia 
and  a  part  of  theirJ  most  beautiful  territory.     When  they  received  these  from 
him  they  gave  them  to   King  Eumenes.^     ^But  when  the  inhabitants  of 
Hellas  determined  to  come  and  destroy  them,  ^^and  when  it  became  known 
to  them,  they  sent  a  general  and  fought  against  them,  and  many  of  them  fell 
slain.     And  they  carried  away  their  wives  and  children  and  plundered  them, 
and  they  took  possession  of  their  land  and  tore  down  their  fortresses  and 
made  them  subject  to  them  until  the  present  time.'      ^^They  also  destroyed 
and  made  subject  the  rest  of  the  kingdoms  and  as  many  islands  as  at  any 
time  resisted  them.     ^-But  with  their  friends  and  Avith  those  who  relied  in 
them,  they  carefully  kept  their  treaties  of  friendship,  and  they  have  gained 
possession  of  the  kingdoms  far  and  near.     And  all  who  heart!  of  their  fame 
were  afraid  of  them.     ''^All  whom  they  help  and  wish  to  have  reign,  reign; 
and  whomever  they  wish  to  depose,  they  depo.se,  and  thus  they  have  attained 
to  great  power.     ^^But  in  all  this  none  of  them  has  put  on  a  diadem  or  clothed 
himself  with  purple  to  be  luagnified  thereby.     '•'^Rather  they  have  establi.shed 


§  188  Although  excellently  informed  regardins  the  facts  in  .Jewish  history,  the  writer  of 
I  Mac.  wa.s  evidently  dependent  upon  popular  traditions  for  his  data  regardinR  contemporary 
history.  a.s  the  present  .section  clearly  indicates,  for  many  of  its  statements  are  ilisiiroved  by 
the  testimony  of  the  (Ik.  and  Koman  historians. 

'8'   KoliowiiiK  the  restored  I leb.  idiom.  ,      ,      »,      i- 

«8-  Probably  the  reference  is  to  the  conquest  of  the  Gauls  in  Northern  Italy,  by  Manlius 
Bul.so  in  189  ii.c.,  not  to  the  CJalatians  in  .Asia  Minor. 

''  8''  Philip  III.  son  of  Demetrius  II,  defeated  in  197  n.r.  by  Flamimus. 

'  S''  C,k.,  KillilrH.     The  defeat  wa.s  at  the  battle  of  Pydna,  lfi7  n.f.  . 

I  S**  Some  MSS.  read,  /u'«  or  its.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  India  never  belouRed  to  Antiochus. 
The  territf)rv  cedcil  wa,s  in  Asia  Minor,  west  of  the  Taurus  Mts. 

''8''   Kingof  Pergamos,  19H    l.-.Hn.r.  ,        .        •         ■     i 

'  8'''  '"  The  events  referred  to  are  not  certain.  It  is  probable  thai  the  aullior  has  in  miiul 
the  Achean  alliance,  147-140  B.C. 

441 


I  Mac.  815]  THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 

Histonj  of  the  Hasmoneans 

a  senate,  and  daily  three  hundred  and  twenty  counsel  together,  at  all  times 
counselling  for  the  welfare  of  the  whole  people  that  they  may  be  prosperous.™ 
i^And  to  one  man  they  intrust  each  year  the  authority  over  them  and  the 
rulership  over  all  the  country,  and  all  are  obedient  to  that  one,  and  there  is 
neither  envy  nor  jealousy  among  them. 
Mes-  i^And  Judas  chose  Eupolemus  the  son  of  John,  the  .son  of  Accos,  and 

the''  °     Jason  the  son  of  Eleazar,  and  sent  them  to  Rome  to  make  an  alliance  off  en- 
Jewish    sjve  and  defensive  with  them,  ^^and  that  they  should  take  the  yoke  ofi'  them, 
sadors    whenever  they  saw  that  the  Syrian^  kingdom  was  enslaving  Israel.     ^^So 
they  went  to  Rome  (and  the  journey  was  exceedingly  long)  and  entered  the 
senate  chamber  and  stated  their  errand,  saying,  ^oj^^jdas,  who  is  called  Macca- 
beus, with  his  brothers  and  the  Jewish  people,  have  sent  us  to  you,  to  make 
an  alliance  and  peace  with  you  and  that  we  may  be  enrolled  as  your  con- 
federates and  friends. 
Re-  2i\nj  jiig  proposal  met  their  approval.     ^^Now  this  is  the  copy  of  the 

of  the^    writing  which  they  sent  to  Jerusalem,  written  on  tablets  of  brass,  that  it 
Ro-        might  be  with  them  there  as  a  memorial  of  peace  and  alliance: 

rQ3,ns  ^ 

and  the  23]\/[ay  [^  be  well  with  the  nation  of  the  Jews  by  sea  and  by  land  forever. 
olThe  May  the  sword  also  and  the  enemy  be  far  from  them.  ^"^But  if  war  first 
treaty  threaten  Rome  or  any  of  their  allies  in  all  their  dominion,  ^^the  Jewish  nation 
shall  help  them  as  confederates,  heartily  as  the  occasion  shall  prescribe  to 
them.  26^j^(j  ^Q  those  who  make  war  upon  them  [the  Romans]  shall  not 
give  supplies,  food,  arms,  money,  or  ships,  as  seems  best  to  Rome;  and 
they  shall  keep  their  obligations  without  taking  any  equivalent,  ^"^hike- 
wise  also,  if  war  come  first  upon  the  Jewish  nation,  the  Romans  shall  help 
them  as  allies  willingly  as  the  occasion  shall  prescribe  to  them;  -^and  to  those 
who  are  allies  with  their  foes  there  shall  not  be  given  food,  arms,  money, 
or  ships,  as  seems  best  to  Rome;  and  they  shall  keep  these  obligations, 
and  that  without  deceit.  29\,,(,Qj.(jjj^g  ^q  these  words  have  the  Romans 
thus  made  a  treaty  with  the  people  of  the  Jews.  ^^But  if  hereafter  the  one 
party  and  the  other  should  wish  to  add  or  withdraw  anything,  they  may  do 
it  at  their  pleasure,  and  whatever  they  shall  add  or  take  away  shall  be  es- 
tablished. ^^Now  in  regard  to  the  wrongs  which  King  Demetrius  is  doing 
to  them,  we  have  written  to  him,  saying,  '  Why  have  you  made  your  yoke 
heavy  upon  our  friends  and  confederates,  the  Jews  ?  ^-^If  therefore  they 
bring  any  more  complaint  against  you,  we  will  do  them  justice  and  fight 
with  you  by  sea  and  by  land.' 

™  8'5  Or,  behave  properly. 

■>  8'8  I.e.,  that  the  Romans  should  remove  the  yoke  of  the  Syrian  despot  from  the  neck  of 
the  Jews.     As  in  '  the  original  has  Greeks  for  Syrians. 


442 


DEATH  OF  JUDAS  [i:\Lvc.9i 

§  1S9.  Death  of  Judas,  I  Mac.  91-" 
History  of  the  Hasmoucans 

I  3Iac.  9  ^When  Demetrius  heard  that  Xicanor  had  fallcJi  with  his  forces  Ad- 
in  battle,  he  sent  Bacchides  and  Alcimus  again  into  the  land  of  Judah  a  ofuie 
second  time,  and  the  southern"  witig  of  his  army  with  them.     -And  thev  Syrian 
went  by  that  way  that  leads  to  Gilgal,P  and  encamped  against  Masaloth,  ami  "the 
which  is  in  Arbela.  and  gained  possession  of  it  and  destroyed  many  people,  tkmof 
^And  the  first  month  of  the  hundred  and  fifty-second  year'*  they  encamped  ^'V'?® 
aeainst  Jerusalem.     "^Then   thev  set  out  and  went  to   Berea  with  twenty  Jews 
thousand  footmen  and  two  thousand  horsemen.     ^And  Judas  was  encamped 
at  ElasaJ  and  three  thousand  chosen  men  with  liim.     ^And  when  they  saw 
the  multitude  of  the  forces,  that  they  were  many,  they  were  greatly  frightened, 
and  many  slipped  away  from  the  army,  so  that  there  were  left  of  them  not 
more  than  eight  hundred  men. 

'And  when  Judas  saw  that  his  army  had  dispersed,  he  was  deeply  troubled.  His  de- 
because  he  had  no  time  to  gather  them  together,  and  he  grew  discouraged.  „a7ion 
^And  he  said  to  those  who  were  left.  Let  us  arise  and  go  up  against  our  ad-  to  ^^^^ 
versaries,  if  perhaps  we  may  be  able  to  fight  with  them.     .^And  they  would 
have  dissuaded  him,  saying,  ^Ye  shall  not  be  able;  but  let  us  rather  save  our 
lives  now;  let  us  return  again  with  our  fellow-countrymen  and  fight  against 
them,  for  we  are  few.     ^^jjut  Judas  said.  Far  be  it  from  me  so  to  do,  that 
I  should  flee  from  them.     For  if  our  time  has  come,  let  us  die  manfully  for 
the  sake  of  our  fellow-countrymen  and  not  leave  a  cause  of  reproach  against 
our  honor. 

i^Then  the  army  set  out  from  the  camp  and  drew  up  to  meet  them;  and  The 
the  cavalry  drew  up  into  two  companies,  and  the  .slingers  and  the  archers  ^i^j  ® 
went  before  the  army,  with  all  the  strong,  foremost  warriors.     ^-But  Bac-  ^'^ath 
chides  was  in  the  rear  wing.     Then  the  phalanx  advanced  on  both  sides,  Judas 
and  they  sounded  their  trumpets.     ^^And  Judas's  men  also  sounded  their 
trumpets,  and  the  earth  shook  with  the  shout  of  the  armies;  so  the  battle  was 
begun  and  continued  from  morning  until  evening.      ^^And  when  Judas  saw 
that  Bacchides  and  the  strength  of  his  army  were  on  the  right  side,  all  who 
were  brave  in  heart  went  with  him,  ^^and  the  right  wing  was  defeated  by 
them,  and  he  pursued  them  to  the  slope  of  the  moimtains.^     ^''And  they 
who  were  on  the  left  wing,  when  they  saw  that  the  right  wing  was  defeated, 
turned  and  followed  upon  the  footsteps  of  Judas  and  of  those  who  were  with 
him.     ^"And  the  battle  grew  fierce,  and  many  on  both  sides  fell  mortally 
wounded.     i^'X^hen  Judas  fell  and  the  rest  fled. 

^^And  Jonathan  and  Simon  took  Judas  their  brother  and  buried  him  in  the  Buriai 
sepulchre  of  his  fathers  at  Modein.  20\rid  they  bewailed  him,  and  all  Israel  juj^a 
made  great  lamentation  for  him  and  mourned  many  days,2i  ^nd  said, 


o9>  Lit.,  right;  but  the  Jews  always  faced  the  east  in  determininR  direction,  so  that  the 
ri(?ht  was  equivalent  to  the  south.  Cf.  Benjamin,  son  of  the  right  hand,  i.e.,  the  tribe  south  of 
Kphraiin. 

I'  'J'  Or,  Galgata.     Jos.,  Galilee. 

'1  9-'  Marcli-April,  UiO  B.C. 

>•  9-''  l)r,  Alasa,  HO  Syr. 

•  9^  So  Jos.  and  the  slightly  corrected  text.     Revised  text,  Azotua. 

443 


I  Mac.  921]  THE  WARS  OF  JUDAS 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

How  is  the  hero  fallen, 
The  saviour  of  Israel! 

Hisun-  22^j^(j  ^\^Q  pgg^  Qf  ^]^g  valiant  acts  of  Judas,  and  his  wars  and  the  valiant 
recorc-  ^^j^g^^g  ^j^i^h  jjg  (jij^  and  his  greatness — they  have  not  been  recorded,  for 
deeds     they  were  very  many.* 


in 

THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  POLITICAL   INDEPENDENCE  UNDER 

JONATHAN,    I  Mac.  923-1330 

§  190.  Jonathan's  Contests  and  Final  Treaty  with  Bacchides,  I  Mac.  9^^" 
History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Perse-         I  Mac.   9  23Now  after  the  death  of  Judas,  the  apostates  showed  them- 
oFthe'    selves  in  all  the  tepritory  of  Israel,  and  all  who  practised  injustice  flourished, 
fol-        24^^3Q^^  i\^Q  same  time  there  was  a  very  severe  famine,  and  the  whole  people 
ofJu-     sided  with  them.     25'p]^gjj  Bacchides  selected  the  godless  men  and  made 
^^^         them  rulers  of  the  country.     26\^j  ^j^gy  conducted  a  thorough  search  for 
the  friends  of  Judas  and  brought  them  to  Bacchides,  and  he  took  vengeance 
on  them  and  tortured  them  cruelly.     27'J'Jjpj^  great  tribulation  came  upon 
Israel,  such  as  had  not  been  since  the  time  that  prophets  had  ceased  to  appear 
among  them. 
Choice        28'pjjgi.eupon  all  the  friends  of  Judas  assembled  and  said  to  Jonathan, 
athan'   ^^Since  your  brother  Judas  has  died,  we  have  no  one  like  him  to  go  out 
as  against  our  enemies  and  Bacchides  and  against  those  of  our  own  kin  who 

hate  us.     30]\Jq^  therefore  we  have  chosen  you  this  day  to  be  our  prmce 
and  leader  in  his  place  that  you  may  fight  our  battles.     3lSo  Jonathan  as- 
sumed the  leadership  at  that  time  and  took  the  place  of  his  brother  Judas. 
Pursuit       32\Yhen  Bacchides  knew  it,  he  tried  to  slay  him.     33j3u^  Jonathan  and 
athan     Simou  his  brother  and  all  who  were  with  him  learned  of  it,  and  they  fled 
and        into  the  Wilderness  of  Tekoa  and  encamped  by  the  water  of  the  Dead  Sea.^ 

t  922  This  closing  tribute  to  .Judas  is  fashioned  after  the  editorial  resumes  in  II  Kgs. 

The  Attainment  of  Political  Independence  under  Jonathan. — With  the  restoration 
of  the  temple  service  and  the  attainment  of  religious  freedom,  the  ambitions  of  the  Hasideans  or 
party  of  the  pious,  who  had  supported  Judas  in  his  earlier  struggles  and  who  later  appear  as  the 
Pharisees,  were  realized.  The  withdrawal  of  their  active  support  alone  explains  why  Judas  fell, 
fighting  with  only  a  few  men  against  overwhelming  odds.  The  lack  of  active  support  and  the 
loss  of  prestige  which  resulted  from  the  death  of  Judas  compelled  the  national  party,  which  still 
followed  the  leadership  of  the  Hasmonean  family,  to  seek  refuge  in  concealment,  to  await  the 
change  in  public  opinion  and  in  the  fortunes  of  their  Syrian  masters.  At  their  head  was  Jona- 
than, bold,  energetic,  and  crafty,  a  leader  who  seized  and  turned  to  the  advantage  of  the  Jews 
the  civil  wars  which  were  undermining  the  Syrian  kingdom.  Experience  in  turn  also  confirmed 
the  position  of  the  national  party,  for  it  became  more  and  more  evident  that  the  liberty  and  pur- 
ity of  worship  could  be  maintained  only  when  defended  by  the  sword  from  its  foes  within  and 
without.  Hence  the  cause  of  political  independence  gained  in  popularity,  until  the  bids  of  rival 
claimants  for  the  Syrian  throne  and  the  bold  diplomacy  of  Jonathan  made  it  virtually  a  reality. 
At  first  a  hunted  outlaw,  Jonathan  in  153  b.c.  was  appointed  by  Demetrius  I  high-priest,  and 
until  his  death  reigned  practically  as  king  of  Judea. 

"  9**  Lit.,  the  cistern  (or  pit)  Asphal. 

4,4,4, 


JONATHAN'S  CONTESTS  [I  Mac.  93^ 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

3^And  Bacchides  heard  of  it  on  the  sabbath  day  and  came  witli  all  his  annv 

across  the  Jordan.     "^^And  Jonathan  sent  his  brother,  as  commander  of  the 

baggage-train,  to  obtain  permission  from  his  friends  the  Nabateans  to  leave 

with   them  their  baggage  which  was  cuml)ers()nie.     '^'^Bnt  the  Ambrians^ 

came  out  of  Medaba  and,  seizing  John  and  all  that  he  had,  they  went  their 

way  with  it. 

3~Now  after  these  events  they  brought  word  to  Jonathan  and  Simon  his  Their 

brother  that  the  Ambrians  were  celebrating  a  great   marriage,   and  were  ^cancc 

bringincr  the  bride,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  great  nobles  of  Canaan,  from  |'i'<>"  a 
o     o  '  o  o  hostile 

Nadabath  with  a  large  train.     ^S'pijgj^  ^j^^y  remembered  John  their  brother,  Ara- 

and  going  up,  hid  themselves  under  the  cover  of  the  mountain,  "^^imtil  ^^^^^^ 
they  saw  them  coming  with  great  noise  and  much  baggage,  and  the  bride- 
groom was  coming  out  with  his  friends  and  his  relatives  to  meet  them  with 
tambourines  and  minstrels  and  many  weapons.  '^^Then  they  started  up 
against  them  from  their  ambush  and  slew  them,  and  many  fell  mortally 
wounded,  while  the  survivors  fled  into  the  mountain,  and  they  took  all  their 
spoils. 

■"Tiius  the  marriage  was  turned  into  mourning, 
And  the  sound  of  their  music  into  lamentation. 

^^So  they  avenged  fully  the  blood  of  their  brother.     Then  they  turned  back 
to  the  marsh  of  Jordan. 

^^When  Bacchides  heard  it,  he  came  on  the  sabbath  day  to  the  banks  of  Battle 
Jordan  with  a  great  army.     '^^And  Jonathan  said  to  his  company,  Up,  now  "iJg' 
and  let  us  fight  for  our  lives  !     For  it  is  not  to-dav  as  it  use(l  to  be.     '^^For  Tynans 
see,  the  conflict  threatens  us   behind    and  before;   moreover  the  water  of  Jordan 
the  Jordan  is  on  this  side  and  that,  and  marsh  and  thi<'ket,  and  there  is 
no  chance  to  escape.      '*^'Now  therefore  cry  to  Heaven  that  you  may  be  de- 
livered from  the  power  of  your  enemies.     ^"When  the  battle  began,  Jonathan 
raised  his  hand  to  strike  Bacchides,  but  he  recoiled  from  him.'^       •*^Then 
Jonathan  and  those  with  him  leaped  into  the  Jordan  and  swam  over  to  the 
other  side,  and  they  did  not  cross  the  Jordan   against  them.     •*'^And  there 
fell  of  Bacchides's  company  that  day  about  a  thousand  men;  ^'^and  he  re- 
turned to  Jerusalem. 

But  tliey'*  built  strong  cities  in  Judca,  the  fortress   that   was   in   Jericho  Estab- 
and   Fmmaus,  and  Bethhoron,  Bethel,  Tinmath,  I'harathon,  and  Tephon,'"  ,[,V,it  of 
with  high  walls  and  gates  and  bars.     ^^And  he  stationed  garrisons  in  them  ['^'^-^^^ 
to  harass  Israel.     ^HIg  also  fortified   the  city   Bethstira  and   Cazara  an«l  hy     \ 
the  citadel,  and  put  forces  in  them  and  a  store  of  food.      '•■^Vud  he  took  the  .jcj, 
sons  of  the  chief  men  of  the  country  as  hostages,  and  put  them  inider  guard 
in  the  citadel  in  Jerusalem. 


*>  O*  .los.,  Anl.,  XIII,  '*.  Sona  of  Amhri,  an  Ar.ahian  friho. 

<^  9'"  Apparontly  niakiiiK  a  dosperalf  iissault  upcm  U:ii-(  liiilos  or  his  forros  .as  a  win ilo.  .Jona- 
than ami  ills  folIf)\vers  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  furnished  by  (lie  toniporary  recoil 
of  the  pnetny  to  esca[)e. 

J  9'*  l.f..  the  Syrians. 

•  Q'W  I'nr  the-  location  of  these  fortresses,  cf.  map  opp.  p.  385. 

445 


I  M\c.  95^]  THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

History  of  ihc  Hasmoneans 

Death        ^^Aiid  in  the  second  month  of  the  hundred  and  fifty-third  year,^  Alcimus 
cimus     g^"^'^  orders  to  pull  down  the  wall  of  the  inner  court  of  the  sanctuary,  s  and 
and  the  so  destroyed    the  works  of    the  prophets.     ^^They  were  just  beginning  to 
ureof     pull  them  down  when  Alcimus  was  stricken,  and  his  works  were  hindered, 
des      '  ^^^  ^^^^  mouth  was  stopped,  and  he  was  seized  with  a  palsy,  so  that  he  could 
no  more  speak  anything  or  give  orders  concerning  his  house.     ^'^And  Alcimus 
died  at  that  time  in  great  torment.     ^''And  when  Bacchides  saw  that  Alcimus 
was  dead,  he  returned  to  the  king;  and  the  land  of  Judah  was  at  peace  tw^o 
years. 
His  ^^Then  all  the  apostates  took  counsel,  saying.  See,  Jonathan  and  his  party 

vkith™n  ^^^  dwelling  at  ease  and  in  security.     Now  let  us,  therefore,  bring  Bacchides 
army      that  he  may  capture  them  all  in  one  night.     ^^So  they  went  and  consulted 
futile     with  him.     ^^And  he  set  out  and  came  with  a  great  army,  and  sent  letters 
tempts   secretly  to  all  his  confederates  who  were  in  Judea,  bidding  them  seize  Jon- 
tocapt-  athan  and  those  who  were  with  him.     But  they  could  not  because  their  plan 
Jona-     became  known  to  them;  ^^and  they  seized  about  fifty  of  the  men  of  the  country 
anT      ^'^*^  were  ringleaders  m  the  villainy,  and  he  slew  them.     ^-Then  Jonathan 
Sknon    and  Simon  and  those  who  were  with  him  escaped  to  Bethbasi,*^  which  is  in 
the  wilderness,  and  he  built  up  what  had  been  pulled  down  of  it  and  made 
it    strong.     ^^And  when    Bacchides    learned    it,  he    gathered  all    his  mul- 
titude, and  sent  word  to  those  who  belonged  to  Judea,  *^^and  went  and  laid 
siege  to  Bethbasi,  and  fought  against  it  for  some  time,  having  made  engines 
of  war.     ^^And  Jonathan  left  his  brother  Simon  in  the  city,  and  went  out 
into  the  country,  going  with  a  few  men.     *^^And  he  slaughtered  Odomera 
and  his  fellow -countrvTuen,  and  the  people  of  Phasiron  in  their  tent,  "^'and 
began  to  attack  and  advance  upon  the  forces.     Then  Simon  and  those  who 
were  with  him  went  out  of  the  city  and  set  on  fire  the  engines  of  war.    ^^Thus 
they  fought  against  Bacchides,  and  he  was  defeated  by  them  with  heavy 
loss.     Because  his  plan  and  invasion  were  without  result,  ^^they  were  very 
angr}'  with  the  apostates  who  had  advised  him  to  come  into  the  country, 
and  they  slew  many  of  them.     Then  he  decided  to  go  back  to  his  ow^n  country. 
Jona-  "^And  Jonathan  was  informed  of  it.  and  sent  ambassadors  to  him  in  order 

treaty  that  they  might  make  peace  w  ith  him  and  that  he  should  restore  to  them 
^ith,  .  the  captives.  ''^And  he  accepted  and  did  according  to  his  proposal,  and 
(les  and  swore  to  him  that  he  would  not  seek  to  hann  him  all  the  days  of  his  life. 
ijeace-  '^"And  he  restored  to  him  the  captives  whom  he  had  taken  on  former  occa- 
ful  rule  sions  out  of  the  land  of  Judah,  and  returned  and  departed  into  his  own  land, 
Mich-  and  he  came  no  more  into  their  territory.  ^^So  the  sword  ceased  from  Israel. 
™  Jonathan  then  dwelt  at  Michmash.     And  Jonathan  began  to  rule  the  people 

as  judge,  and  he  destroyed  the  godless  out  of  Israel. 

fgs*  160  B.C. 

e  954  I.e.,  to  throw  it  open  to  the  heathen. 

h  962  Probably  Bethhogla  at  the  northern  end  of  the  Dead  Sea. 


446 


CONXESSIONS  OF  THE  SYRIAN  RIVALS     [I  ISIac.  IQi 

§  191.  Concessions  by  the  Syrian  Rivals,  Demetrius  I  and  Alexander 

Balas,  I  Mac.  lO'-'- 

Histori/  of  the  Hasmoucans 

I  Mac.    10  ^Now  in  the  one  hundred  and  .sixtieth  year,  Alexander  the  An- 
son of'  Antiochus  Epiphanes  went  iij)  and  took  possession  of  Ptoleniais,  c/,"il.'*^ 
and  thev  received  him,  and  he  reigned  there.     -When  King  Demetrius  heard  Weired 

p     •       i"  11  1  p  1  1  •         •       1         1       upon 

of    it,  he  gathered  very  large  forces  and  went  out  to  meet   hmi  ni    battle,  jona- 
^Demetrius  also  sent  letters  to  Jonathan  with  words  of  peace,  so  as  to  honor  |,^.''pe. 
him  greatly.     '*For  he  said.  Let  us  get  the  start  in  making  peace  with  them  '"etrius 
before  he  makes  a  com[)act  with  Alexander  against  us.     ^For  he  will  re- 
member all  the  wrongs  that  we  have  done  to  him,  and  to  his  brothers  and 
his  nation.     ^And  he  gave  him  authority  to  collect  forces  and  to  provide 
arms  and  to  be  his  ally.     Also  he  commanded  that  they  should  deliver  up 
to  him  the  hostages  who  were  in  the  citadel. 

"Then  Jonathan  came  to  Jerusalem,  and  read  the  letters  in  the  hearing  rtesto- 
of  all  the  people,  and  of  those  who  were  in  the  ciUulel.     ^And  they  were  .^f'l'iost- 
greatly  afraid  when  they  heard  that  the  king  had  given  him  authority  to  anes 
collect  an  army.     ^And  the  garrison  delivered  up  the  hostages  to  Jonathan,  rehuild- 
and  he  restored  them  to  their  parents.     ^^  \„^i  Jojuithan  took  uj)  his  resi-  j"^^^_ 
deuce  in  JerusalerU  and  began  to  rebuild  and  renew  the  city.     ^^And  he  salem 
commanded  those  who  did  the  work  to  build  the  walls  and  INIount  Sion 
round  about  with  scpiare  stones  for  defence;  and  they  did  so.     ^-Then  the 
foreigners,  who  were  in  the  strongholds  which  Bacchides  had  built,  fled, 
^^and  each  man  left  his  j^lace  and  went  into  his  own  land.     ^^Only  some  of 
those  who  had  forsaken  the  law  and  the  commandments  were  left  at  Beth- 
sura,  because  it  was  an  asylum  for  them. 

i^And  when  King  Alexander  heard  all  the  promises  which  Demetrius  Jona- 
had  made  to  Jonathan  and  had  been  told  of  the  battles  which  he  and  his  ^p."  " 
brothers  had  fought  and  the  valiant  deeds  that  they  had  done  and  of  the  J^"'"*' 
hardships  which  they  had  endured,  '^he  said,  Shall  we  find  such  another  man  ?  a.s  hich- 
Now  therefore  let  us  make  him  our  friend  and  ally.  ^'So  he  wrote  letters  b" Al- 
and sent  them  to  him  with  contents  like  the.se:  der" 

'^King  Alexander  to  his  brother  Jonathan,  greeting:  ^^We  have  heard  of  Balas 
you  that  you  are  a  valiant  man  and  fit  to  be  our  friend.     -"And  now  we  have 
appointed  you  to-day  to  be  high  priest  of  your  nation  and  to  be  calle<l  the 
king's  Friend  (and  he  .sent  to  him  a  purple  robe  and  a  crown  of  gold),  and 
to  take  our  part  and  to  remain  on  friendly  terms  with  us. 

21  And  Jonathan  f)ut  on  the  holy  garments  in  the  .seventh  month  of  the  Ilis.as- 
hundrcd  and  sixtieth  yearJ  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  and  he  gathered  to-  J'SIIJ,",'.} 
gether  forces,  and  provided  arms  in  abundance.  llJfnors 

22When  Demetrius  heard  these  things,  he  was  distressed  -''and  said.  Why 
have  we  allowed  Alexander  to  anticii)ate  us  in  establishing  friendship  with  ^,!l|^X 
the  Jews   to   strengthen   himself.^     -*I   also  will  write    to    them  words   of  "(Tor to 

. all 

taxes 
'  10'  So  Syr.,  and  probably  the  orJKinal  Hob.     Alexander  was  of  lowbirtli,  luit  a  son  of 
Antiochus,  but  wa.s  ho  rccoKnized  by  Jews  and  Romans. 
J  10^'  October,  153  ii.c. 

447 


I  Mac.  1024]    THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

encouragement  and  regarding  honor  and  gifts,  that  they  may  be  with  mt,  to 
aid  me.     25.Yj^(J  gQ  j^g  g^j^^  ^q  t]iem  the  following  message: 

King  Demetrius  to  the  Jewish  nation,  greeting,  ^e^j^jj^^  y^^  have  kept 
your  treaties  with  us  and  continued  in  our  friendship  and  have  not  allied 
yourselves  with  our  enemies,  we  have  been  delighted  to  hear.  ^^Now  continue 
still  to  keep  faith  with  us,  and  we  will  recompense  you  with  good  things  in 
return  for  your  dealings  with  us,  28and  will  grant  you  many  immunities  and 
give  you  gifts.  29\j^(|  jjq^  j  frgg  you  and  release  all  the  Jews  from  tlv 
tributes'^  and  from  the  customs  of  salt  and  from  the  crowns.^  ^^And  tht 
tax  you  have  paid  instead  of  the  third  part  of  the  seed  and  instead  of  the 
half  of  the  fruit  of  the  trees,  which  it  is  my  right  to  receive,  I  remit  from  now 
on,  so  that  I  will  not  take  it  from  the  land  of  Judah  and  from  the  three  dis- 
tricts™ which  are  added  to  it  from  the  country  of  Samaria  and  Galilee, 
and  from  now  on  even  for  all  time.  ^^And  let  Jerusalem  be  holy"  and 
untaxed  with  her  territory,  the  tithes  and  the  tolls  shall  also  be  free  from 
royal  tax. 
To  ^-I  yield  up  also  my  authority  over  the  citadel  at  Jerusalem,  and  give  it 

derThe   ^o  the  high  priest,  that  he  may  appoint  in  it  such  men  as  he  may  choose  to 
citadel    garrison    it.     ^^And    every   Jew   without   exception   who   has   been    carried 
lease  all  Captive  from  the  land  of  Judah  into  any  part  of  my  kingdom,  I  set  at  liberty 
Je^'s      without  price.     And  let  all  remit  the  tributes,  even  for  their  cattle.     ^*And 
all  their  feasts,  and  the  sabbaths,  the  new  moons,  and  appointed  days,  and 
three  days  before  a  feast,  and  three  days  after  a  feast,  let  all  be  days  of  im- 
munity and  release  for  all  the  Jews  who  are  in  my  kingdom,     ^s^j^^j  j^o 
man  shall  have  authority  to  exact  from  any  of  them  or  to  trouble  them  con- 
cerning any  matter.     ^^And  let  there  be  enrolled  among  the  king's  forces 
about  thirty  thousand  Jews,  and  pay  shall  be  given  to  them  as  to  all  the  king's 
troops.     37\j^(j  some  of  them  shall  be  placed  in  the  king's  great  strongholds 
and  some  of  them  shall  be  placed  over  the  affairs  of  the  kingdom,  which  are 
of  trust,  and  let  their  overseers  and  officers  be  of  their  own  race,  and  let 
them  live  according  to  their  own  customs,  even  as  the  king  has  commanded 
in  the  land  of  Judah. 
To  cede      ^8  ^^j  ^j^g  three  districts  which  have  been  added  to  Judea  from  the  country 
certain   ^£  Samaria,  let  them  be  joined  to  Judea,  that  they  may  be  considered  to  be 
tricts      under  one  head  that  they  may  not  obey  other  authority  than  the  high  priest's, 
the  city  '^^As  for  Ptolcmais,  and  the  land  belonging  to  it,  I  have  presented  it  as  a 
emai*s°*'  ^i^t  to  the  sanctuary  which  is  at  Jerusalem  for  the  defraying  of  expenses 
and  to    incurred  by  the  sanctuary.     ^^And  I  give  every  year  fifteen  shekels  of  silver 
^ecfal    from  the  king's  revenues  from  the  proper  places.     ^^And  all  the  surplus 
grants    ^Y}-,ig}^  ^j^g  king's  ministers  did  not  pay  in  the  foriuer  years,  they  shall  give 


^  1029  I.e.,  poU-tax. 

I  10-9  Golden  crowns  originally  given  as  voluntary  homage,  afterward  demanded  as  a  reg- 
ular tax. 

■»  103"  Cf .  1 1»*.  The  three  tetrarchies  of  Apherema,  Lydda,  and  Ramathaim,  probably 
formed  a  strip  across  the  south  of  Samaria,  so  that  when  they  were  added  to  Judea,  the  border- 
line of  the  latter  was  shifted  a  little  to  the  north. 

"  10^'  I.e.,  devoted  to  the  god,  and  so  exempt  from  taxation. 

448 


COXCESSIOXS  OF  THE  SYRIAN  RR  ALS    [I  Mac.  1041 
Historij  of  the  Ha,wioneans 

from  now  on  toward  the  works  of  the  temple.  ^-\nd  besides  tliis,  the  five 
thousand  shekels  of  silver,  which  they  received  from  the  income  of  the  sanct- 
uary- in  revenue  year  by  year,  this  also  is  remitted  because  it  belongs  to 
the  priests  who  minister.  4"\\nd  whoever  shall  flee  to  the  temple  at  Jerusalem 
and  be  found  inside  its  precincts,  whether  one  who  owes  money  to  the  kint^ 
or  any  other  matter,  let  them  go  free,  and  all  that  tliey  have  in  my  kingdom. 
^^And  for  the  building  and  renewing  of  the  works  of  the  sanctuary  tlie  ex- 
pense shall  be  paid  also  out  of  the  king's  revenue.  "^'^And  for  the  building 
of  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  and  their  fortification  round  about,  the  expense 
shall  be  paid  also  out  of  the  king's  revenue,  and  for  the  building  of  the  walls 
in  Judea. 

"^•^Now  when  Jonathan  and  the  people  heard  these  words,  they  put  no  Rejec- 
reliance  in  them  nor  did  they  receive  them,  because  they  remembered  the  |jJe"e°^ 
great  evil  which  he  had  done  in  Israel,  and  that  he  had  caused  them  very  offers 
great  distress.     '*'But  they  were   well   j)leased   with   Alexander,  becau.se  he 
was   the  first  who  made  overtures  of  peace  to  them;   so  they  remained  his 
allies  for  all  time. 

§  19'2.  Honors  Bestowed  upon  Jonathan  by  Alexander  Balas,  I  Mac.  io^^-'b 
Historij  of  the  Hasmoncans 

I  3Iac.  10  ^^Then  King  Alexander  mustered  great  forces  and  encamped  Defeat 
opposite  Demetrius.     '^^But  when  the  two  kings  joined  battle,  the  army  of  ^eVrl- 
Alexander    retreated,    and    Demetrius    pursued    it,    and    vanquished    them.  "^ 
^^And  he  pushed  the  struggle  vigorously  until  sundown.     Demetrius,  how- 
ever, fell  that  day. 

^^Then  Alexander  sent  ambassadors  to  Ptolemy  king  of  Egypt  with  this  Alex- 
message,  saying,  ^^As  I  have  returned  to  my  kingdom,  and  am  seated  on  ^\\\^^  ^ 
the  throne  of  my  fathers,  and  have  secured  the  rulership,  and  have  over-  ance 
thrown  Demetrius,  and  have  gotten  possession  of  our  country;  ^^for  when  Ptol- 
I  engaged  in  battle  with  him,  he   and  his  army  were  defeated  by  us,  we  ^™^ 
ascended  his  royal  throne;  ^"^now,  therefore,  let  us  make  a  treaty  with  each 
other,  and  give  me  now  vour  daughter  as  wife  and  I  will  become  vour  son-in- 
law  and  will  give  both  you  and  her  gifts  worthy  of  her.     ''^Vnd  I'loleniy  the 
king  answered,  Haj)py  the  day  in  which  you  returned  to  the  land  of  your 
fathers  and  ascended  the  throne  of  their  kingdom.     ^*'And  now  I  will  deal 
with  you  as  you  have  written.     Meet  me  then  at  Ptolemais,  that  we  may 
see  each  other;  and  I  will  make  you  my  .son-in-law  as  you  have  said.    '"Then 
Ptolemy  went  out  of  Egypt,  with  Cleopatra  his  daughter,  and  came  to  Ptole- 
mais in  the  one  hundrcvl  and  sixty-second  year."     ^^King  Alexander  met 
him  and  he  bestowed  on  him  his  daughter  Cleopatra,  and  celebrated  her 
marriage  at  Ptolemais  with  great  pomp,  as  kings  are  accustomed  to  do. 

•^^King  Alexander  then  wrote  to  Jonathan  to  come  to  meet  him.     ^"^So  he  Honors 
went  with   poiii|)  to  Ptolemais  and  met  the  two  kings  and  gave  them  and  (-"rri,, i 
their  Friends  silver  and  gold,  and  tiiiinv  gifts,  and  was  favorably  received  by  "'""' 

than 

"  10"   l.W  11.  c. 

419 


I  Mac.  1060]   THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

them.  6ixiien  some  infamous  Israelitish  apostates  assembled  to  make  accu- 
sation against  him,  but  the  king  paid  no  attention  to  them.  62j^g^jjjgj,^  ^Yie 
king  commanded  that  they  take  off  Jonathan's  garments  and  clothe  him  in 
purple.  And  thus  they  did.  ^^And  the  king  made  him  sit  with  him,  and  said 
to  his  princes.  Go  forth  with  him  into  the  midst  of  the  city  and  make  procla- 
mation that  none  complain  against  him  of  any  matter,  and  let  none  trouble 
him  for  any  cause.  64^ij(j  when  those  w  ho  had  accused  him  saw  his  glory, 
as  they  made  proclamation,  and  saw  him  clothed  in  purple,  they  all  took 
to  flight.  65^jj(j  j^jjg  king  showed  him  honor,  and  inscribed  him  among 
his  Chief  Friends,  and  made  him  a  commander  and  governor  of  a  province. 
66And  Jonathan  returned  to  Jerusalem  with  peace  and  gladneiss. 

§  193.  Jonathan's  Victory  over  Apollonius,  I  Mac.  lO^'-so 
Histonj  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Apollo-  I  Mac.  10  67Now  in  the  one  hundred  and  sixty -fifth  year,P  Demetrius 
cha!-^  son  of  Demetrius,  came  from  Crete  into  the  land  of  his  fathers.  ^SThen 
lenge  to  King  Alexander  heard  of  it,  and  he  was  exceedingly  troubled  and  returned 
than  to  Antioch.  69^j^(^j  Demetrius  appointed  Apollonius,  who  was  over  Coele- 
syria,^  and  he  collected  a  great  army  and  encamped  in  Jamnia,  and  sent 
to  Jonathan  the  high  priest  this  message: 

^^You  alone  are  hostile  to  us,  and  I  have  become  a  laughing-stock  and 
butt  of  ridicule  on  account  of  you.  Now  why  do  you  flaunt  your  powxr 
against  us  in  the  mountains  ?  ''^If,  indeed,  you  trust  your  forces,  come  down 
to  us  in  the  plain,  and  there  let  us  try  the  matter  together,  because  with  me 
is  the  power  of  the  cities.''  '^^Ask  and  learn  who  I  am  and  the  rest  who 
help  us.  They  will  tell  you.  You  cannot  make  a  stand  before  us,  for  your 
troops^  have  been  twice  put  to  flight  on  their  own  ground.  ^^And  now  you 
will  not  be  able  to  withstand  the  cavalry  and  such  an  army  as  this  in  the 
plain,  where  there  is  neither  stone  nor  pebble  nor  place  to  w  hich  to  flee. 
The  ''^Now  when  Jonathan  heard  the  words  of  Apollonius,  he  was  stirred  to 

andde-  anger,  and  he  chose  ten  thousand  men  and  went  forth  from  Jerusalem,  and 
feat  of  Simon  his  brother  met  him  to  help  him.  ^^And  he  encamped  against 
nius  Joppa.  The  people  of  the  city,  however,  shut  him  out,  because  x\pollonius 
had  a  garrison  in  Joppa.  ''^So  they  fought  against  it.  Then  the  people  of 
the  city  were  afraid  and  opened  to  him,  and  Jonathan  became  master  of  Joppa. 
'^''But  when  Apollonius  heard  of  it  he  gathered  an  army  of  three  thousand 
horsemen  and  a  great  host  and  marched  toward  Azotus  as  though  he  were 
going  on  by  [Joppa],  and  at  the  same  time  he  advanced  into  the  plain,  be- 
cause he  had  a  large  cavalry  force  and  trusted  in  it.  ''^Then  [Jonathan] 
pursued  him  to  Azotus,  and  the  armies  joined  battle.     ''^Now  Apollonius 

p  10"  147  B.C. 

1  10^'  Coelesyria  (lit.,  the  hollow  Syria)  was  between  Lebanon  and  the  Anti-Lebanons,  but 
here  as,  e.g.,  in  Ezra-Neh.,  is  probably  intended  to  include  all  Syria. 

'  10*^  Yours  is  the  strength  of  mountains,  mine  the  strength  of  the  cities.  There  is  a  play  iu 
Heb.  on  the  words,  mountains  and  cities. 

•  IC  So  in  all  probability  the  original  Heb.  As  the  result  of  an  error  the  Gk.  reads, 
faihera. 

450 


HONORS  BESTOWED  UPON  JONATHAN    [I  Mac.  10"9 
History  of  the  Hasmoncans 

had  secretly  left  a  thousand  horse  behind  him.  ^^Jonathan,  however,  knew 
that  there  was  an  ambush  laid  behind  him.  So  when  they  surrounded  his 
army,  and  cast  their  darts  at  the  people  from  morning  until  evening,  '^^he 
people  stood  still,  as  Jonathan  commanded  them,  so  that  their  horses  became 
tired  out.  ^-Then  Simon  led  out  his  army,  and  joined  battle  with  the  pha- 
lanx (for  the  cavalry  was  exliausted),  and  they  were  defeated  by  him  and  fled. 
^^And  the  horsemen  were  scattered  in  the  plain  and  fled  to  Azotus,  where 
they  entered  Beth-dagon,  their  idol's  temple,  to  save  themselves.  ^"^But 
Jonathan  burned  Azotus  and  the  cities  about  it,  and  took  their  spoils;  and 
he  burned  the  temple  of  Dagon  and  those  who  fled  into  it.  ^^And  those 
who  had  fallen  with  the  sword,  with  those  who  were  burned,  numbered 
about  eight  thousand  men.  ^*^And  Jonathan  departed  from  there  and  en- 
camped beside  Ascalon,  and  the  people  of  the  city  came  forth  to  meet  him 
with  great  pomp.  ^'^Then  Jonathan,  with  those  who  belonged  to  his  party, 
returned  to  Jerusalem,  having  many  spoils. 

^^And  when  King  Alexander  heard  these  things,  he  heaped  still  more  Addi- 
honors  on  Jonathan,  and  sent  him  a  buckle  of  gold,  as  is  customarily  given  to  i,'"nors 
those  who  are  of  royal  lineage.     He  also  gave  him  Ekron  with  all  its  territory  ^"j:  'o"- 
as  a  possession. 

§  194.  Overthrow  of  Alexander  by  Ptolemy  and  Demetrius  II,  I  Mac.  11'-'* 
History  of  tJie  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.   11  ^Then  the  king  of  Egypt  collected  great  forces,  as  countless  ptoie; 
as  the  sands  on  the  seashore,  and  many  ships  and  treacherously  attempted  "jf^jion"' 
to  make  himself  master  of  Alexander's  kingdom  and  to  add  it  to  his  own  of  '^vria 
realm.     ^And  he  went  forth  into  Syria  with  words  of  peace,  and  the  peoples  seizure 
of  the  cities  opened  to  him  and  received  him,  for  King  Alexander's  command  "qIJ^ 
was  that  they  should  receive  hun  because  he  was  his  father-in-law.     ^But  cities 
when  Ptolemy  entered  the  cities,*  he  put  his  forces  as  a  garrison  in  each  city. 
■^And  when  he  came  near  Azotus,  they  showed  him  the  temple  of  Dagon 
burned  down,  and  Azotus  and  its  suburbs  pulled  down,  and  the  bodies  cast 
outside,  and  those  who  had  been  burned,  whom  Jonathan  burned  in  the  war, 
for  they  had  made  heaps  of  them  along  the  way  he  was  going.     ^And  when 
they  told  the  king  what  things  Jonathan  had  done,  that  they  might  cast  blame 
on  him,  the  king  held  his  peace.     ^And  Jonathan  met  the  king  with  ]K)mp 
at  Joj)pa,  and  they  saluted  one  another,  and  they  jiassed  the  night  there. 
•^And  Jonathan  went  with  the  king  as  far  as  the  river  that  is  called  Eleutherus 
and  then  returned  to  Jerusalem.     ^But  King  Ptolemy  became  master  of 
the  cities  upon  the  sea-coast,  as  far  as  Seleucia  which  is  by  the  sea. 

And  he  plotted  evil  against  Alexander.     ^And  he  sent  ambassadors  to  piots 
King  Demetrius,  saying.  Come,  let  us  make  a  treaty  with  each  other,  and  I  "'jp",'f,*. 
will  give  you  my  daughter  whom  Alexander  has,  and  you  shall  reign  over  ''«''■  ""'' 
your  father's  kingdom;  ^"^for  I  am  sorry  that  I  gave  my  daughter  to  him,  seizure 

, ___^ of  An- 

tioch 
'  IP  The  Ok.  adds,  Plolemnis,  hut  this  is  an  impossible  reading,  for  Ptolemy  was  still  on  the 
march.     The  original  clearly  read,  Ptolemy. 

■ir;  1 


I  Mac.  11 10]    THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

for  he  has  attempted  to  murder  me.     ^^But  he  was  casting  blame  on  him 
because  he  coveted  his  kingdom.     ^^And  taking  his  daughter  from  him, 
he  gave  her  to  Demetrius,  and  was  estranged  from  Alexander,  so  that  their 
enmity  was  openly   seen.     ^^Ptolemy  then  entered   Antioch   and  assumed 
the  diadem  of  Asia.     And  he  put  two  diadems  on  his  head,  the  diadem  of 
Egypt  and  that  of  Asia.     ^^But  King  Alexander  was  in  Cilicia  at  that  time, 
because  the  people  of  that  territory  were  in  revolt. 
Defeat        ^^And  when  Alexander  heard  of  it,  he  came  to  make  war  against  him; 
death     ^"^  Ptolemy  went  out  to  meet  him  with  a  strong  force,  and  put  him  to  flight. 
of  Alex-  I6^]^(j  Alexander  fled  into  Arabia  that  he  might  find  asylum  there;   and 
and  the  SO  King  Ptolcmy  held  the  upper  hand.     ^'^Then  Zabdiel  the  Arabian  took 
skHi  of    off  Alexander's  head  and  sent  it  to  Ptolemy.     ^^King  Ptolemy  died  the  third 
Deme-    (j^y  after,  and  they  who  were  in  his  strongholds  were  slain  by  those  who 
were  in  the  strongholds,  ^^  and  Demetrius  reigned  in  the  hundred  and  sixty- 
seventh  year." 

§  195.  Jonathan's  New  Honors  and  Privileges  under  Demetrius  II, 

I  Mac.  ll-»-« 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Confir-       I  Mac.  11  ^^At  that  time  Jonathan  gathered  together  the  people  of  Judea 
of  j*on-   to  take  the  citadel  that  was  at  Jerusalem,  and  he  erected  many  engines  of 
athan's  ^y^r  against  it.     ^igo^^g^  however,  who  hated  their  own  nation,  apostates, 
ity         went  to  the  king,  and  reported  to  huu  that  Jonathan  was  besieging  the  cit- 
adel.    22^j^j  when  he  heard  it,  he  was  angry,  and  immediately  after  he 
heard  of  it  he  set  out  and  came  to  Ptolemais,  and  wrote  to  Jonathan  that  he 
should  not  besiege  it,  and  that  he  should  meet  him  and  confer  with  him  at 
Ptolemais  with  all  speed.     ^Sg^j^  -when  Jonathan  heard  this,  he  gave  orders 
to  proceed  with  the  siege,  while  he  chose  certain  of  the  elders  of  Israel  and 
of  the  priests,  and  putting   himself  in  peril,  24and   taking  silver  and  gold 
and  garments,  and  various  presents  besides,  he  went  to  the  king  at  Ptole- 
mais.    And  he  was  favorably  received;  ^^and  although  some  apostates  of 
the  nation  made  complaints  against  him,  ^^the  king  treated  him  just  as  his 
predecessors  had  done  and   exalted  him  in  the  presence  of  all  his  Friends, 
^''both  confirming  to  him  the  high  priesthood,  and  all  the  other  honors  that 
he  had  before,  and  giving  him  pre-eminence  among  his  Chief  Friends. 
Deme-        ^^And  Jonathan  requested  the  king  to  make  Judea  free  from  tribute,  to- 
lette/    gether  with  the  three  districts  of  Samaria,^  and  he  promised  him  tliree  hun- 
p,'o.-       dred  talents.     -^And  the  king  consented  and  wrote  letters  to  Jonathan  con- 

chiini-  ,  " 

ingthe  ceming  all  these  things  in  the  following  terms: 

"y  and  ^°King  Demetrius  to  his  brother  Jonathan  and  to  the  nation  of  the  Jews, 

inde-  greeting.    ^^The  copy  of  the  letter  which  we  wrote  to  Lasthenes  our  kinsman 

dence  concerning  you,  we  have  also  written  to  you,  that  you  may  see  it.     ^^Kinj 

of  ; ' 

Judea 

"1]i«145b.c.  ■  ,  _ 

"  ll^**  Gk.,  the  three  districts  and  the  country  of  Samaria,  but  it  is  incredible  that  Samaria 
is  intended.  Probably  the  original  read  as  above,  and  a  later  scribe  living  after  the  Jews  had 
conquered  Samaria  introduced  the  present  error.     Cf.  **  and  lO^". 

452 


PRBILEGES  UNDER  DEMETRIUS  II     [I]^L\c.ll32 
History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Demetrius  to  Lasthenes  his  father,  greeting.  ^^To  the  nation  of  the  Jews 
who  are  our  friends  and  observe  what  is  just  toward  us,  we  have  determined 
to  do  good,  because  of  their.good-will  toward  us.  ^^W'c  have  therefore  con- 
firmed to  them  the  territory  of  Judea  and  also  the  three  districts  of  Aphe- 
rema^'  and  Lydda  and  Ramathaim"^ — they  were  added  to  Judea  from  the 
province  of  Samaria — and  all  things  belonging  to  them.  To  all  who  sacrifice 
in  Jerusalem  we  remit  that  which  the  king  formerly  received  of  them  vearly 
instead  of  the  king's  dues  from  the  produce  of  the  earth  and  the  fruits  of 
trees.  ^^And  as  for  the  other  things  that  belong  to  us,  henceforth  of  the 
tithes  and  the  tolls  that  belong,  and  the  salt-pits  and  the  crowns  that  belong 
to  us,  all  these  we  will  bestow  upon  them.  ^''And  not  one  of  these  things 
shall  be  annulled  from  this  time  forth  and  forever.  ^"Now,  therefore,  be 
careful  to  make  a  copy  of  these  things,  and  let  it  be  given  to  Jonathan,  and 
let  it  be  set  up  on  the  holy  mount  in  a  suitable  and  conspicuous  place. 

^^And  when  King  Demetrius  saw  that  the  land  was  quiet  before  him  and  Tryv 
that  no  resistance  was  made  to  him,  he  sent  away  all  his  forces,  each  one  to  p'"?,"  to 
his  own  home,  except  the  foreign  mercenaries,  whom  he  had  enlisted  from  i'''*fe 
the  isles  of  the  heathen.     All  the  troops,  however,  who  liad  served  his  father  of  Alex- 
hated  him.     3^ Now  Tryphon'*  was  one  of  those  who  had  formerly  belonged  oll'lfie 
to  Alexander's  party,  and  when  he  saw  that  all  the  troops  were  murmuring  t'lrone 
against  Demetrius,  he  went  to  Yamliku,^  the  Arabian  who  was  bringing  uj) 
Antiochus,  the  young  child  of  Alexander,  *^and  importuned  him   that  he 
should  deliver  him  to  him,  that  he  might  reign  in  his  father's  place.     And 
he  told  him  all  that  Demetrius  had  done,  and  the  hatred  which  his  troops 
bore  him.     And  he  stayed  there  a  long  time. 

§  196.  Jonathan's  Transfer  of  Allegiance  from  Demetrius  II  to  Antiochus, 

I  Mac.  ll<'-'< 

Hist  art/  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  11  "^'Then  Jonathan  sent  a  message  to  King  Demetrius  request-  Jona- 
ing  him  to  drive  out  the  garrison  at  Jerusalem  and  those  who  were  in  the  grc:"t* 
strongholds  because  they  were  fighting  with  Israel  continually.     "^-And  De-  serv''^'"' 
metrius  answered  Jonathan,  I  will  not  only  do  this  for  you  and  your  nation,  metrius 
but  I  will  greatly  honor  you  and  your  nation,  if  1  find  a  fav()ral)!e  opportunity. 
^^Now  therefore  you  will  do  well  if  you  send  me  men  who  shall  liglil  for  me, 
for  all  my  forces  have  revolted.     "*^So  Jonathan  sent  him  three  thousand 
warriors  to  Antioch,  and  they  came  to  the  king  who  was  glad  at  their  coming. 
^■^And  the  peof)le  of  the  city  gathered  themselves  together  at  the  centre  of 
the  city  to  the  number  of  a  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  men,  and  they 
were  eager  to  slay  the  king.     '*'^But  the  king  fled  into  the  court  of  the  palace, 
and  the  men  of  the  city  seized  the  thoroughfares  of  the  city,  and  began  to 


»  11**  See  10''<'  5  191,  note™.     Apherema  is  t)i..l.:.M\   tin'  (Ik.  form  of  Ephniiin,  the  town 
mentioned  in  IF  S;iin.  13-'. 

•  n*'   FollowiiiK  the  Syr.  .in.i  many  Ok.  MSS.     Cf.  I  Rain.  P. 

a  1 13"  Tryphon.  f/lultori.  or  dfixturiirc,  instoii<l  of  his  oriKiniil  niinic,  l)iinli>niK. 

^  11'"  lle.storing  tlie  oritciiial  Arabian  form.     It  ap|)car.><  in  Diudoru.s  sis  .lainhlichua. 


I  Mac.  1146]    THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

Histonj  of  the  Hasmoneans 

fight.     4^Then  the  king  summoned  the  Jews  to  help  him,  and  they  came 
together  to  him  immediately.     Thereupon  they  dispersed  themselves  about 
the  city,  and  slew  that  day  as  many  as  a  hundred  thousand.     ^^And  they  set 
the  city  on  fire,  and  took  many  spoils  that  day,  and  rescued  the  king.     '^^Now 
when  the  men  of  the  city  saw  that  the  Jews  had  made  themselves  undisputed 
masters  of  the  city,  they  lost  their  courage  and  cried  out  to  the  king  in  sup- 
plication, saying,  ^'^Make  peace  with  us*^  and  let  the  Jews  stop   fighting 
against  us  and  the  city.     ^^So  they  cast  away  their  weapons  and  made  peace, 
and  the  Jews  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  king  and  of  all  who  were 
in  his  kingdom.     And  they  returned  to  Jerusalem,  having  many  spoils. 
Ingrat-       ^^But  when  King  Demetrius  sat  on  the  throne  of  his  kingdom  and  the 
Deme-    land  was  quiet,  ^^he  broke  all  the  promises  he  had  made  and  was  hostile  to 
trius      Jonathan,  and  did  not  treat  him  in  return  as  the  benefits  with  which  he  had 

befriended  him  merited,  but  caused  him  great  trouble.'^ 

Antio-        ^^Now  after  this  Tryphon  returned,  and  with  him  the  young  child  An- 

khj*!^^  tiochus,  and  he  assumed  the  sovereignty  and  put  on  the  diadem.     ^^And 

there  were  gathered  to  him  all  the  forces  which  Demetrius  had  sent  away 

in  disgrace,  and  they  fought  against  him,  and  he  fled  and  was  defeated. 

^^And  Tryphon  took  the  elephants  and  became  master  of  Antioch. 

Honors      ^'^Then  the  young  Antiochus  wrote  to  Jonathan,  saying,  I  confirm  to  you 

ferred     the  high  priesthood  and  appoint  you  over  the  four  districts,^  and  to  be  one 

upon      of  the  king's  Friends.     ^^He  also  sent  to  him  golden  vessels  and  table  ser- 

Jona- 

than      vice,  and  gave  him  permission  to  drink  from  golden  vessels,  and  to  be  clothed 
irmon    ill  purple  and  to  have  a  golden  buckle.^     ^^iVnd  his  brother  Simon  he  made 

commander  from  the  Ladder  of  Tyre  to  the  borders  of  Egypt. 
Jona-         ^^Then  Jonathan  went  forth  and  marched  through  the  territory  beyond 
con-  ^    the  river  and  through  the  cities.     And  all  the  forces  of  Syria^  gathered 
quests    themselves  to  him  to  be  his  allies.     And  when  he  came  to  Ascalon,  the  in- 
habitants of  the  city  met  him  with  honors,     ^igyt  when  he  went  from  there 
to  Gaza,  the  inhabitants  of  Gaza  shut  him  out.     He  therefore  laid  siege  to 
it  and  burned  its  suburbs  and  plundered  them.     62'phen  the  people  of  Gaza 
besought  Jonathan  and  he  made  peace  with  them  and,  taking  the  sons  of 
their  princes  for  hostages,  sent  them  away  to  Jerusalem,  while  he  passed  on 
through  the  country  as  far  as  Damascus- 
Victory      63]sJq^  when  Jonathan  heard  that  the  generals  of  Demetrius  had  come  to 
Syrian    Kedesh,  which  is  in  Galilee,  with  a  great  army,  purposing  to  remove  him 
forces     from  his  oflice,  ^"^he  went  to  meet  them,  leaving  Simon  his  brother  in  the 
country.     ^5 /^j^^j  Simon  laid  siege  to  Bethsura,  and  fought  against  it  a  long 
time  and  shut  it  up.     ^eg^^  when  they  besought  him  to  make  peace  with 
them  he  did  so,  although  he  drove  them  out  and  took  possession  of  the  city, 
and  set  a  garrison  over  it.     ^T^nd  Jonathan  and  his  army  pitched  camp  at 


"  115"  jjt,_^  gi^,g  -i/g  ffig  right  [hand]. 

d  1 153  According  to  Josephus,  Demetrius  threatened  to  make  war  upon  him  unless  he  paid 
the  tribute  due. 
<=  1157  Cf.  M. 
'  1158  Cf.  1089. 
ell'*''  I.e.,  according  to  ■*'  the  troops  who  had  deserted  Demetrius. 

454 


JONATHAN'S  ALLEGIANCE  TO  ANTIOCHUS    [I  ]\L^c.  Il67 
History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

the  water  of  Gennesaret.  Then,  early  in  the  morning  they  marched  to 
the  ])hiiu  of  Ilazor.  '^^And  there  an  army  of  foreigners  met  him  in  the  plain 
and,  having  laid  an  ambush  for  him  in  the  mountains,  they  themselves  met 
him  face  to  face.  *^^Then  those  who  lay  in  ambush  started  up  from  their 
places  and  engaged  in  the  battle,  and  all  who  were  with  Jonathan  fled.  ''''Not 
one  of  them  was  left  except  Mattathias  the  son  of  Absalom  and  Judas  the  son 
of  Calphi,  commander  of  the  forces.  "^Upon  this  Jonathan  tore  his  gar- 
ments, and  put  earth  upon  his  head  and  prayed.  "^Then  he  turned  ujion 
them  again  in  battle  and  put  them  to  rout,  and  they  fled.  ^^And  when  the 
men  of  his  army  who  were  fleeing  saw  it,  they  returned  to  him,  and  with  him 
pursued  to  Kedesh  to  their  camp,  and  they  encamjjed  there.  "^So  there 
fell  of  the  foreigners  on  that  day  about  three  thousand  men.  Jonathan  then 
returned  to  Jerusalem. 

§  197.  Jonathan's  Alliances,  Victories,  and  Building  Operations, 

•      I  Mac.  12'-3» 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.   13  ^Vhen  now  Jonathan  saw  that  the  time  was  opportune  for  Re- 
him.  he  selected  men  and  sent  them  to  Rome  to  confirm  and  renew  the  treaty  "f  t^i^ 
wliicli  they  had  with  them.'^     -Also  to  the  Sj)artans  and  other  places,  he  ^"'■ 
sent  letters  of  similar  import.     -^And  they  went  to  Rome,  and  entered  the  with 
senate  house,  and  said,  Jonathan  the  high  priest  and  the  Jewish  nation  have     °'"® 
sent  us  to  renew  for  them  the  treaty  and  the  alliance  on  the  former  conditions. 
"^And  [the  Romans]  gave  them  letters  to  the  garrisons'  in  every  place,  that 
they  should  give  them  safe  conduct  on  their  way  to  the  land  of  Judah. 

^And  this  is  the  coj)y  of  the  letter  which  Jonathan  wrote  to  the  Sj)artans:  ,Tona- 
^Jonathan  the  high  jiriest,  and  the  senate  of  the  nation,  and  the  priests,  and  leue/ 
the  rest  of  the  Jewish  people  to  their  brothers,J  the  Spartans,  greeting.     ''Even  ^"^^''f 
before  this  time  letters  were  sent  to  Onias  the  high  priest  from  Areios,''  who  tans 
was  reigning  among  you,  declaring  tiiat  you  are  our  brothers,  as  the  copy  we 
have  testifies.     ^And  Onias  gave  an  honorable  reception  to  the  ambassadors 
and  received  the  letters,  in  which  there  was  a  plain  declaration  of  alliance 
and  friendshij).     9'^^iiej.gfQre  ^ye  also,  although  we  need  none  of  these  things, 
having  for  our  encouragement  the  holy  books  which  are  in  our  hands,  '"have 
undertaken  to  send  an  embassy  to  you  that  we  may  renew  our  brotherhood 
and  friendship  with  you  in  order  that  we  should  not  become  alienated  from 
you  altogether,  for  it  is  a  long  time  since  you  sent  the  embassy  to  us.      ''We 
therefore  at  all  times  continuously,  in  our  feasts  and  on  the  other  suitable 
days,  remember  you  in  the  sacrifices  which  we  oll'er  and   in  our  ])rayers, 
as  it  is  riirht  and  fittinir  to  be  mindful  of  brothers.     '-And  moreover  we 
rejoice  over  your  fame.     '■'^Hul  many  adversities  and  many  wars  have  be- 


h  121  Of.  1"  and  1422. 
'  12'  Lit.. /o  Mem. 

)  12"  I'or  the  traditional  relationship  between  the  .lews  and  Si)artans,  cf.  II  Mac.  .•)». 
k  12^  So  .loH.  and  Did   I.at.     All   Iho  fjk.  MSS.  read,   fnim  Durcioa.     The    Sparlati  kiiift 
Areios  I  (309-205  u.c.)  im  evidently  intended. 

455 


I  Mac.  1213]    THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

Historij  of.  the  Hasmoneans 

fallen  us  from  all  sides,  and  the  kings  who  surround  us  have  fought  against 
us.     i^We  did  not  purpose,  nevertheless,  to  be  troublesome  to  you  and  the 
rest  of  our  allies  and  friends  in  these  wars,  ^^for  we  have  the  help  which  is 
from  Heaven  to  aid  us,  and  we  have  been  delivered  from  our  enemies,  and 
our  enemies  have  been  humiliated.     ^^Now,  however,  we  have  chosen  Nu- 
menius  the  son  of  Antiochus  and  Antipater  the  son  of  Jason,  and  have  sent 
them  to  the  Romans  to  renew  the  alliance  we  had  with  them  and  the  earlier 
treaty  of  friendship.     ^'We  commanded  them  at  the  same  time  to  go  also 
to  you  and  to  salute  you  and  to  deliver  to  you  our  letters  concerning  the  re- 
newing also  of  our  alliance.     ^^Now,  therefore,  you  will  confer  a  favor  by 
granting  our  wish. 
Earlier       ^^And  this  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  which  tliey  sent  to  Onias : 
th"^'^°^      20^\i.ii,s  king  of  the  Spartans  to  Onias  the  chief  priest,  greeting.    ^iJt  has 
Spar-     been  found  in  writing  concerning  the  Spartans  and  the  Jews,  that  they  are 
OuisLS     brothers  and  that  they  are  descendants  of  Abraham,     '^'^kad  now,  since  this 
has  come  to  our  knowledge,  you  will  confer  a  favor  by  writing*  to  us  of  your 
welfare.     23\j^j  ^yg  moreover  write  on  our  part  to  you,  that  your  cattle 
and  goods  are  ours  and  ours  are  yours.     We  command  therefore  that  they 
report  to  you  to  this  effect. 
Jona-         24^j^(j  Jonathan  heard  that  Demetrius's  generals  had  returned  to  fight 
^}l^l'^    against  him  with  a  greater  army  than  before;   ^^so  he  removed  from  Jeru- 
paign     salem,  in  order  that  he  might  meet  them  in  the  country  of  Hamath,  tor  he 
ilee"^ '    did  not  wish  to  give  them  a  chance  to  -invade  his  country,     ^e^^d  when  he 
sent  spies  into  his  camp,  they  came  back  and  reported  to  him  that  they  were 
under  orders  in  such  and  such  a  way  to  fall  upon  them  at  night,     '^'^ni  as 
soon  as  the  sun  went  down,  Jonathan  commanded  his  men  to  watch  and  to 
be  in  arms  that  all  night  long  they  might  be  ready  for  battle.     He  also  set 
sentinels  around  the  camp.     28\Y]^gj^  j^o^y  \\^q  adversaries  heard  that  Jon- 
-    athan  and  his  men  were  ready  for  battle,  they  were  afraid  and  trembled  in 
their  hearts.     So  they  kindled  the  fires  in  their  camp  and  withdrew.'"   "^^ion- 
athan,  however,  and  his  men  did  not  know  until  morning,  for  they  saw  the 
fire  burning.     •^O'pi^gi^  Jonathan  pursued  them,  but  did  not  overtake  them, 
for  they  had  crossed  the  river  Eleutherus.     SiThen  Jonathan  turned  aside 
to  the  Arabians,  who  are  called  Zabadeans,  and  defeated  them  and  took 
their  spoils.     ^'^Xnd  he  set  out  from  there  and  came  to  Damascus  and  jour- 
neyed through  all  the  country. 
Simon        33\jj(j  gimon  went  forth  and  journeyed  as  far  as  Ascalon  and  the  strong- 
aUop-  i^QJjg  ^j^a|.  ^.gj.g  jjgj^j.  ^Q  it      ^j^(j  jjg  turned  aside  to  Joppa  and  took  posses- 
sion of  it,  34for  he  had  heard  that  they  were  plotting  to  turn  the  fortress 
over  to  the  men  of  Demetrius,  and  he  put  a  garrison  there  to  keep  it. 
Jona-         35\nd  when  Jonathan  returned  he  called  the  elders  of  the  people  together, 
fOTtm^-    and  he  considered  plans  with  them  for  building  strongholds  in  Judea  36and 
cations  foj.  making  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  higher  and  for  raising  a  great  mound 

in  Ju-  -  -1 

dea  and  between  the  citadel  and  the  city  in  order  to  separate  it  from  the  city,  that 

Jeru- \ 

salem 

1   J2'8.  22  J^it,,  you  Shall  do  ii'ell  ansivering  lis. 

™  12-s  So  Luc,  Jos.,  and  Syr.     The  other  texts  omit  the  necessary,  and  withdrew. 

456 


JONATHAN'S  BUILDING  OPERATIONS      [I  ISIac.  1236 
History  of  the  Ilasinoneuns 

thus  it  might  be  isolated  that  men  might  neitlier  buy  nor  sell.  ^"And  they 
were  gathered  together  to  build  the  city,  and  they  took  down  ])art  of  the 
wall  along  the  ravine  that  is  on  the  east  side,  and  from  it  built  up  anew  the 
so-called  Chaphenatha."  ^^And  Simon  also  built  Adida  in  the  lowland*' 
and  made  it  strong  and  set  up  gates  and  bars. 

§  198.  Tryphon's  Treacherous  Capture  and  Murder  of  Jonathan, 

I  Mae.   12'"'-133<' 

History  of  the  Ha.smoucans 

I  Mac.  12  ^^Then  Tryphon  trietl  to  get  the  sovereignty  over  Asia  and  to  Try- 
put  on  the  diadem  and  to  engage  in  hostilities  against  Antiochus  the  king,  fais"^ 
^^But  he  was  afraid  lest  perhaps  Jonathan  might  not  allow  him,  and  that  '^"^"'"'j 
he  might  fight  against  him.     So  he  soufjht  a  wav  to  take  him.  that  he  miirht  plot  to 
destroy  him.     And  he  set  out  and  came  to  Belhshan.     ^^Then  Jonatliaii  .^Tr^"^'" 


)iia- 


went  out  to  meet  him  with  forty  thousand  picked  .soldiers  and  came  to  Beth-  ^'^^"^ 
shan.  '^-And  when  Tryphon  saw  that  he  came  with  a  great  army,  he  was 
afraid  to  attack  him,  ^"^and  he  received  him  honorably  and  commended  him 
to  all  his  J'riends  and  gave  him  gifts,  and  commanded  his  forces  to  be  obedient 
to  him  as  to  himself.  "*^And  he  said  to  Jonathan,  Why  have  you  put  all 
this  people  to  trouble,  since  that  there  is  no  war  between  us  ?  "^^Now  there- 
fore send  them  away  to  their  homes,  retaining  for  yourself  only  a  few  men 
who  shall  be  with  you,  and  come  with  me  to  Ptolemais,  and  I  will  gi^^e  it  to 
you  with  the  rest  of  the  strongholds  and  the  rest  of  the  forces  and  all  the 
king's  officers,  and  I  will  set  out  on  my  way  back,  for  this  is  the  cause  of  my 
coming.  ^*^Then  he  trusted  him  and  did  even  as  he  said,  and  sent  away 
his  forces  so  that  they  departed  into  the  land  of  Judah.  ^"But  he  reserved 
for  himself  three  thousand  men,  of  whom  he  left  two  thousand  in  Galilee, 
while  one  thousand  went  with  him. 

'^^Now  as  soon  as  Jonathan  entered  Ptolemais,  the  people  of  Ptolemais  Seizure 
shut  the  gates  and  laid  hands  on  him,  and  they  slew  with  the  sword  all  who  athan" 
came  in  with  him.     "^^And  Trvphon  .sent  forces  and  horsemen  into  Galilee,  ""'I  the 

1  11       p    T  1         '  -rii»  public 

and  mto  the  great  plam,'^  to  destroy  all  of  Jonathan  s  men.  ^"But  tliey  inourn- 
perceived  that  he  had  been  taken  and  had  {)erished,  and  tho.se  who  were  hj^"'^ 
with  hini.  and  they  encouraged  one  another  and  marched  in  closed  ranks, 
pre[)ared  to  fight.  ^^And  when  those  who  were  pursuing  them  saw  that 
they  were  ready  to  fight  for  their  lives,  they  turned  back  again.  ■^-Tluis  they 
all  came  .safely  into  the  land  of  Judah,  and  they  mourned  for  Jonathan  and 
those  who  were  with  liiin,  and  they  were  greatly  afraid.  And  ail  Israel 
mourned  bitterly.  ^■^Tlien  all  the  heathen  who  were  round  about  tlieni 
sought  to  destroy  them  utterly,  for  they  said,  They  have  no  ruler  nor  any  to 

»  1237  Following  what  waa  evidently  the  original  Heb.,  Gk.,  fell  clown.  The  mcaniiiR  of 
the  proper  name  is  unknown. 

"  12'"*  I.e.,  the  shephelah,  the  lowland  west  of  Judea.  Adida  is  jirobably  to  be  identified 
with  the  O.T.  Iladad,  east  of  hydda. 

p  12'''  Cf.  5'2 

457 


I  Mac.  1253]     THE  ATTAINMENT  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

help  them,  now  therefore  let  us  fight  against  them  and  wipe  out  the  memory 
of  them  from  among  men. 
Choice  13  ^Now  when  Simon  heard  that  Tryphon  had  collected  a  vast  army  to 
mon  aa  come  into  the  land  of  Judah  to  destroy  it  utterly,  ^and  saw  that  the  people 
leader  trembled  and  were  greatly  afraid,  he  went  up  to  Jerusalem  and  gathered 
the  people  together,  ^and  encouraged  them  and  said  to  them.  You  your- 
selves know  all  the  things  that  I  and  my  brothers,  and  my  father's  house, 
have  done  for  the  laws  and  the  sanctuary,  and  the  battles  and  times  of  distress 
through  which  we  have  passed.  ^In  this  cause  all  my  brothers  have  perished 
for  Israel's  sake,  and  I  alone  am  left,  ^^nd  now  be  it  far  from  me  that  I 
should  spare  my  own  life,  in  any  time  of  affliction;  for  I  am  not  better  than  my 
brothers.^  ^Rather  I  will  take  revenge  for  my  nation,  and  for  the  sanctuary, 
and  for  our  wives  and  children,  because  all  the  heathen  are  gathered  to 
destroy  us  out  of  pure  hatred.  -^And  the  courage  of  the  people  rose  as  they 
heard  these  words.  ^And  they  answered  with  a  loud  voice,  saying.  You  are 
our  leader  instead  of  Judas  and  Jonathan  your  brother.  ^Fight  our  battles, 
and  we  will  do  all  that  you  command.  ^"^So  he  gathered  together  all  the 
warriors  and  made  haste  to  finish  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  fortified  the 
entire  length  of  it.  ^^And  he  sent  Jonathan  the  son  of  Absalom  at  the  head 
of  a  large  army  to  Joppa,  and  he  drove  out  those  who  were  in  it,  and  stayed 
there  in  it. 
Try-  ^^Ai^j  Tryphon  set  out  from  Ptolemais  with  a  mighty  army  to  invade  the 

treaclf-  ^^^^  ^^  Judah,  and  Jonathan  was  with  him  as  a  prisoner.     ^^Then  Simon 
eryin     encamped  at  Adida  on  the  edge  of  the  plain.     ^^And  when  Tryphon  knew 
mand-    that  Simon  had  succeeded  to  the  place  of  his  brother  Jonathan  and  meant  to 
money    3*^^"  battle  with  Lim,  he  sent  ambassadors  to  him,  saying,  ^^It  is  for  money 
and        which  Jonathai  youi  brother  owed  to  the  king's  treasury  because  of  the 
ages       offices  which  he  held   that  we  hold  him  prisoner.     ^^Now  therefore  send  a 
himdred  talents  of  silver  and  two  of  his  sons  as  hostages,  that,  when  he  is 
set  at  liberty,  he  will  not  revolt  against  us,  and  we  will  set  him  at  fiberty. 
^''Although  Simon  knew  that  they  spoke  to  him  deceitfully,  yet  he  sent  the 
money  and  the  children,  lest  perhaps  he  might  incur  the  great  hatred  of  the 
people,  who  would  say,  ^^Because  I  did  not  send  him  the  money  and  the 
children,  he  perished.     ^^And  when  he  sent  the  children  and  the  hundred 
talents,  [Tryphon]  broke  his  word  and  did  not  set  Jonathan  at  liberty. 
Failure       "'^And  after  this  Tryphon  came  to  invade  the  land  and  destroy  it,  and  he 
vade      went  rouud  about  by  the  way  that  goes  to  Adora;  and  Simon  and  his  army 
Judea     marched  opposite  and  abreast  of  him  to  every  place  wherever  he  went,     ^i^nd 
the  people  of  the  citadel  sent  to  Tryphon  ambassadors  urging  him  to  come 
by  forced  marches  through  the  wilderness  to  them  and  to  send  them  supplies. 
22So  Tryphon  made  ready  all  his  cavalry  to  go.     But  that  night  a  very  deep 
snow  fell,  so  that  he  did  not  come  because  of  the  snow. 
Murder       Then  he  set  out  and  came  to  the  country  of  Gilead.     ^s^jjj  when  he  came 
burial     "^^^  ^o  Bascama^  he  slew  Jonathan,  and  he  was  buried  there.     ^^But  when 

of  Jon- 

athan  ' 


q  135  Thinking  that  his  brothers  were  dead,  cf.  12">. 
458 


THE  ]\a^RDER  OF  JONATHAN  [I  U^c.  132^ 

History  of  tlie  Hasmoncans 

Tr\-])hon  went  back  into  his  own  land,  ^^gj^on  sent  and  took  the  bones  of 
Jonathan  his  brother,  and  buried  them  at  Modein,  his  ancestral  city.  -^And 
all  Israel  made  great  lamentation  over  him  and  mourned  him  for  many  days. 
2' And  Simon  built  a  monument  upon  the  sepulchre  of  his  father  and  his 
brothers,  and  raised  it  aloft  to  the  sight,  with  polished  stone  on  the  back 
and  front  sides.  -*He  also  set  up  seven  pyramids,  one  opposite  another, 
for  his  father  and  his  mother  and  his  four  brothers.'"  29\j^(j  f^j.  these  he 
made  artistic  designs,  setting  about  them  great  pillars,  and  upon  the  pillars 
he  fashioned  different  kinds  of  arms  as  an  everlasting  memorial,  and  lieside 
the  arms  ships  carved,  that  they  should  be  seen  by  all  wlio  sail  on  the  sea. 
^^This  is  the  sepulchre  which  he  made  at  Modein,  which  stands  there  at  the 
present  time. 

IV 

SIMON'S   PROSPEROUS    REIGN,  I  Mae.  1331-1624 

§  199.  Peace  with  Demetrius  and  the  Capture  of  Gazara  and  the  Citadel 

at  Jerusalem,  I  Mac.  IS"-^^ 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  13  3iXow  Tryphon  proceeded  treacherously  with  the  young  king  Try- 
Antiochus,  and  slew  him,  ^-^and  ascended  the  throne  in  his  place,  and  put  on  !^'t?ng 
the  diadem  of  Asia,  and  brought  a  great  calamity  upon  the  land. 

^^Then  Simon  built  the  strongholds  of  Judea  and  fenced  them  about  with  Con- 
high  towers  and  great  walls  and  gates  and  bars,  and  laid  up  stores  in  the  ofY:)'e"* 
strontfliolds.     '^'And  Simon  chose  men  and  sent  them  to  Kin<j  Demetrius  in  metrius 

O  _  n  II  to 

order  to  ask  that  he  grant  immunity  to  the  country,  because  all  that  Tryphon  the 
did  was  to  plunder.  •'^''And  King  Demetrius  sent  an  answer  to  him  in  words  '''' 
similar  to  these,  and  wrote  to  him  the  following  letter: 

^''King  Demetrius  to  Simon  the  high  j)riest  and  Eriend  of  kings,  and  to  the 
elders  and  nation  of  the  Jews,  greeting:  3' the  golden  crown  and  the  palm 
branch  which  you  sent,  we  have  received,  and  we  arc  ready  to  make  a  treaty 
of  absolute  peace  with  you,  and  to  write  to  our  oflic-ials  to  grant  inmumities 
to  you.     38^nd  whatever  things  we  confirmed  to  you,  they  are  confirmed. 


r  J328  The  seventh  was  evidently  for  himself. 

Simon's  Prosperous  Reign. — After  fwenly-five  years  of  almost  unceasine  war.  tlio  Jews 
at  la-st  for  a  brief  |)erio(l,  enjoyed  tlie  sweet  fruits  and  lionors  of  peace.  A  wise,  l)piii);ri  ruler 
guanied  their  interests  within  and  withrwil  Palestine.  'I'he  Syrian  kingdom  had  hcconie  so 
weak  a-s  the  result  of  its  protracted  civil  wars  and  moral  corruption  that  it  had  cea.fed  to  ho  a 
serious  menace  to  the  exi>tence  of  the  Maccahean  state.  The  protectint;  influence  of  Rome  wius 
also  becoming  a  powerful  factor  in  the  politics  of  the  ICast.  Not  suspecting  the  ulterior  ilesigns 
of  that  growing  world-power,  the  .lews  gloried  in  its  friendship.  Although  the  boundaries  of  the 
Jewish  kingdom  were  later  extended  still  further,  the  reign  of  Simon  marks  the  height  of  its  in- 
ternal prosperity.  With  the  reign  of  his  son  and  successor,  ,Iohn  ilyrcanus,  the  policy  of  foreign 
conquest  was  instituted,  which  ultiiriately  intensilieil  the  hostility  of  all  their  heathen  neighlmrs 
anfl  precipitated  the  bitter  feud  between  the  I'harisees  and  .Sadducees  which  (iiiall\'  disinenibfrcd 
the  Maccahean  state.  From  the  succeeding  century  of  struggles  and  humiliating  disasters  tho 
Jews  looked  back  upon  the  bright  days  of  Simon  with  ever-increaaing  pride  and  longing. 

459 


I  Mac.  1338]  SIMON'S  PROSPEROUS  REIGN 

History  of  the  Hasmoncans 

And  the  strongholds  which  you  have  buiU,  let  them  be  your  own.  39^s  for 
any  debts  you  have  not  acknowledged  and  acknowledged  debts  that  you 
have  not  paid  up  to  the  present,  we  remit  them,  and  the  crown  which  you 
owed  us.  And  if  there  is  any  other  tax  which  may  have  been  exacted  in 
Jerusalem,  let  it  be  exacted  no  longer.  '^'^And  if  there  are  any  among  you 
suitable  to  be  enrolled  in  our  court,  let  them  be  enrolled,  and  let  there  be 
peace  between  us. 
Si-  *^In  the  hundred  and  seventieth  year^  the  yoke  of  the  heathen  was  taken 

Cide-^  away  from  Israel.  ^-And  the  people  began  to  write  in  their  legal  docu- 
ment ments  and  contracts,  In  the  first  year  of  Simon  the  great  high  priest  and 
rule        commander  and  leader  of  the  Jews. 

Siege  *3Iq  those  days  he  laid  siege  to  Gazara,^  and  surrounded  it  with  armies, 

capture  ^Tid  made  an  engine  of  siege  and  brought  it  up  to  the  city,  and  smote  a  tower 

ofCJa-     and  captured  it.     "^^And  those  who  were  in  the  engine  leaped  forth  into  the 

city,  and  there  was  a  great  tumult  in  the  city.     "^^And  the  people  of  the  city 

tore  their  garments,  and  went  up  on  the  walls  with  their  wives  and  children, 

and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  requesting  Simon  to  make  peace  with  them. 

^*^And  they  said,  Do  not  deal  with  us  according  to  our  wickednesses  but 

according  to  your  mercy.     '^'^So  Simon  was  reconciled  to  them  and  did  not 

fight  against  them.     But  he  expelled  them  from  the  city  and  cleansed  the 

houses  in  which  the  idols  were,  and  so  entered  into  it  with  singing  and  praise. 

4^And  when  he  had  put  all  uncleanness   out   of   it,  he   placed    in    it  such 

men  as  would  keep  the  law  and  made  it  stronger  than  it  was  before,   and 

built  a  dwelling  place  for  himself  in  it. 

Capt-         '*^But  those  who  were  in  the  citadel  at  Jerusalem  were  prevented  from 

and  for-  g^ing  out  and  from  going  into  the  country,  and  from  buying  and  selling,  so 

tifica-     tiiat  they  suffered  exceedingly  from  hunger,  and  a  great  number  of  them 

thecit-  perished  through  famine.     ^"^Then  they  cried  out  to  Simon  to  make  peace 

Jem-^*    with  them.     He  did  so,  but  put  them  out  from  there,  and  cleansed  the  citadel 

salem     from  its  pollutions.     ^^And  he  entered  it  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  the 

second  month  in  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-first  year,  with  praise  and 

palm  branches,  with  harps,  with  cymbals,  with  viols,  with  hymns,  and  with 

songs,  because  a  great  enemy  was  destroyed  out  of  Israel.     ^^And  he  ordained 

that  they  should  observe  that  day  each  year  with  gladness.     And  the  temple 

mount,  which  was  beside  the  citadel,  he  made  stronger  than  before,  and  there 

he  dwelt  with  his  men.     ^^^nd  Simon  saw  that  John^  his  son  had  grown  to 

manhood,  and  so  he  made  him  commander  of  all  his  forces.     And  he  lived  in 

Gazara. 


»  13"  142  B.C. 

b  13«  So  Jos.,  Ant.,  XIII,  G^  and  Jewish  Wars,  1,  2=.     a.  4"      AU  the  Gk.  MSS.  and  the 
other  versions  read,  Gaza. 

c  1353  Who  later  reigned  as  John  Hyrcanus. 


460 


PEACE  AND  PROSPERITY 


[I  ^L^c.  Ui 


Benign 
policy 
and 
con- 
quests 
of  Si- 
mon 


§  200.  Peace  and  Prosperity  under  Simon,  I  Mac.  W-^^ 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  3Iac.  14  ^And  in  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-second  year  King  Denie-  Capt- 
trius  collected  his  forces  and  went  into  Media  to  get  hel{)  that  he  might  fight  DemL 
against  Tryphon.^i     -But  when  Arsaces  the  king  of  Persia  and  Media  heard  f'"'"?^^ 
that  Demetrius  had  come  into  his  territory,  he  sent  one  of  his  princes  to  take  king  of 
him  alive.     -^And  he  went  and  defeated  the  army  of  Demetrius  and  capt-  amT"* 
ured  him  and  brought  him  to  Arsaces,  who  put  him  in  prison.  Media 

^So  the  land  had  rest  all  the  days  of  Siraon, 

And  he  sought  the  good  of  his  nation. 

His  authority  and  his  glory  were  wcll-plcasing  to  them  all  his  days. 
*And  amid  all  his  gior}-  he  took  Joppa  for  a  liaven, 

And  made  it  a  way  to  the  isles  of  the  sea, 
*And  he  enlarged  the  boundaries  of  his  nation, 

And  became  master  of  the  land. 
'He  also  brought  many  captives  together. 

And  made  himself  master  of  Gazara  and  Bethsura,  and  the  citadel. 

Moreover  he  took  away  from  it  its  uncleannesses; 

And  there  was  none  who  resisted  him. 
*And  they  tilled  their  land  in  peace, 

And  the  earth  gave  her  increase. 

And  the  trees  of  the  plains  their  fruit. 
®The  old  men  sat  in  the  streets. 

They  talked  together  of  the  common  good. 

And  the  young  men  put  on  glorious,  fine""  apparel. 
^"He  provided  food  for  the  cities. 

And  furnished  them  with  means  of  fortification, 

Until  his  famous  name  was  known  to  the  end  of  the  earth. 
^'He  made  peace  In  the  land, 
^^And  Israel  rejoiced  with  great  joy. 

Everyone  sat  under  his  own  vine  and  fig  tree. 

And  there  was  no  one  to  make  them  afraid,' 
"And  none  who  warred  against  them  was  left  upon  the  earth. 

For  the  kings  were  utterly  crushed  In  those  days. 
'*And  he  strengthened  all  llie  distressed  of  his  people. 

He  was  full  of  zeal  for  the  law. 

And  every  lawless  and  wicked  person  he  banished. 
'^He  made  the  sanctuary  glorious. 

And  multiplied  the  vessels  of  the  temple.* 


t'niver- 
sal 

peace 
and 
pros- 
perity 
under 
his 
rule 


§  201.  Renewal  of  the  Treaty  with  Rome  and  Sparta,  I  Mac.  l-l'«--< 
History  of  tlie  Hasmoneans 

I  Mac.  14  i*^Now  when  they  heard  at  Rome  and  at  Sparta  that  Jon- 
athan was  dead,  thev  were  very  sorry.  ^'  But  as  soon  as  tliey  h>arncd  that  his 
brother  Simon  had  been  made  higli  priest  in  his  place  ami  ruK-d  the  couiilry 
and  its  cities,  ^*^thev  wrote  to  him  on  brass  tablets,  to  renew  wifli  liini  tlic 


Tie- 

nt>Wi> 

of  alii 

ances 

with 

Kdiiic 

and 

Sparta 


<•  14'  .Tosephus  has  little  after  this  point  in  conuiKjn  with  I  Mac. 

•  14'  So  the  oriEinal  Heb.     The  tik.  mistook  it  for  a  similar  Ileh.  word  and  read,  warlike. 
'  14'2  Cf.  Mi.  4M  Krs.  4". 

«  14*-"  This  i)oern  is  in  the   author's  best  style.      It  contains  many  expressions  found  in 
the  earlier  prophetic  books.     .Many  scholars  think  the  book  oriKin.'illv  clnsivj  with  this  poom. 

461 


I  Mac.  14I8]  SIMON'S  PROSPEROUS  REIGN 

Hisionj  of  the  Hasmoneans 

friendship  and  the  treaty  which  they  had  made  with  Judas  and  Jonathan 
his  brothers;  ^^and  these  were  read  before  the  congregation  at  Jerusalem. 
Letter        20\j^fj  |]^jg  jg  \)^^  copy  of  the  letters  which  the  Spartans  sent: 
thT'  The  rulers  of  the  Spartans,  and  the  city,  to  Simon  the  high  priest,  and  to 

Spar-  \\^Q  elders,  and  the  priests,  and  the  rest  of  the  people  of  the  Jews,  our  brothers, 
greeting.  -^The  ambassadors  who  were  sent  to  our  people  reported  to  us 
your  glory  and  honor,  and  we  were  glad  that  they  came,  ^~2ia6.  we  registered 
the  things  that  were  spoken  by  them  in  the  public  records  thus :  '  Numenius 
son  of  Antiochus  and  Antipater  son  of  Jason,  the  Jews'  ambassadors,  came 
to  us  to  renew  the  friendship  they  had  with  us.  ^s^j^^j  \^  pleased  the  people 
to  entertain  the  men  honorably,  and  to  put  the  copy  of  their  words  in  the 
'  public  records,  in  order  that  the  people  of  the  Spartans  might  have  a  me- 

morial of  them.     Moreover,  they  wrote  a  copy  of  these  things  to  Simon  the 
high  priest.' 
Si-  24\f|^gj.  ^i^ig  Simon  sent  Numenius  to  Rome  with  a  great  shield  of  gold 

present  which  weighed  a  thousand  minas,^  in  order  to  confirm  the  alliance  with  them. 

to  " 

Rome 

§  202.  Honors  Conferred  upon  Simon  by  the  Jews,  I  Mac.  14^*-" 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Public  I  Mac.  14  25Xow  when  the  people  heard  these  things,  they  said.  How 
nltkm  c^^  "^^  thank  Simon  and  his  sons  ?  ^^Fot  he  and  his  brothers  and  the  house 
of  the  of  his  father  have  shown  themselves  brave,  and  have  warded  off  the  enemies 
of  Si-  of  Israel  from  them  and  made  hberty  sure.  ^"^So  they  wrote  on  brass  tablets 
anThis  ^^^  affixed  them  to  pillars  on  Mount  Sion.  Now  this  is  the  copy  of  the 
broth-    writing: 

On  the  eighteenth  day  of  Elul,  in  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-second 
year, — and  this  is  the  third  year  of  Simon  the  high  priest,  the  prince  of  the 
people  of  God,^ — -^in  a  great  congregation  of  priests  and  people  and  princes 
of  the  nation  and  of  the  elders  of  the  country,  we  hereby  declare  to  you:J 
2^Smce  there  have  been  frequent  wars  in  the  country,  Simon  the  son  of 
Mattathias,  the  sons  of  the  sons  of  Joarib,  and  his  brothers  have  put  them- 
selves in  peril  and  withstood  the  enemies  of  their  nation,  that  their  sanctuary 
and  the  law  might  be  established,  and  won  great  renown  for  their  nation. 
^•'And  Jonathan  assembled  the  nation  together  and  became  their  high  priest. 
But  when  he  was  gathered  to  his  people,  ^^heir  enemies  proposed  to  invade 
their  country,  that  they  might  destroy  their  country  utterly  and  stretch  forth 
their  hand  against  their  sanctuary,  ^^xhen  Simon  rose  up  and  fought  for 
his  nation,  and  spent  much  of  his  own  property  in  arming  the  soldiers  of 
his  nation  and  in  giving  them  wages,  ^s^j^^j  }^g  fortified  the  cities  of  Judea 
and  Bethsura*^  that  is  situated  on  the  borders  of  Judea,  which  was  formerly 


ers 


■>  142*  Representing  a  value  of  about  eighteen  thousand  dollars. 

'  142^  Gk..  Asaramel.     This  is  evidently  a  transliteration  of  the  Heb.,  prince  of  the  people 
of  God,  or  an  abbreviation  of,  prince  of  Israel.     The  date  was  141  B.C. 

>  142s  So  Lug  and  Syr.     The  Gk.,  it  was  notified  to  us,  makes  no  sense. 

k  1433   Cf.  429. 

462 


HONORS  CONFERRED  UPON  HIM        [I  Mac.  1433 

History  of  the  Hasmoncans 

a  depot  for  the  arms  of  the  enemies,  and  set  there  a  garrison  of  Jews.  ^Hlc 
also  fortified  Joppa'  which  is  by  the  sea  and  CJazara'"  which  is  on  the  borders 
of  Azotus,°  in  which  the  enemies  formerly  Hved,  and  placed  Jews  there  and 
put  in  it  everything  needed  for  re|Kiiring  it.  3.5_\^„,j  ^ylien  the  people  saw 
the  worth  of  Simon  and  the  glory  which  he  aimed  to  bring  to  his  nation,  they 
made  him  their  governor  and  high  priest,  because  he  had  done  all  these 
things,  and  because  of  the  justice  and  the  faith  which  he  showed  to  his  nation, 
and  because  he  sought  by  all  means  to  exalt  his  people.  30 .^^^j  j,j  ],j^  ^j.^y 
things  prospered  in  his  hands,  .so  that  the  heathen  were  taken  away  from 
their  country,  as  well  as  those  who  were  in  the  city  of  David,  who  were  in 
Jerusalem,  who  had  made  themselves  a  citadel  from  which  they  were  accus- 
tomed to  sally  and  pollute  everything  belonging  to  the  sanctuarv,  and  did 
great  damage  to  its  purity.  37^^^^^^  \^^^  placed  Jews  in  it  and  fortified  it  for 
the  safety  of  the  country  and  the  city,  and  made  high  the  walls  of  Jerusalem. 

3^]Moreover  King  Demetrius  contirmed  to  him  the  high  priesthood  accord-  Confir- 
ing  to  these  things,  39and  made  him  one  of  his  Friends,  and  bestowed  great  "nJi,"'^ 
honor  upon  him,  "^^for  he  had  heard  that  the  Jews  had  been  called  friends  ;uithor- 
and  allies  and  brothers  by  the  Romans,  and  that  they  had  met  the  ambas-  Deme- 
sadors  of  Simon  with  honor,  ^^and  that  the  Jews  and  the  priests  were  well  an'l'^the 
pleased  that  Simon  should  be  their  governor  and  high  ])riest  forever,  until  Jewish 
there  should  arise  a  faithful  prophet;  '^-and  that  he  should  be  commander     °'' 
over  them,  and  should  take  charge  of  the  sanctuary,*'  to  appoint  men  on 
his  own  authority  over  their  works  and  over  the  country  and  over  the  arms 
and  over  the  forts,  ^3and  that  he  should  be  obeyed  by  all,  and  that  all  docu- 
ments drawn  up  in  the  country  should  be  written  in  his  name,  and  that  he 
should  be  clothed  in  pur[)le,  and  wear  gold;  ^^and  that  it  should  not  be  lawful 
for  any  of  the  peoj)le  or  of  the  priests  to  nullify  any  of  these  things,  or  to  resist 
the  commands  that  he  should  issue,  or  to  gather  an  assembly  in  the  country 
without  his  permission,  or  to  be  clothed  in  purf)le  or  to  wear  a  golden  buckle. 
^^But  whoever  should  do  otherwise,  or  act  in  defiance  of  any  of  these  things, 
should  be  liable  to  punishment.     '**'A11  the  people  agreed  to  ordain  that 
Simon  should  act  according  to  these  regulations.     '*^And  Simon  accepted 
and  consented  to  be  high  priest  and  to  be  general  and  governor  of  the  Jews 
and  of  the  priests  and  to  be  protector  of  all. 

'*^And  they  gave  orders  to  put  this  writing  on  brass  tablets  and  to  set  them  Tlio 
uj)  within  the  precinct  of  the  sanctuary  in  a  conspicuoust"  place,  '*''and  also  J-ecord 
to  put  the  copies  of  it  in  the  treasury  in  order  that  Simon  and  his  sons  might 
have  them. 


'  143*   Cf.  12M. 

■n  14*1  Cf.  4'*,  13«. 

"  14»«  Cf.  4". 

o  i4«  The  same  clause  is  repeated  by  mistake  at  the  end  of  the  veree. 

p  14«  Gk.A,  safe. 


^6S 


I  Mac.  15I]  SIMON'S  PROSPEROUS  REIGN 

§  203.  Early  Promises  and  Later  Demands  of  Antiochus  Sidetes, 

I  Mac.  15'-" 
Historij  of  the  Hasraoneans 

Antio-  I  Mac.  15  ^iVnd  Antiochus  son  of  Demetrius  the  king  sent  letters  from 
Lvish  the  isles  of  the  sea  to  Simon  the  priest  and  governor  of  the  Jews,  and  to  all 
prom-     tl^g  nation;  ^and  their  contents  were  as  follows: 

1S63 

King  Antiochus  to  Simon  the  chief  priest  and  governor,  and  to  the  Jewish 
nation,  greeting.     ^Since   certain    infamous   fellows   have   made  themselves 
masters  of  the  kingdom  of  our  fathers,  my  purpose  is  to  claim  the  kingdom 
that  I  may  restore  it  to  its  former  conditions;  and  moreover  I  have  raised  a 
multitude  of  troops,  and  have  prepared  warships.     '^And  I  am  planning  to 
land  in  the  country  that  I  may  punish  those  who  have  destroyed  our  country 
and  those  who  have  made  many  cities  in  the  kingdom  desolate.     ^Now, 
therefore,  I  confirm  to  you  all  the  taxes  which  the  kings  who  were  before  me 
remitted  to  you  and  whatever  gifts  beside  they  remitted  to  you,  ^and  I  give 
you  leave  to  coin  money  for  your  country  with  your  own  stamp.     ^And 
Jerusalem  and  the  sanctuary  shall  be  free,  and  all  the  arms  which  you  have 
prepared,  and  the  strongholds  which  you  have  built,  and  which  you  hold  in 
your  possession,  let  them  remain  yours.     ^And  everything  due  to  the  king'i 
and  the  things  that  shall  be  due  the  king  from  now  and  for  evermore,  let 
them  be  remitted  to  you.     ^Moreover,  when  we  shall  have  established  our 
kingdom,  we  will  bestow  great  honor  upon  you  and  your  nation  and  the 
temple,  so  that  your  glory  shall  be  made  manifest  in  all  the  earth. 
His             ^°In  the  one  hundred  and  seventy -fourth  year,  "■  Antiochus  went  forth  into 
of^Try-  the  land  of  his  fathers,  and  all  the  forces  came  together  to  him,  so  that  there 
phon      were  few  men  with  Tryphon.     ^^Then  King  Antiochus  pursued  him,  and 
siege  of  he  came,  as  he  fled,  to  Dor,  which  is  on  the  sea,  ^^for  he  knew  that  troubles 
°'        had  come  upon  him  all  at  once  and  that  his  forces  had  forsaken  him.     ^-^Then 
Antiochus  laid  siege  to  Dor,  and  with  him  were  a  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand infantry  and  eight  thousand  cavalry.     ^'^And  he  surrounded  the  city, 
and  the  ships  joined  in  the  attack  from  the  sea,  and  he  harassed  the  city 
by  land  and  sea  and  allowed  no  one  to  go  out  or  in. 
Rome's       ^^Tlien  Numenius  and  his  companions  came  from  Rome,  having  letters  to 
t^onof    the  kings  and  to  the  countries,  in  which  were  written  these  things: 
the             i^Lucius,  consul  of  the  Romans,  to  King  Ptolemy,  greeting.    ^"The  ambas- 
sadors of  the  Jews  came  to  us  as  our  friends  and  confederates,  to  renew  the 
old  treaty  of  alliance,  having  been  sent  from  Simon,  the  high  })riest  and  from 
the  people  of  the  Jews.     ^^Moreover  they  brought  a  shield  of  gold  weighing 
a  thousand®  minas.     ^^It  pleased  us  therefore  to  write  to  the  kings  and  to 
the  countries,  that  they  should  not  seek  their  hurt,  nor  fight  against  them 
and  their  cities  and  their  country,  nor  be  allied  with  those  who  fight  against 
them.     20]yj^QpgQygp  j^^  seemed  good  to  us  to  receive  the  shield  from  them. 
2^If  therefore  any  seditious  fellows  have  fled  from  their  country  to  you, 
» 

§  203  Antiochus  VII  Sidetes  was  the  son  of  Demetrius  I  and  the  brother  of  Demetrius  II, 
who  was  held  as  captive  by  the  Parthians. 

1  15'  The  reference  is  probably  to  tlie  contributions  of  soldiers  and  support  in  time  of  war. 

'  1510  138  B.C. 

"  I518  So  142^  Gk.A,  five  thousand. 

464 


DEMANDS  OF  ANTIOCHUS  SIDETES      [1  .Mac.  15-i 

Hisforij  of  {lie  Hasmoncan^ 

give  them  up  to  Simon  the  liii^h  priest  tliat  he  may  take  vengeance  on  tliem 
according  to  their  law.  --And  tlie  same  things  he  wrote  to  Demetrius  the 
king,  to  Attahis,  ~Ho  Arathes,  to  Arsaces,  and  to  all  the  countries,  to  Samp- 
sames,  to  the  Spartans,  to  Delos,  Myndos,  Sicyon,  Caria,  Samos,  Pamphylia, 
Lycia,  Halicarnassus,  Rhodes,  Phaselis,  Cos,  Side,  Aradus,  Gortyna,  Cnidus, 
Cyprus,  and  Cyrene.'  -^And  the  copy  of  them  they  sent  in  writing  to  Simou 
the  high  priest.*^ 

2^ And  Antiochus  the  king  besieged  Dor  the  second  day,  continually  bring-  Antio- 
ing  his  forces  closer  to  it  and  making  engines  of  war,  he  shut  up  Tryphon  demand 
from  going  in  or  out.     -*'Then  Simon  sent  him  two  thousand  jMcked  men  that 
to  fight  on  his  side  and  silver  and  gold  and  instruments  of  war  in  abundance,  pay  a 
2"But  he  would  not  accept  them,  and  he  broke  all  the  treaties  which  he  had  tnbute 
made  with  him  before  and  was  estranged  from  him.     -^And  he  sent  to  him 
Athenobius,  one    of    his   Friends  to  communicate  with    him,  saying,   You 
hold  possession  of  Joppa  and  Gazara  and  the  citadel  that  is  in  Jerusalem, 
cities  of  my  kingdom.     -^You  have   laid  waste    their  territories,  and   have 
done  great  harm  in  the  land  and  gained  the  mastery  of  many  places  in  my 
kingdom.     '^'^Now  therefore,  give  up  the  cities  which  you  have  taken  and 
the  tributes  of  the  places  of  which  you  have  gained  the  mastery  outside  of 
the  borders  of  Judea,  ^'or  else  give  me  for  them    five   hundred    talents    of 
silver,  and  for  the  harm  that  you  have  done  and  the  tributes  of  the  cities, 
another  five  hundred  talents,  or  else  we  will  come  and  conquer  you. 

^^And  when  Athenobius  the  king's  Friend  came  to  Jerusalem  and  saw  the  Simon's 
splendor  of  Simon,  and  the  cupboard  of  gold  and  silver  vessels,  and  his  great  "^^'^  ^ 
attendance,  he  was  amazed.  Then  he  rc[)orted  to  him  the  king's  words. 
^^And  Simon  re|)lied  to  him,  We  have  neither  taken  other  men's  land,  nor 
have  we  possession  of  that  which  belongs  to  others,  but  of  the  inheritance 
of  our  fathers,  which  was  in  the  possession  of  our  enemies  wrongfully  for  a 
certain  time.  '^^Now  we,  having  opportunity,  hold  fast  the  iidieritance  of 
our  fathers.  ^^And  with  regard  to  your  demand  about  Joppa  and  Gazara, 
they  did  great  harm  among  the  people  throughout  our  country.  We  will 
give  a  hundred  talents  for  them. 

And  he  an.swered  him  not  a  word,  '^''but  returned  in  a  rage  to  the  king.  Rage  of 
and  reported  to  him  the.se  words,  and  the  sj)lendor  of  Simon  and  all  that  he  chus"' 
had  seen,  and  the  king  was  very  angry.     "^"And  Tryphon,  embarking  on 
board  a  ship,  fied  to  Orlhosia. 

§  204.  Defeat  of  the  Syrian  Army,  I  Mac.  IS^-lG'o 
History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

I  3Iac.   15  -^^Then  the  king  appointed  Cendebaeus  commander-in-chief  Ati.ioks 

of  the  sea-coast,  and  gave  him  forces  of  iiifaiilry  and  cavalry,   '''and  C(im-  'syl-i'^,, 

maiidcd    liim  to   encami)  before  Judea.   and   ordered   him   to   forlifv    Kidrou  coni- 

'  niiiiicl- 

cr 

'  1.5^  ThiH  list  includCH  states,  iHlarnls,  and  rities. 

u  i5ii-2<  These  verse-s  brca''  'lie  close  connection  hnlwi^en  "  ami  -^  uml  may  he  later  inser- 
tions. 

■Ifi.T 


I  Mac.  1539]  SIMON'S  PROSPEROUS  REIGN 

History  of  the  Hasmoneans 

and  to  make  the  gates  strong,  and  to  fight  against  the  people;  but  the  king 
pursued  Trvphon.  ^^^And  Cendebaeus  came  to  Jamnia  and  began  to  irri- 
tate the  people,  and  to  invade  Judea  and  to  take  the  people  captive  and  to 
slay  them.  '^^And  he  fortified  Kidron,  and  placed  horsemen  and  infantry 
there  in  order  that,  issuing  out,  they  might  make  sallies  upon  the  highways 
of  Judea,  as  the  king  commanded  him. 
John's  16  ^Then  John  went  up  from  Gazara  and  told  Simon  his  father  what 
over"^^  Cendebaeus  was  doing.  2^\jjd  Simon  called  his  two  eldest  sons,  Judas  and 
1^^.  John,  and  said  to  them,  I  and  my  brothers  and  my  father's  house  have  fought 
forces  the  battles  of  Israel  from  our  youth,  even  to  this  day  and  we  have  repeat- 
edly succeeded  in  delivering  Israel.  ^JJut  now  I  am  old,  while  you,  by  the 
mercy  of  God,  are  in  the  prime  of  life.  Take  my  brother's  place  and  mine 
and  go  forth  and  fight  for  our  nation,  and  may  the  help  which  is  from 
Heaven  be  with  you.  *And  he  chose  out  of  the  country  twenty  thousand 
infantry  and  cavalry,  and  they  went  against  Cendebaeus,  passing  the  night 
at  Modein.  ^And  rising  up  in  the  morning,  they  went  into  the  plain  and 
there  a  great  host  came  to  meet  them  of  footmen  and  horsemen.  And  there 
was  a  brook  between  them.  ^Then  he  with  his  people  encamped  directly 
opposite  them.  And  when  he  saw  that  the  people  were  afraid  to  cross  the 
brook,  he  passed  over  first,  and  the  men  saw  him  and  passed  over  after  him. 
'Then  he  divided  the  people,  with  the  horsemen  in  the  midst  of  the  footmen. 
The  enemies'  horsemen,  however,  were  very  numerous.  *And  they  blew 
a  signal  blast  with  the  trumpets,  and  Cendebaeus  and  his  army  were  put 
to  flight,  and  there  fell  many  of  them  mortally  wounded,  but  those  who  were 
left  fled  to  the  stronghold.^'  ^Xhat  was  the  time  when  Judas,  John's  brother, 
was  wounded.  But  John  pursued  them  until  he  came  to  the  Kidron  which 
Cendebaeus  had  fortified.  ^^Now  they  fled  to  the  towers  which  are  in  the 
fields  of  Azotus,  and  he  burned  it,^'  and  there  fell  of  them  about  one  thou- 
sand^ men.     And  he  returned  into  Judea  with  success. 

§  205.  The  Treacherous  Murder  of  Simon,  I  Mac.  W^-''* 
Hisfonj  of  the  Hasmoneans 

Ptol-  I  Mac.  16  ^^Now  Ptolemy  the  son  of  Abubus  had  been  appointed  com- 

d™s^  ^  mander  over  the  plain  of  Jericho.  He  possessed  much  silver  and  gold,  ^-^for 
tardly  }^g  ^r^s  the  high  priest's  son-in-law.  ^^Xhen  he  grew  ambitious  and  de- 
termined to  make  himself  master  of  the  country.  So  he  formed  treacherous 
plots  against  Simon  and  his  sons,  to  make  away  with  them.  ^^Now  Simon 
was  visiting  the  cities  that  were  in  the  country  and  providing  for  their  good 
management.  And  he  went  down  to  Jericho  with  Mattathias  and  Judas 
his  sons,  in  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-seventh  year,^  in  the  eleventh 
month,  that  is  the  month  Sebat.     ^°Then  the  son  of  Abubus  received  them 

'•'  16'  Cf.  15^^  the  fortress  Kidron,  near  Morlein,  cf.  16*. 

"  16"'  I.e.,  Azotus.   Cf.  10^*. 

^  16^"  So  Gk.  B.  and  A.     Other  Gk.  versions,  tivo  thousand;  Syr.  and  Luc,  three  thousand. 

»  16"  135  B.C. 

466 


MURDER  OF  SIMON  [I  Mac.  IG^^ 

History  of  the  Ilasmoneans 

treacherously  in  a  little  stronghold  that  is  called  Dok,''  which  he  had  built, 
and  made  them  a  great  bancjuet,  and  his  men  were  there.  ^''And  when 
Simon  and  his  sons  were  drunk,  Ptolemy  and  his  men  rose  up  and  took 
their  weapons,  and  rushing  in  upon  Simon  in  the  bancpiet  hall,  thev 
slew  him  and  his  two  sons,  and  some  of  his  servants.  ^"Thus  he  committed 
a  great  act  of  treachery'^  and  paid  back  evil  for  good. 

i^Then  Ptolemy  wrote  what  had  happened,  and  asked  the  king  to  send  His 
forces  to  aid  him.  and  ]:)romised  to  hand  over  to  him  their  country  and  the  [o'',"'I^r- 
cities.     i^And  he  sent  others  to  Gazara  to  make  away  with  John.     And  to  ''er 
the  officers  commanding  thousands  he  sent  letters  to  come  to  him,  that  he  liyrca- 
might  give  them  silver  and  gold  and  gifts.     -*^And  others  he  sent  to  take  ""^ 
possession  of  Jerusalem  and  the  temj^le-moiuit.     -Uiut  some  ran  before  to 
Gazara  and  told  John  that  his  father  and  brothers  had  perished,  and  they 
said,  He  has  sent  to  slay  you  too.     ^2^^^^^  when  he  heard,  he  was  dumb  with 
amazement,  but  he  seized  the  men  who  came  to  destroy  him,  and  slew  them, 
for  he  saw  that  they  were  seeking  to  destroy  him. 

-^Xow  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  John,  and  the  account  of  his  wars,  and  of  the  Record 
Taliant  deeds  which  he  did,  and  of  the  building  of  the  walls  which  he  rebuilt,''  John's 
and  of  his  achievements,  ^^behold,  they  are  recorded  in  the  chronicles  of  his  achieve- 
high  priesthood,  from  the  time  that  he  was  made  high  priest  after  his  father. 

*>  16'^  A  little  northwest  of  Jericho. 
"=  16''  Gk.A,  impiety. 

<*  16-''  Cf.  Jos.  Ant.  XIII,  8^.     The  reference  is  to  the  rebuilding  of  the  wall  destroyed  by 
Antiochus  Sidetes  in  134  b.c. 


4G7 


THE   LIFE   OF   THE   JEWS   OF   THE 
DISPERSION 

KsTHER 


THE   LIFE   OF  THE  JEWS   OF  THE 
DISPERSION 

THE  STORY  OF  ESTHER,  Esth.  1-10 

§  206.  Repudiation  of  Queen  Vashti  by  Ahasuerus,  Estli.  1 

Esth.  1  ^Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  days  of  Ahasuerus  [Xerxes]* — that  is  Aha- 
the  Ahasuerus  who  reigned  from  India  even  to  Ethiopia  over  a  hundred  and  grlat^ 
twentv-seven  provinces — '^n  those  days  when  King  Ahasuerus  sat  on  the  i^^*: 

*  *■  for  riis 

throne  of  his  kingdom,  wliich  was  in  the  royal  palace^^  at  Sliushan,  ^in  the  court 
third  year  of  his  reign,  he  made  a  feast  for  all  his  princes  and  his  servants. 
And  the  commanders  of  the  military  forces'^  of  Persia  and  Media,  the  nobles 
and  satraps,  were  before  him,  "^while  he  showed  the  riches  of  his  glorious 
kingdom  and  the  splendor  of  his  great  majesty  many  days,  even  a  hundred 
and  eighty  days.  °And  when  these  days  came  to  an  end,  the  king  made  for 
all  the  people  who  were  present  in  the  royal  palace  at  Shushan,  both  great 
and  small,  a  seven  days'  feast,  in  the  court  of  the  garden  of  the  royal  palace. 
^There  were  fine  linen,  cotton,  and  blue  hangings,  fastened  with  cords  of 

The  Life  of  the  Jews  of  the  Dispersion. — Beginning  with  the  fall  of  Samaria  in  722 
B.C.,  the  tragic  fate  of  the  I.^raelitish  race  wa.s  to  have  large  numhens  of  its  most  prominent 
and  intelligent  member.*  carried  away  in  successive  deportations  and  thus  scattered  throughout 
the  ancient  world  from  northern  Africa  to  central  Asia,  and  from  the  Black  and  Caspian  seas  to 
the  Indian  ocean.  The  result  wa.s  th.at  from  580  n.c.  nearly,  if  not  fully,  half  of  the  race  were  to 
be  found  outside  Palestine.  The  importance  of  the  exile  in  .Jewish  history  is  siiown  by  the  writ- 
ings of  ICzjk.,  Is.  40-55,  and  probably  a  large  part  of  the  priestly  code,  which  the  exiles  con- 
tributed to  the  O.T.,  and  by  the  work  of  Joshua,  Zerubbabel,  and  Nehemiah.  Of  the  life  of  the 
Jews  of  the  dispersion  the  O.T.  says  little.  It  was  a  chapter  that  lacked  unity  and  vital  connec- 
tion with  the  main  current  of  Israel's  history.  It  is  not  recorded  in  the  historical  writings,  but 
reflected,  and  for  the  most  part  idealized,  in  the  pojjular  stories  of  the  first  six  chapters  of  Dan., 
and  in  their  apocryphal  sujiplements,  the  History  of  Susannah,  Bel  and  the  Dragon,  and  the 
Song  of  the  Three  Holy  Chihlren.  With  the.se  belong  the  story  of  the  Three  Young  Men  in 
I  Esdr.  3,  4,  the  books  of  Esther  and  Tobit,  and  the  tales  regarding  the  Jews  in  Egypt  found 
in  III  Mac. 

It  is  a  striking,  suggestive  fact  that  without  exception  these  appear  to  be  the  products  of  the 
imagination,  although  possibly  in  some  cases  they  are  ba.setl  on  historical  incidents.  It  would 
seem,  however,  that  the  facts  were  so  few  or  so  unattractive  that  fancy  was  called  in  to  invest 
them  with  a  halo  of  romance.  It  is  also  significant  that,  while  most  of  the  stories  are  placed  in  a 
niuch  earlier  age,  none  of  them  in  their  present  literary  form  antedates  the  beginning  of  the  Mac- 
cabean  period.  That  stirring  age,  with  its  brilliant  achievements,  fired  the  imagination  anil 
produced  this  large  group  of  historical  romances.  They  cf)rresponil  in  many  ways  to  the  Sun- 
day-school books  of  to-day.  They  were  all  written  with  a  didactic  aim  and  were  intcn<led  to 
arou.se  the  patriotism  and  inspire  their  readers  to  emulate  the  examples  of  the  heroes  and  hero- 
ines who  figure  in  them. 

The  book  of  ICsther  is  the  best  known  of  these  historical  romances.  The  origin,  ihite,  and 
purpo.se  of  the  story  have  already  been  considered  in  Chap.  V  of  the  Introd.  (np.  39,  40).  Its 
present  historical  value  is  due  not  to  the  incidents  which  it  purports  to  record,  but  to  the  life  of 
the  Jews  of  the  dispersion,  which  it  reflects,  and  the  attitiKle  of  the  Jews  toward  their  heathen 
neighbors  during  the  second  an<l  first  centuries  u.r.,  which  it  vividl^v  sets  forth. 

"  1'  The  Ok.  h.T-s,  ArliiTerres.  but  llerodotus's  pictures  of  Xerxes  (IX,  10!)),  best  urconlH 
with  the  i)resenl  description  and  (he  Ileb.  form  of  the  word,  especially  the  marginal  rra<ling  in 
10',  repre.sents  the  Old  Persian,  KliHlini/arHli,  Bab..  KhiHhiurHhd  (Xerxes).  The  same  form  also 
occurs  in  lOzra  4**.  Cf.  the  one  hundred  ami  twenty  salrup.s  of  I^an.  0'.  Durius  I  divided  the 
kingdom  into  twenty  satrapies. 

^  V  Ileb.,  eatttle,  the  winter  rcHidence  of  the  Persian  kings.     Cf.  Noh.  1'. 

'  P  Completing  the  Hebrew  as  the  context  demundM. 

471 


EsTH.  16]  THE  STORY  OF  ESTHER 

fine  linen  and  purple  to  silver  rings  and  pillars  of  marble;  the  couches  were  of 

gold  and  silver  upon  a  mosaic  pavement  of  alabaster  and  white  marble  and 

mother-of-pearl  and  spotted  stone. "^     ^And  they  gave  them  drink  in  vessels 

of  gold,  and  the  vessels  were  all  different  from  one  another,  and  the  royal 

wine  was  abundant  according  to  the  liberality  of  the  king.     ^And  the  drinking 

was  according  to  the  law;  none  could  compel,  for  so  the  king  had  given 

direction  to  all  the  officers  of  his  house,  to  do  according  to  each  man's  wishes. 

Vash-         ^Also  Vashti  the  queen  made  a  feast  for  the  women  in  the  royal  palace 

fusaUo  which  belonged  to  King  Ahasuerus.     ^^Qn  the  seventh  day,  when  the  heart 

^PP^^""   of  the  king  was  merry  with  wine,  he  commanded  Mehuman,  Biztha,  Harbona, 

feast      Bigtha,  and  Abagtha,  Zethar,  and  Carcas,  the  seven  eunuchs  who  ministered 

in  the  presence  of  Ahasuerus  the  king,  ^Ho  bring  Vashti  the  queen  before 

the  king  with  the  royal  crown,  to  show  the  peoples  and  the  princes  her  beauty, 

for  she  was  fair  to  look  upon.     ^^But  the  Queen  Vashti  refused  to  come  at 

the  king's  command  by  the  eunuchs;  therefore  the  king  was  very  angry, 

and  his  rage  burned  within  him. 

Advice       ^^Then  the  king  said  to  the  wise  men  who  knew  the  times® — for  thus  the 

°isg^     king  was  accustomed  to  consult  all  who  knew  the  law  and  precedent;  ^"^and 

men       those  next  to  him  were  Carshena,  Sethar,  Admatha,  Tarshish,  Meres,  Mar- 

to  DUD- 

ish  sena,  and  Memucan,  the  seven  princes  of  Persia  and  Media  who  saw  the 
^^  '  king's  face  and  occupied  the  first  place  in  the  kingdom,  ^^What  shall  we  do 
to  the  Queen  Vashti  according  to  law,  because  she  has  not  done  the  bidding 
of  the  King  Ahasuerus  by  the  eunuchs  ?  ^^  \nd  Memucan  answered  before 
the  king  and  the  princes,  Vashti  the  queen  has  not  done  wrong  to  the  king 
only,  but  also  to  all  the  princes  and  to  all  the  peoples,  that  are  in  all  the 
provinces  of  the  King  Ahasuerus.  ^^For  this  act  of  the  queen  will  be  re- 
ported to  all  women  to  make  their  husbands  contemptible  in  their  eyes, 
when  it  shall  be  said,  '  The  King  Ahasuerus  commanded  Vashti  the  queen 
to  be  brought  in  before  him,  but  she  came  not.'  ^^And  this  day  will  the 
princesses  of  Persia  and  Media  who  have  heard  of  the  act  of  the  queen  relate 
it  to  all  the  king's  princes,  and  there  will  be  corresponding  contempt  and  rage. 
^^If  it  please  the  king,  let  a  royal  command  go  forth  from  him,  and  let  it  be 
written  among  the  laws  of  the  Persians  and  the  Medes,  and  it  cannot  be 
altered,  that  Vashti  may  never  again  come  before  King  Ahasuerus,  and  that  the 
king  will  give  her  royal  dignity  to  another  wife  who  is  better  than  she.  ^^And 
when  the  king's  decree  which  he  shall  make  shall  be  published  throughout  all 
his  kingdom — for  it  is  great — all  the  wives  will  give  to  their  husbands  honor, 
both  to  great  and  small.  ^^And  the  proposal  pleased  the  king  and  the  princes; 
and  the  king  did  according  to  the  word  of  Memucan.  ^"So  the  king  sent  letters 
to  all  the  provinces,  into  every  province  according  to  its  system  of  writing  and 
to  every  people  according  to  their  language,  that  every  man  should  be  master  in 
his  own  house,  and  should  speak  according  to  the  language  of  his  people.^ 

<|  1^  Several  of  these  words  do  not  occur  elsewhere  in  the  O.T.  and  their  meaning  is  not 

o  113  The  astrologers.     Cf.  Dan.  2-'?,  5W. 

f  p2  The  last  clause  is  obscure.  The  Targs.  interpret  it  to  mean  in  the  case  of  mixed  mar- 
riages that  the  language  of  the  husband  shall  be  employed  in  the  household.  The  Gk.  omits  it. 
The  Lat.  translates,  and  this  shall  be  marie  ktioirn  among  all  peoples — or  slightly  amending  the 
Hebrew,  atid  should  speak  all  that  seems  proper  to  him. 


CHOICE  OF  ESTHER  AS  QUEEN  [Esth.  2i 

§  207.  Choice  of  Esther  as  Queen  and  Mordecai's  Service  to  King 

Ahasuerus,  Estli.  2 

Esth.  2  ^After  these  thlnfjs,  when  the  wrath  of  King  Ahasuerus  was  paei-  Assem- 
fied,  he  remembered  ^'a.shti  and  what  she  hail  done  and  what  was  deereed  alfthe 
against  her.     ^Xhen  the  king's  servants  who  ministered  to  him  said.  Let  ^^^'^. , 

Illlllli- 

fair  young  virgins  be  sought  for  the  king,  -^and  let  the  king  ajipoint  officers  ens  of 
ill  all  the  provinces  of  his  kingdom,  that  they  may  gather  together  all  the  realm 
fair  young  virgins  to  Shushan  the  palace,  to  the  women's  quarters,  under 
the  custody  of  Hegai,  the  king's  eunuch,  who  has  charge  of  the  women; 
and  let  the  things  for  their  beautifying^^  l)e  given  them.  "^And  let  the  maiilen 
who  pleases  the  king  be  queen  instead  of  Vashti.  And  the  proposal  pleased 
the  king,  and  he  did  so. 

^There  was  a  certain  Jew  in  Shushan  the  palace  whose  name  was  Mor-  Mor.le- 
decai  the  son  of  .lair,  the  son  of  Shimei,  the  son  of  Kish,  a  Benjamite,'^  ^'who  h^.^'"" 
hail  been  carried   away  from  Jerusalem  with   the  caj^tives   who   had  been  v"J?'" 
deported  with  Jeconiah  king  of  Juilah,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar'   the  king 
of  Babylon  had  carried   away.     "And  he  brought  up   Iladassah,   that  is, 
Esther,  his  uncle's  daughter,  for  she  had  neither  father  nor  mother;  and 
the  maiden  was  fair  and  beautiful;  and  when  her  father  and  mother  died, 
Mordecai  took  her  as  his  own  daughter. 

^So  when  the  king's  command  and  his  decree  were  made  know.i,  and  when  Her 
many  maidens  were   gathered   together  to  Shushan    the   palace   vnder   the  aw" re- 
custody  of  Hegai,  Esther  was  also  taken  into  the  king's  palace  under  the  ception 
custody  of  Hegai,  keeper  of  the  wcnien.     ^And  the  maiden  plea.sed  him  and  royal 
she  received  kindness  at  his  hands,  and  he  quickly  gave  her  things  for  beau-  ^'-^^^'^ 
tifying    herself,  with    her  allowance  of  food,  and  the  seven  maidens  who 
were  chosen  to  be  given  her  from  the  king's  palace.     And  he  removed  her  and 
her  maidens  to  the  best  place  in  the  women's  quarters.     ^^Estlier  had  not 
made  known  her  peoj)le  nor  her  kindred;  for  Mordecai  had  charged  her  that 
she  should  not  make  it  known.     ^^And  Mordecai  walked  every  day  before 
the  court  of  the  women's  quarters,  to  know  how  Esther  did  and  what  would 
become  of  her. 

i^Xow  when  the  turn  of  each  maiden  came  to  go  in  to  King  Ahasuerus,  The 
after  it  hud  been  done  to  her  according  to  the  regulation  for  the  women  fi^'Ji,'"" 
tw-elve  months — for  so  long  the  days  of  their  beautifying  lasted,  six  months  [V-^''^'^^ 
with  oil  of  myrrh,  and  six  months  with  sweet  odors  and  with  the  things  for 
the  beautifying  of  the  women — ^-^thenJ  the  maiden  came  to  the  king;  whatever 
she  desired  was  given  her  to  go  with  her  from  the  house  of  the  women  to  the 
king's  palace.     ^"^In  the  evening  she  went  and  on  the  following  day  she  re- 
turned into  the  second  women's  apartments'^  to  tiie  custody  of  Sliaashgaz, 
the  king's  eunuch,  who  kept  the  concubines.     She  came  in  n(j  more  to  the 
king,  unless  the  king  delighted  in  her  and  she  was  .summoned    by  name. 


*  2'  Lit.,  Ihfir  ruhhinq  off,  i.e.,  with  oils  and  cosmetics  to  enhance  their  beiiuly.     Cf.  ". 

h  2'  A  relative  therefore  of  KinK.Saul,  cf.  Intro'l.,  p.  39. 

'  2"  This  late  .lewisli  spelling  of  this  word  is  found  here  aa  in  ICzra  and  Dan. 

i  2'-''  So  fik..  or,  in  thiK  way. 

k  2"  Ileb..  house. 

■i73 


EsTH.  215]  THE  STORY  OF  ESTHER 

i^Now  when   the  turn   of   Esther  the  daughter  of  Abihail,   the  uncle  of 
INIordecai,  who  had  taken  her  for  his  daughter,  came  to  go  to  the  king, 
she  required  nothing  but  what  Hegai  the  king's  eunuch,  the  keeper  of  the 
women,  directed.     And  Esther  obtained  favor  in  the  sight  of  all  who  saw 
her. 
Selec-         i^So  Esther  was  taken  unto  King  Ahasuerus  into  his  royal  palace  in  the 
Esther    tenth  month,  that  is,  the  month  Tebeth  in  the  seventh  year  of  his  reign. 
as  i^And  the  king  loved  Esther  more  than  all  the  women,  and  she  received  favor 

and  kindness  from  him  more  than  all  the  virgins ;  so  that  he  set  the  royal  crown 
upon  her. head,  and  made  her  queen  instead  of  Vashti.     ^^Then  the  king 
made  a  great  feast  for  all  his  princes  and  his  servants,  even  a  feast  in  honor 
of  Esther;  and  he  remitted  the  taxes^  of  the  provinces  and  gave  gifts,  accord- 
ing to  the  liberality  of  the  king. 
Morde-       ^^And  when  the  virgins  were  gathered  together  the  second  time,  IMor- 
service   decai  was  sitting  in  the  king's  gate.     ^^Esther  had  not  yet  made  known  her 
in  sav-    kindred  nor  her  people,  as  Mordecai  had  charged  her,  for  Esther  obeyed 
life  of     the  command  of  Mordecai,  just  as  when  she  was  being  brought  up  with  him. 
king       ^^In  those  days,  while  Mordecai  was  sitting  in   the   king's  gate,  two  of  the 
king's    eunuchs,  Bigthan  and  Teresh,  of  those  who  guarded   the   threshold 
became  enraged  and  sought  to  lay  hands  on    King  Ahasuerus.     -^And  the 
plan  became  known  to  Mordecai,  who  showed  it  to  Esther  the  queen;  and 
Esther  told  the  king  in  Mordecai's  name.     ^^And  when  the  matter  was  in- 
vestigated and  it  was  found  to  be  so,  they  were  both  hanged  on  a  tree;  and 
it  was  recorded  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  for  the  king. 


*»• 


§  208.  Haman's  Purpose  and  the  King's  Permission  to  Put  to  Death  all 

the  Jews  in  the  Empire,  Esth.  3 

Morde-  Esth.  3  ^After  these  things, King  Ahasuerus  promoted  Haman  the  son  of 
refusal  Hammedatha  the  Agagite,  and  advanced  him  and  gave  him  a  place  above 
to  pay    jjii  ii^Q  princes  who  were  with  him.     ^And  all  the  king's  servants  who  were 

homage  .  ' .  ,  ^ 

to  Ha-  in  the  king's  gate™  bowed  down  and  prostrated  themselves  before  Haman; 
the"'  for  the  king  had  so  commanded  concerning  him.  But  Mordecai  did  not 
royal  j^Q^r  (Jqwu  nor  prostrate  himself.  ^Then  the  king's  servants,  who  were  in 
the  king's  gate,  said  to  Mordecai,  Why  do  you  transgress  the  king's  command  ? 
*Now  when  they  thus  spoke  daily  to  him  and  he  paid  no  heed  to  them, 
they  told  Haman,  to  see  whether  Mordecai's  acts  would  stand,  for  he  had 
told  them  that  he  was  a  Jew.  ^And  when  Haman  saw  that  Mordecai 
did  not  bow  down  nor  prostrate  himself  before  him,  Haman  was  full  of 
wrath.  ^But  he  thought  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  lay  hands  on  Mordecai 
alone;  for  they  had  made  known  to  him  Mordecai's  race.  Therefore  Ha- 
man sought  to  destroy  all  the  Jews  who  were  throughout  the  whole  king- 
dom of  Ahasuerus,  even  the  race  of  Mordecai. 


'  218  Or,  release  from  military  service.     So  Gk.  and  Targ.     Lat.,  holiday. 
■°  32  Cf.  the  title  of  the  Sultan  of  Turkey,  Sublime  Porte,  or  the  older  Egyptian  title, 
Pharaoh. 

474- 


PERMISSION  TO  KILL  THE  JEWS  [Esth.  3- 

"In  the  first  month,  which  is  the  month  Nisan,"  in  the  twelfth  year  of  The 
King  Ahasuerus,  they  cast  Pur,°  that  is,  the  lot  before  Ilanian  from  day  to  con^nt 
day  and  from  month  to  month,  to  the  twelfth  month,  which  is  the  month  {^^^'■^'•'^ 

*  ...  Hainan 

Adar.  *And  Haman  said  to  King  Ahasuerus,  There  is  a  certain  people  slay  all 
scattered  abroad  and  dispersed  among  the  peo]>les  in  all  the  provinces  of  j^ws 
your  kingdom;  and  their  laws  are  dill'erent  from  those  of  every  people;  neither 
do  they  keep  the  king's  laws;  therefore  there  is  no  advantage  to  the  king  in 
leaving  them  alone.  ^If  it  please  the  king,  let  an  order  be  given  that  they 
be  destroyed;  and  I  will  pay  ten  thousand  talents  of  silver  into  the  hands  of 
those  who  have  the  charge  of  the  finances,  that  they  niay  bring  it  into  the 
king's  treasuries.  ^^And  the  king  took  his  ring  from  his  hand  and  gave  it 
to  Haman  the  .son  of  Ilanunedatha  the  Agagite.  the  Jews'  enemy.  ^'And 
the  king  said  to  Haman,  The  silver  is  given  to  you,  the  people  also,  to  do 
with  them  as  you  please.' 

^-Then  the  king's  scribes  were  called  in  on  the  thirteenth  dav  of  the  first  Prom- 
month,  and  it  was  recorded  just  as  Haman  commanded  for  the  kings'  sa-  "joni.f 
traps  and  the  local  governors  who  were  over  every  province,  and  the  princes  theroy- 
of  ever}'  people,  to  every  province  according  to  its  system  of  writing,  and  to  cree 
every  peo}>le  according  to  their  language.     In  the  name  of  King  .\.hasuerus 
was  it  written,  and  with  the  king's  ring  was  it  sealed.     ^'^And  letters  were 
sent  by  runners  into  all  the  king's  provinces,  to  destroy,  to  slay,  and  to  cause 
to  perish  all  Jews,  both  young  and  old,  little  children,  and  women  in  one 
day,  even  upon  the  thirteenth  day  of  the  twelfth  month,  which  is  the  month 
Adar,  and  to  take  the  spoil  of  them  as  plunder.     ^^A  copy  of  the  writing, 
that  the  decree  should  be  given  out  in  every  province,  was  published  to  all 
the  peoples,  that  they  should  be  ready  for  that  day.     ^^The  runners  went 
forth  impelled  by  the  king's  connnand,  and  the  decree  was  given  out  in  the 
royal  palace  at  Shushan.     And  the  king  and  Haman  sal  down  to  drink; 
but  the  city  of  Shushan  was  perplexed. 

§  209.  Esther's  Successful  Efforts  to  Avert  the  Calamity  and  the 
Ignominious  Death  of  Haman,  Esth.  4-7 

Esth.  4  ^Now  when  ]\Iordecai  knew  all  that  was  done,  Mordecai  lore  his  i.amcn- 
clothes  and  put  on  sackcloth  and  strewed  ashesP  on  his  head,  and  went  out  „>' mI'I- 
into  the  midst  of  the  city  and  cried  with  a  loud  and  bitter  cry  of  lamiMitatioii.  [l^^'-^'l^^^ 
2And  he  came  even  before  the  king's  gate;  for  none  might  enter  the  king's  Jews 
gate  clothed  with  sackcloth.     ^And  in  every  province  wherever  the  king's 
command  and  his  decree  came,  there  was  great  mourning  among  the  Jews, 
and  fasting,  weeping,  and  wailing;  and  many  lay  in  sackcloth  and  ashes.n 


■  37  The  month  Nisan  W£w  the  month  in  which  the  Hebrews  came  forth  from  ERypt.  For 
the  different  months  of.  Appendix  XIII.  .        ,.,,,,         ,,      i  ,.,.■ 

"  3'  The  casting  of  the  lot  was  to  determme  the  fortunate  day  in  whicli  to  destroy  the  .Icwh. 
The  lot  was  thus  u»ed  by  the  Babylonians  in  deterniiniiiK  the  date  of  the  great  New  \ear  s  feast. 
Cf.  Introd..  p.  40. 

p  4'   Heb.,  Mimply,  vnlh  ashes. 

q  43  Heb.,  sackcloth  and  ashes  were  spread  out  under  many 


EsTH.  44]  "  THE  STORY  OF  ESTHER 

Com-         "^And  Esther's  maidens  and  her  eunuchs  came  and  told  her  about  it;  and 
^tion    ^^^^  queen  was  exceedingly  pained.     And  she  sent  garments  to  clothe  Mor- 
of  the     decai  that  lie  might  take  his  sackcloth  from  off  him;  but  he  received  them" 
news  to  not.     ^Then  Esther  called  for  Hathach,  one  of  the  king's  eunuchs,  whom 
Esther   j^^  j^^j  appointed  to  attend  upon  her,  and  charged  him  to  go  to  jNIordecai, 
to  know  what  this  was  and  why  it  was.     ''So  Hathach  went  out  to  Mordecai 
to  the  broad  place  of  the  city  which  was  before  the  king's  gate.     ''And  Mor- 
decai told  him  all  that  had  happened  to  him  and  the  exact  sum  of  the  money 
that  Haman  had  promised  to  pay  to  the  king's  treasuries  for  the  Jews  to 
destroy  them.     ^Also  he  gave  him  a  copy  of  the  writing  of  the  decree  that  was 
given  out  in  Shushan  to  destroy  them,  that  he  might  show  it  to  Esther  and 
inform  her  regarding  it  and  charge  her  to  go  in  to  the  king  to  petition  him 
and  to  make  request  before  him  for  her  people. 
Es-  ^And  Hathach  came  and  told  Esther  the  words  of  Mordecai.     ^^Then 

reply^o  Esther  spoke  to  Hathach,  and  gave  him  a  message  to  Mordecai,  saying,  ^^AU 
Morde-  the  king's  servants  and  the  people  of  the  king's  ])rovinces  know  that  who- 
mes-       ever,  whether  man  or  woman,  comes  to  the  king  into  the  inner  court  without 
^^^^       being  commanded,  there  is  one  law  for  him,  that  he  be  put  to  death,  except 
those  to  whom  the  king  shall  hold  out  the  golden  sceptre,  that  he  may  live; 
but  I  have  not  been  called  to  come  to  the  king  for  thirty  days,     ^^^^fj  jliey 
told  Mordecai  Esther's  words. 
Es-  i^xhen  Mordecai  bade  them  answer  to  Esther,  Think  not  that  you  alone 

deci-^     of  all   the  Jews  will   escape  because  you   belong  to  the  king's  household. 
sion  to    I4j^ather,  if  you  remain  silent  at  this  time,  then  relief  and  deliverance  will  arise 
to  the     for  the  Jews  from  another  quarter,  but  you  and  your  father's  house  will  perish ; 
'^'"^       and  who  knows  whether  you  have  not  come  to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time 
as  this  ?     ^^Then  Esther  bade  them  answer  Mordecai,  ^^Go,  gather  together 
all  the  Jews  that  are  present  in  Shushan  and  fast  for  me,  and  neither  eat 
nor  drink  three  days,  night  or  day.     I  also  and  my  maidens  will  likewise 
fast  and  so  will  I  go  m.  to  the  king,  which  is  contrary  to  the  law ;  and  if  I 
perish,  I  perish.     ^^So  Mordecai  went  away  and  did  just  as  Esther  had  com- 
manded him. 
Herin-       5  ^Now  it  came  to  pass  on  the  third  day  that  Esther  put  on  her  royal 
with^^  garments  and  stood  in  the  inner  court  of  the  king's  palace  directly  opposite 
the         the  king's  palace.     And  the  king  was  sitting  upon  his  royal  throne  in  the 
royal  palace  opposite  the  entrance  of  the  palace.     2\nd  when  the  king  saw 
Esther  the  queen  standing  in  the  court,  she  obtained  favor  in  his  sight,  and 
the  king  held  out  to  Esther  the  golden  sceptre  that  was  in  his  hand.     So 
Esther  drew  near  and  touched  the  top  of  the  sceptre.     ^Then  the  king  said 
to  her.  What  do  you  wish.  Queen  Esther,  and  what  is  your  request  ?    It  shall 
be  given  you  even  to  the  half  of  the  kingdom.     ^And  Esther  said.  If  it  seem 
good  to  the  king,  let  the  king  and  Haman  come  this  day  to  the  banquet 
that  I  have  prepared  for  him. 
Her  ^Then  the  king  said.  Bring  Haman  quickly,  that  Esther's  wish  may  be 

qug^  fulfilled.  So  the  king  and  Haman  came  to  the  banquet  that  Esther  had 
for  the  prepared.  *^And  the  king  said  to  Esther  at  the  banquet  of  wine.  What  is 
and       your  petition?     It  shall  be  granted  you;  and  what  is  your  request?     Even 

Haman 

476 


HER  EFFORTS  TO  AVERT  THE  CALA:MITY  [Esth. 


-.6 


to  the  lialf  of  the  kingdom  shall  it  be  performed.  "Then  Esther  answered 
and  said,  My  petition  and  my  request  is:  ^'If  I  have  found  favor  in  the  sight 
of  the  king,  and  if  it  please  the  king  to  grant  my  petition  and  to  perform  my 
request,  let  the  king  and  Ilaman  come  to  the  banquet  that  I  shall  prepare 
for  them,  and  I  will  do  to-morrow  as  the  king  has  said.' 

^Then  Haman  went  forth  that  day  joyful  and  glad  of  heart.     But  when  Ila- 
Haman  saw  Mordecai  in  the  king's  gate,  and  he  neither  stood  up  nor  moved  "{.^"g® 
for  him,  he  was  filled  with  wrath  against  ^lordecai.     ^'^Nevertheless  Haman  amlha- 
restrained  himself  and  went  home,  and  sent  and  brought  his  friends  antl  .Morde- 
Zeresh  his  wife.     ^^And  Haman  recounted  to  them  the  glory  of  his  riches  ^'^^ 
and  the  multitude  of  his  children  and  all  the  ways  in  which  the  king  had 
promoted  him  and  how  he  had  advanced  him  above  the  princes  and  servants 
of  the  king.     ^-Haman  also  said.  Yea,  Esther  the  (|ueen  let  no  man  come  in 
with  the  king  to  the  banquet  which  she  had  prepared  but  me,  and  to-morrow 
also  I  am  invited  by  her  together  with  the  king.     ^"^Yet  all  this  does  not 
satisfv  me  as  long  as  I  see  Mordecai  the  Jew  sittin"  at  the  king's  crate. 

^^Then  Zeresh  his  wife  and  all  his  friends  said  to  him.  Let  a  gallows'"  fifty  His 
cubits  high  be  erectefl  and  in  the  morning  speak  to  the  king  that  INIordecai  advice 
may  be  hanged.     Then  go  in  merrily  with  the  king  to  the  banquet.     And  tlie 
thing  pleased  Haman;  and  he  caused  th.e  gallows  to  be  erected. 

6  ^On  that  night  sleep  fled  from  the  king,  and  he  gave  orders  to  bring  The 
the  book  of  records  of  the  chronicles,  and  they  were  read  before  the  king,  i-eward 
^And  it  was  found  recorded  that  Mordecai  had  told  of  Bigthana  and  Teresh.  >i<'rile- 
two  of  the  king's  eunuchs,  of  those  who  guarded  the  threshold,  who  had  sought  lii.-^.ser- 
to  lay  hands  on  King  Ahasuerus.     ^And  the  king  said,  What  honor  and  Jhe^*" 
dignity  have  been  bestow'ed  on  INIordecai  for  this  ?     Then  the  king's  servants  king 
who  ministered  to  him  said.  There  has  been  nothing  done  for  him.     "*And 
the  king  said,  Who  is  in  the  court.'*     Now  Haman  was  come  into  the  outer 
court  of  the  king's  house  to  speak  to  the  king  to  hang  Mordecai  on  the  gal- 
lows that  he  had  prepared  for  him.     ^And  the  kiiig's  servants  said  to  him, 
Behold,  Haman  is  standing  in  the  court.     And  the  king  said.  Let  him  come 
in.     ^So  Haman  came  in.     And  the  king  said  to  him.  What  sliall  be  done 
to  the  man  whom  the  king  delights  to  honor?     Now  Haman  said  to  himself. 
To  whom  would   the  king  delight  to  do  honor  more   than   to  myself?     "So 
Haman  said  to  the  king.  For  tlie  man  Avhom  the  king  delight-s  to  honor  ^"^let 
royal  garments  be  brought,  which  the  king  is  accustomed  to  wear,  and  the 
horse  on  which  the  king  rides,  and  on  the  head  of  which  a  crown  royal  is 
set.     ^And  let  the  garments  and  the  horse  be  delivered  to  one  of   the  king's 
most  noble  princes,  and  let  them  therewith  clothe  the  man  whom  the  king 
delights  to  honor  and  cause  him  to  ride  on  horseback  through  the  street  of 
the  city,  and  proclaim  before  him,  '  Thus  shall  it  be  done  to  the  man  w  horn 
the  king  delights  to  honor.' 

^^''i'hen  the  king  said  to  Ilaman,  ^Lake  haste,  and  take  the  garments  and  Mordo- 
the  horse,  as  you  have  .said,  and  do  even  so  to  Mordecai  the  Jew,  who  sits  i,',',',n,r 
in  the  king's  gate.      IvCt  nothing  fail  of  all  that  you  have  said.      "'I'heii  Ilaman  »j'^^^ 
took  the  garments  and  the  horse  and  clothed  Mordecai,  and  cau.sed  him  to  mmi > 


r  5'*   lleh.,  wood, 

477 


hiiiiiiii- 
iitidti 


EsTH.  611]  THE  STORY  OF  ESTHER 

ride  through  the  street  of  the  city,  and  proclaimed  before  him,  Thus  shall 
it  be  done  to  the  man  whom  the  king  delights  to  honor,  ^^^^d  JNIordecai 
came  again  to  the  king's  gate.  But  Haman  hasted  to  his  house,  mourning 
and  with  his  head  covered.  ^^And  Haman  recounted  to  Zeresh  his  wife  and 
all  his  friends  all  that  had  befallen  him.  Then  his  wise  men  and  Zeresh  his 
wife  said  to  him,  If  INlordecai  before  whom  you  have  begun  to  fall,  be  of  the 
Jewish  race,  you  will  accomplish  nothing  against  him  but  will  surely  fall 
before  him.  ^^While  they  were  still  talking  with  him,  the  king's  eunuchs 
came  and  quickly  brought  Haman  to  the  banquet  that  Esther  had  prepared. 
Es-  7  ^So  the  king  and  Haman  came  to  drink  with  Esther  the  queen.     -And 

pet[-^     the  king  said  again  to  Esther  on  the  second  day  of  the  banquet  of  wine,  What 
tjonfor  is  your  petition.  Queen  P^sther  ?  and  it  shall  be  granted  to  you.     And  what  is 
of  her     your  request?     Even  to  half  of  the  kingdom  shall  it  be  performed.     ^Then 
people    £g^|jgj.  i\jQ  queen  answered  and  said.  If  I  have  found  favor  in  your  sight, 
O  king,  and  if  it  please  the  king,  let  my  life  be  given  me  at  my  petition  and 
my  people  at  my  request;  ^for  we  are  sold,  I  and  my  people,  to  be  destroyed, 
to  be  slain,  and  to  perish.     But  if  we  had  been  sold  as  male  and  female 
slaves,  I  would  have  remained  silent,  since  for  such  an  affliction  it  would 
not  have  been  worth  the  while  to  trouble  the  king.^ 
Ha-  ^Then  the  King  Ahasuerus  spoke  to  Esther  the  queen,  saying.  Who  is  he 

f^te*  ^  and  where  is  he  who  dares  presume  in  his  heart  to  do  so  ?  ^And  Esther  said, 
An  adversary  and  an  enemy,  this  wicked  Haman.  Then  Haman  shrank 
before  the  king  and  the  queen.  ^And  the  king  arose  in  his  wrath  from  the 
banquet  of  wine  and  went  into  the  palace  garden.  And  Haman  stood  up 
to  beg  for  his  life  of  Esther  the  queen;  for  he  saw  that  evil  was  determined 
against  him  by  the  king.  ^When  the  king  returned  from  the  palace  garden 
to  the  place  of  the  banquet  of  wane,  Haman  had  fallen  upon  the  couch  on 
which  Esther  was.  Then  said  the  king,  Will  he  even  force  the  queen  before 
me  in  the  house  ?  As  soon  as  the  word  went  from  the  king's  mouth,  Haman's 
face  was  covered  with  shame.*  ^Then  Harbonah,  one  of  the  eunuchs  who 
were  before  the  king  said,  There  are  the  gallows  fifty  cubits  high,  which 
Haman  has  made  for  Mordecai,  who  cared  for  the  king's  welfare,  standing 
in  the  house  of  Haman.  And  the  king  said.  Hang  him  on  them.  ^^So 
they  hanged  Haman  on  the  gallows  that  he  had  prepared  for  Mordecai. 
Then  was  the  king's  wrath  pacified. 

§  210.  The  Royal  Decrees  for  the  Protection  of  the  Jews,  Esth.  8 

Trans-  Esth.  8  ^At  that  time  the  King  Ahasuerus  gave  the  house  of  Haman  the 
j|^?^  Jews'  enemy  to  Esther  the  queen.  And  INlordecai  came  before  the  king, 
man's  for  Esther  had  told  what  he  was  to  her.  2\nd  the  king  took  off  his  ring, 
toMor-  which  he  had  taken  from  Haman,  and  gave  it  to  Mordecai.  And  Esther 
^^'^^^     set  Mordecai  over  the  house  of  Haman. 

'  7*  The  text  is  corrupt.  A  slight  correction  gives  the  above.  Another  possible  recon- 
struction is,  for  deliverance  is  not  worth  troubling  the  king,  i.e.,  the  importance  of  deliverance 
does  not  justify  troubling  the  king  with  this  request. 

*  7*  So  Gk.  Present  Heb.,  they  covered  the  face  of  Haman,  as  a  sign  that  he  was  condemned 
to  death. 

478 


PROTECTION  OF  THE  JEWS  [Esth.  83 

^And  Esther  spoke  yet  again  before  the  king,  and  fell  down  at  his  feet,  Es- 
and  besought  him  with  tears  to  avert  the  evil  done  bv  Hainan  the  Aofacite.  l','*^""  ^ 
and  to  frustrate  his  designs  which  he  had  against  the  Jews.     "^Then  the  king  <reafy 
held  out  to  Esther  the  golden  sceptre.     So  Esther  arose,  and  stood  before  decree 
the  king.     ^And  she  said,  If  it  |)lease  the  king,  and  if  1  have  found  favor  in  ve/^d 
his  sight,  and  the  thing  seem  right  before  the  king,  and  I  please  him,  let 
written  orders  be  given  to  reverse  the  letters  devised  by  Haman  the  .son  of 
Hammedatha  the  Agagite,  which  he  wrote  to  destroy  the  Jews  who  are  in 
all  the  king's  provinces.     '^'For  how  can  I  endure  to  .see  the  evil  that  will 
come  to  my  people?     Or  how  can  I  endure  to  see  the  destruction  t)f  mv 
kindred  ? 

"Then   the  King  Ahasuerus  said  to  Esther  the  queen  and  to  Mordecai  The 
the  Jew,  Behold,  I  have  given  Esther  the  house  of  Haman,  and  him  they  conces- 
have  hanged  upon  the  gallows,  becau.se  he  laid  his  hands  upon  the  Jews.  ^'^"^ 
^Write  also  concerning  the  Jews  as  it  pleases  you.  in  the  king's  name  and 
seal  it  with  the  king's  ring;  for  the  writing  which  is  written  in  the  king's 
name  and  sealed  with  the  king's  ring,  may  no  man  reverse. 

^Then  were  the  king's  scribes  called  at  that  time  on  the  twentv-third  dav  The 
of  the  third  month,  which  is  the  month  Sivan;  and  it  was  written  according  J^"';^,",'. 
to  all  that  Mordecai  conuuanded  the  Jews,  and  the  satraps  and  tlie  governors  ",''."''' 
and  princes  of  the  provinces  which  are  from  India  to  Ethiojna,  a  hundred  the 
and  twenty-seven  provinces,  to  every  province  according  to  its  system  of  gmpow- 
writinof,  and  to  everv  neoi>lo  accordina;  to  their  languafTc,  and  to  the  Jews  eredto 

'  .11  <^  o  r^  n  l)r(>t  GCt 

according  to  their  system  of  writing  and  according  to  their  language.  ^"And  them- 
he  wrote  in  the  name  of  King  Ahasuerus,  and  sealed  it  with  the  king's  ring  ^'^^^^ 
and  sent  letters  by  swift  messengers  on  horseback,  ridiiig  on  nol)lc,  swift  steeds, 
bred  of  the  royal  studs,"  ^^vherein  the  king  grantetl  the  Jews  who  were  in 
every  city  to  gather  themselves  together  and  to  fight  for  their  lives,  to  destroy, 
to  slav,  and  to  cause  to  perish  all  the  armed  forces  of  the  people  and  province 
that  would  assault  them,  their  little  ones  and  women,  and  to  take  the  sjioil 
of  them  as  plunder,  ^'-upon  one  day  in  all  the  jirovinces  of  King  Ahasuerus, 
namely  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  the  twelfth  month,  which  is  the  month  Adar. 
l^A  copy  of  the  writing,  that  the  decree  should  be  given  out  in  every  province, 
was  published  to  all  the  peoples,  and  that  the  Jews  should  b,e  ready  on  that 
day  to  avenge  themselves  upon  their  enemies.  '*So  the  swift  messengers 
that  rode  on  the  noble,  .swift  steeds  went  out,  being  hastened  and  pressed 
on  by  the  king's  command;  and  the  decree  was  given  out  in  the  royal  palace 
at  Shushan. 

'•'And  ]\Iordecai  went  forth  from  the  j)resence  of  the  king  in   royal  gar-  Hrmors 
ments  of  blue  and  white  linen,  and  with  a  grca!  crown  of  gold,  and  with  a  'f,"',ho 
robe  of  fine  linen  and  purple.     And  the  city  of  Shushan  shouted  and  was  •'i'"'' 
glad.     '^'The  Jews  had  light  and  gladness  and  joy  and  honor.     '-"And  in 
every  province  and   in  every  city,  wherever  the  king's  command  and   his 
decree  came,  the  Jews  liad  gladness  and  joy,  a  feast  and  a  holiday.     And 
many  from  amf)iig  the  |)eo[)lcs  of  the  land  became  Jews;  for  the  fear  of  IIk^ 
Jews  had  fallen  Uj>on  them. 

"  8'"  Here  two  PerMian  words  arc  used. 

47y 


EsTH.  9I]  THE  STORY  OF  ESTHER 

§211.  Destruction  of  the  Enemies  of  the  Jews,  Esth.  O^^*" 

Sue-  Esth.   9  ^Now  in  the  twelfth  month,  which  is  the  month  Adar,  on  the 

resfst^'    thirteenth  day  of  the  same,  when  the  king's  command  and  his  decree  was  about 
anceof   |o  \)q  p^t  into  execution,  on  the  day  that  the  enemies  of  the  Jews  hoped  to 
Jews  on  gain  the  mastery  over  them,  then  the  tables  were  turned  so  that  the  Jews 
the  day  ^jigj^gglyes  had  the  mastery  over  those  who  hated  them.     ^Xhe  Jews  gath- 
point-     Qj-ed  together  in  the  cities  throughout  all  the  provinces  of  the  King  Ahasu- 
the         erus,  to  lay  hand  on  such  as  sought  their  hurt;    and   none   could  withstand 
shiugh-  ^i^gjj^^  fQj.  ^i^g  fga^j.  of  them  had  fallen  upon  all  the  peoples.     ^And  all  the 
princes  of  the  provinces  and  the  satraps  and  the  governors  and  they  who 
attended  to  the  king's  business,  helped  the  Jews,  because  the  fear  of  Morde- 
cai  had  fallen  upon  them.     "^For  Mordecai  was  great  in  the  king's  palace, 
and  his  fame  went  forth  throughout  all  the  provinces;  for  the  man  Mordecai 
became  constantly   more  influential.     ^And   the  Jews  smote   all  their  ene- 
mies with  the  stroke  of  the  sword  and  with  slaughter  and  destruction,  and  did 
what  they  would  to  those  who  hated  them.      ''And  in  the  royal  palace  at 
Shushan  the  Jews  slew  and  destroyed  five  hundred  men.     "And  they  slew 
Parshandatha,  Dalphon,  Aspatha,  ^Poratha,  Adalia,  Aridatha,  ^Parmashta, 
Arisia,  Aridai,  and  Vaizatha,  ^^the  ten  sons  of  Haman  the  son  of  Hamme- 
datha,  the  Jews'  enemy;  but  they  did  not  put  forth  the  hand  to  plunder. 
Fur-  i^On  that  day  the  number  of  those  that  were  slain  in  Shushan  the  palace 

permis-  was  brought  before  the  king.     ^-And  the  king  said  to  Esther  the  queen, 
sionto    The  Jews  have  slain  and  destroyed  five  hundred  men  in  the  royal  palace 
ven-       at  Shushan,  and  the  ten  sons  of  Haman;  what  then  have  they  done  in  the 
utxm^    rest  of  the  king's  provinces!     Now  what  is  your  petition,  and  it  shall  be 
their      granted  to  you  ?     Or  what  is  your  request,  and  it  shall  be  performed  ?  ^^Th^^^i. 
Esther  said.  If  it  please  the  king,  let  it  be  granted  to  the  Jews  who  are  in 
Shushan  to  do  to-morrow  also  according  to  this  day's  decree,  and  let  Haman's 
ten  sons  be  hanged  upon  the  gallows,     ^^^nd  the  king  commanded  it  so  to 
be  done.     And  a  decree  was  given  out  in  Shushan;  and  they  hanged  Haman's 
ten  sons.     ^^And  the  Jews  who  were  in  Shushan  also  gathered  themselves 
together  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month  Adar,  and  slew  three  hundred 
men  in  Shushan;  but  they  did  not  put  forth  their  hand  to  plunder.      ^^And 
the  other  Jews  who  were  in  the  king's  provinces  gathered  themselves  to- 
gether and  fought  for  their  lives  and  had  relief  from  their  enemies,  and  slew 
of  those  who  hated  them  seventy-five  thousand;  but  th«y  did  not  put  forth 
their  hand  to  plunder. 

§  212.  Institution  of  the  Feast  of  Purim,  Esth.  9'^-='2 

Obser-        Esth.  9  ^^On   the  thirteenth  day  of  the  month  Adar  and  the  fourteenth 

oTthT    <^lay^  of  the  same  they  rested  and  made  a  day  of  feasting  and  gladness.    ^^But 

feast  of  tiig  jg^ys  who  were  in  Shushan  assembled  together  on  the  thirteenth  and  on 

the  fourteenth,  and  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  same  they  rested  and  made 


V  9'^  Slightly  revising  the  text  which  is  evidently  corrupt. 
480 


INSTITUTION  OF  THE  FEAST  OF  PURBI   [Esth.  O^s 

it  a  day  of  feasting  and  gladness.  ^^Therefore  the  Jews  of  the  villages  who 
dwell  in  the  large^'  cities  are  wont  to  make  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month 
Adar  a  day  of  gladness  and  feasting  and  a  holiday,  and  a  day  in  which  they 
send  portions  of  food  to  each  other. 

20And  Mordecai  wrote  these  things,  and  sent  letters  to  all  the  Jews  who  Morde- 
were  in  all  the  provinces  of  the  King  Ahasuerus,  both  near  and  far,  -^to  enjoin  poljf. 
them  that  they  should  keep  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month  Adar  and  the  mand 
fifteenth  day  of  the  same  yearly,  --as  tlie  days  wherein  the  Jews  had  rest  tile 
from  their  enemies,  and  the  month  which  was  turned  to  them  from  sorrow  t"nji,e 
to  gladness  and  from  mourning  into  a  feast  day,  that  they  should  make  them  ""V'e 
days  of  feasting  and  gladness  and  of  sending  portions  one  to  another  and  of  sal 
gifts  to  the  poor. 

23And  the  Jews  adopted  as  a  custom  what  they  had  begun  and  what  I\Ior-  Estab- 
decai  had  written  to  them.     -*For  Ihunan    the    .son  of  Ilannnedatha.  the  Jjfgnt 
Agagite.  the  enemv  of  all  the  Jews,  had  ijlotted  against  the  Jews  to  destrov  andoc- 

*     CHS  ion 

them,  and  had  cast  Pur,  that  is  the  lot,  to  consume  them  and  to  destroy  them,  of  the 
-^Bnt  when  the  matter  came  before  the  king,  he  gave  orders  by  letters  that  '^^ 
his  wicked  design,  which  he  had  planned  against  the  Jews,  should  come 
upon  his  own  head,  and  that  he  and  his  sons  should  be  hanged  on  the 
gallows.  ^^Hence  they  call  these  days  Purim,  after  the  word  Pur.  There- 
fore because  of  all  the  words  of  tliis  letter,  as  well  as  because  of  that  which 
they  had  seen  concerning  this  matter,  and  that  which  had  come  to  them, 
-'the  Jews  ordained  and  took  upon  themsehes  and  upon  their  descentlants 
and  upon  all  those  who  joined  themselves  to  them,  .so  that  it  should  be  un- 
alterable, that  they  should  observe  these  two  days  as  feasts  according  to  the 
written  command  and  according  to  the  time  appointed  every  year,  -'''and 
that  these  days  should  be  remembered  and  kej)t  throughout  every  generation, 
every  family,  every  province,  and  every  city.  And  these  days  of  Purim 
should  not  pass  away  from  among  the  Jews  nor  the  remembrance  of  them 
disappear  with  their  descendants. 

29Tlien  Esther  the  queen,  the  daughter  of  Abihail,  and  IMordecai  the  Jew,  Confir- 
wrote  with  all  authority  to  confirm  this  second  letter  of  Purim.     •^'^Antl  the  „f"ilc 
latter  sent  letters  to  all  the  Jews,  to  the  hundred  and  twenty-seven  provinces  custom 
of  the  kingdom  of  Ahasuerus,  with  words  of  peace  and  truth,  '^'to  confirm 
these  days  of  Purim  in  their  appointed  times,  according  as  Mordecai  the 
Jew  and  Esther  the  queen  had  enjoined  them  and  as  they  had  ordained 
for  themselves  and  their  descendants,  in  the  matter  of  the  fastings  and  their 
cry  of  lamentation.     "^-And  tlie  connnands  of  Esther  confirmed  lliese  matters 
of  Purim;  and  it  was  written  in  the  book. 


"  9"  So  Gk.,  which  has  the  antithesis  which  the  context  demands.      Heb.,  who  dwell  m 
villages,  a  mere  repetition. 


481 


EsTH.  IQi]  THE  STORY  OF  ESTHER 

§  213.  The  Greatness  of  Mordecai,  Estb.  10 

Morde-  Esth.  10  ^And  the  King  Ahasiierus  laid  a  tribute  on  the  land  and  the 
services  isles  of  the  sea.  2\nd  all  the  acts  of  his  power  and  of  his  mighl,  and  the 
tohis  full  account  of  the  greatness  of  Mordecai  to  which  the  king  advanced  him, 
are  they  not  recorded  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Media 
and  Persia  ?  ^Pqi-  Mordecai  the  Jew  was  next  in  rank  to  King  Ahasuerus, 
and  great  among  the  Jews,  and  beloved  by  all  his  fellow-countrymen;  and 
he  sought  the  good  of  his  people  and  consulted  the  welfare  of  his  entire  race. 


482 


APPENDIX 


483 


APPENDIX 
I 

SELECTED    BIBLIOGRAPHY    AND    DETAILED    REFERENCES 


GENERAL    INTRODUCTIONS    TO    THE    HISTORICAL    BOOKS 

Andre,  Les  Apocryphes  de  V Ancient  Testament,  1903. 
Bennett  and  Adeney,  Biblical  Introduction,  1899. 
Bleek,  Einleitunr/  in  das  A.T.,'^  1878. 
Budde,  BUchcr  Richter  und  Samuel,  1890. 
Cornill,  Einleiiung  in  das  A.T.,-^  1896. 
Driver,  Introduction  to  the  Literature  of  the  O.T.,^  1901. 
Fain\'eather,  From  the  Exile  to  the  Advent,  1895. 
EncyclopoBdia  Biblica.     Articles,  Samuel,  Kings,  etc. 
Geissler,  Die  literarischen  Beziehungen  der  Esramemoiren,  1901. 
Hastings's  Didionary  of  the  Bible.     Articles. 
Kautzsch,  Literature  of  the  O.T.,  1899. 
Konig,  Enleitung  in  das  A.T.,  1893. 
Kosters,  Die  Wiedcrherstellung  Israels,  1895. 

McFadyen,  Messages  of  the  Prophetic  and  Priestly  Historians,  1902. 
INIarquart,  Fundamcnte  israclitischcr  und  judischcr  Gcschichte,  189G, 
Niese,  Kritik  der  bviden  Makkabacrhncher,  1900. 
Sacred  Books  of  the  O.  T.  (edited  by  Haupt). 
Smith,  W.  R.,  The  O.T.  in  the  Jeivish  Church,^  1892. 
Torrey,  Composition  and  Historical  Value  of  Ezra-Xehemiah,  1896. 
\Vellhausen,  Composition   dcs   Ilexateuchs  und  der  hisiorischen  Biicher  des 
A.T.,^  1899. 
"  Prolegomena  fo  the  Hist  org  of  Israel,  1895. 

Wildeboer,  The  Origin  of  the  Canon  of  the  O.T.,  1891.    ■ 

HISTORIES  OF  ISRAEL 

Bevan,  Jerusalem  under  the  High- Priests,  1905. 
Biiflde,  Religion  of  Israel  to  the  Exile,  1899. 
Clicyne,  Jevish  Religious  Life  after  the  Exile,  1898. 
Conder,  Judas  Maccabeus,  1894. 
Cornill,  History  of  the  People  of  Israel,  1898. 

485 


SELECTED  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Dieulafov,  Le  roi  David,  1897. 

Enci/clopoedia  Biblica  and  Jeioish  Encylopoedia.     Article,  Israel. 
Ewald,  Hisfori/  of  Israel,  1869. 
Gratz,  Geschichtc  der  Juden,  1876. 
Guthe,  Geschichte  des  Volkes  Israel,  1899. 
Harper,  Commentary  on  Amos  and  Hosea,  1905. 

van  Hoonacker,  Etudes  sur  la  Restauration  Juive  apres  Vexil  de  Babylone, 

1896. 
"  Nehemie  en  Van  20  d'Artaxerxes,  1892. 

Zorohahel  et  le  second  Temple,  1892. 
Hunter,  After  the  Exile,  I,  II,  1890. 
Kent,  History  of  the  Hebrew  People,  I,  The  United  Kingdom,^'^  1995. 

"      History  of  tlie  Hebrew  People,  II,  The  Divided  Kingdom,^^  1905. 

"      History  of  the  Jewish  People,'^  1905. 
Kittel,  History  of  the  Hebrews,  I,  II,  1895-96. 
Klostermann,  Geschichte  des  Volkes  Israel,  1896. 
Kuenen,  Gesammelte  Abhandlimgen,  1894. 

Mathews,  History  of  the  Neio  Testament  Times  in  Palestine,  1899. 
Meyer,  Entstehung  des  Judenthums,  1896. 
Oettli,  Geschichte  Israels  bis  auf  Alexander  den  Chvssen,  1904. 
Ottley,  Short  History  of  the  Hebrews,  1896. 
Piepenbring,  Histoire  du  Peiiple  Israel,  1898. 
Renan,  History  of  the  People  of  Israel,  1896. 
Riggs,  History  of  the  Jeivish  People  in  the  Maccabean  and  Roman  Periods,'^ 

1905. 
Sayce,  Early  History  of  the  Hcbreivs,  1897. 
Sellin,   Serubbabel,   1898;   Studien  zur  Entstehungsgeschichte  der  jiidischen 

Gemeinde,  I,  II,  1901. 
Smend,  Lehrbuch  der  alttestamentlichen  Religionsgeschichte,  1893. 
Smith,  H.  P.,  Old  Testament  History,  1903. 
Smith,  W.  R.,  Prophets  of  Israel,^  1895. 
Stade,  Geschichte  des  Volkes  Israel,  I,  II,  1888. 
Streane,  The  Age  of  the  Maccabees,  1898. 
Wade,  Old  Testament  History,  1903. 
Wellhausen,  Israelitische  und  jUdische  Geschichte,^  1904. 

Sketch  of  the  History  of  Israel  and  Judah,  1891. 
WiHrich,  Juden  und  Griechen  vor  der  Makkabdischen  Erhebung,  1895. 
Winckler,  Geschichte  Israels  in  Einzeldarstellung,  1900. 
Alttestamentliche  Untersuchungen,  1892. 

CONTEMPORARY  SEMITIC   HISTORY 

Archinard,  Israel  et  ses  viosins  asiatiques,  1890. 
Ball,  Light  from  the  East,  1899. 
Buhl,  Geschichte  der  Edomiter,  1893. 
Droysen,  History  of  Hellenism,  1895. 
Duncker,  Geschichte  des  Alterthums,^  1880. 

486 


conte:\iporary  Semitic  history 

Goodspeed,  Ilistorij  of  iJic  liahjiJonians  and  Assyrians,  1902. 

Hogarth,  Autliuritij  and  ArcJucologj/,  1899. 

Hommel,  Crcscfii elite  Babijloniens  und  Assijriens,  1885. 

Jeremias,  Das  A.T.  im  Lichte  des  alten  Orients,  1904. 

Judeich,  Klcinasiatischc  Studien,  189'-2. 

Justi,  Geschichtc  des  altcn  Pcrsicns,  187G. 

von  Landau,  Die  Phonizien  in  Das  Orient  II,  4,  1901. 

jMahaffy,  The  Empire  of  the  Ptolemies,  1895. 

'"  Historij  of  Fjjjipt  Under  the  Ptolemaic  Dynasty,  1899. 

Maspero,  The  Stru(j(/le  of  tlie  Nations,  1897. 
The  Passing  of  the  Nations,  1900. 
McCurdy,  History,  Prophecy,  and  the  Monuments,  I-III,  1884-1901. 
Meyer,  Geschichtc  des  aJten  Aegyptens.  1887. 

Miiller,  W.  jNI.,  Asien  und  Europa  nach  altiigyptischen  Denhndlern,  1893, 
Niese,  Geschichte  der  griechischen  und  makedonischen  Staaten,  1893, 
Pietschmann,  Geschichte  der  Phimizier,  1889. 
Rogers.  History  of  Babylonia  and  Assyria,  II,  1900. 
Schrader,  Cuneiform  Inscriptions  and  the  O.T.,  1885-88. 
"        Die  Keilinschriften  und  das  A.T.,^  1901. 
Keilinschriftliche  BihUothck,  I-\T,  1891. 
Tiele,  Ba})ylonisch-assyrische  Geschichte,  188G-88. 
Weber,  SanJicrib  Konig  von  Assyrien,  705-681,  1905. 
Winckler,  Untersuchungen  zur  altorientalischen  Geschichte,  1889. 
"        Die  Volker  Vorderasiens,  1899. 


GEOGRAPHY,  CHRONOLOGY,  AND  ARCHEOLOGY 

Benzinger,  Hehrdische  Archuologie,  1894. 

Buhl,  Geographic  des  alten  Palustina,  1896. 

Cooke,  Palestine  in  Geography  and  History,  I,  II,  1901. 

DoUer,  Geographische  und  cthnographische  Studien  zum  III.  und  IV.  Buche 

der  Konige,  1904. 
Ililprecht,  Explorations  in  Bible  Lands  During  the  I9th  Century,  1903. 

"         Recent  Research  in  Bible  Lands,  1896. 
Kamphausen,  Die  Chronologic  der  hebrdischen  Konige,  1883. 
Lederer,  Die  biblische  Zcilrechnung,  1888. 

Mahler,  Biblische  Chronologic  xind  Zeitrechnung  der  Hehrdcr,  1887. 
Neteler,  Zusammenhang  der  A.T.  Zeitrechnung  mit  der  Ptofangcschichte, 

1879. 
Niebuhr,  LJie  Chronologie  der  Geschichte  Israels,  Aegyptiens,  Babijloniens 

und  As.<iyriens,  1896. 
Nowack,  Lehrbuch  der  hebrdischen  Archdologic,  I.  II,  1894. 
Perrot  and  Chipiez,  History  of  Art  in  AntiipiUy,  1884-92. 
Smith,  Historical  G(0(fraphy  of  the  Holy  Larul,^  1899. 
Stewart,  The  Land  of' Israel,^  1900. 
Taaks,  Alttestamentliche  Chronologie ,  1904. 

487 


SELECTED  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

COMMENTARIES  AND  TEXTUAL  NOTES 

Samuel 

Budde,  Die  Biicher  Samuel,  1902. 

"       Sacred  Books  of  the  Old  Testament,  The  Books  of  Samuel,  1894. 
Driver,  Notes  on  the  Hebrew  Text  of  the  Books  of  Samuel,  1890. 
Kirkpatrick,  Books  of  Samuel  in  the  Cambridge  Bible. 
Klostermann,  Die  Biicher  Samudis .und  der  Konige,  1887. 
Lohr,  Samuel  in  Kurzgefasstes  exegetisches  Handbuch,  1898. 
Nestle,  Marginalien  und  Materi alien,  1893. 
Nowack,  Richter,  Ruth  und  Biicher  Samuelis,  1902. 
Smith,   Critical  and  Exegetical  Commentary  on  the  Books  of  Samuel, 

1899. 
Wellhausen,  Text  der  Biicher  Samuelis,  1871. 

Kings 

Benzinger,  Die  Biicher  der  Konige,  1899. 

Burney,  Notes  on  the  Hebrew  Text  of  the  Books  of  Kings,  1903. 

Holzhey,  Das  Buch  der  Konige,  1899. 

Kittel,  Die  Biicher  der  Konige,  1900. 

Chronicles 

Barnes,  An  Ajjparatus  Criticus  to  Chronicles  in  the  Peshitta  Version, 

1897. 
Benzinger,  Die  Biicher  der  Chroyiik,  1901. 
Bertheau,  Die  Biicher  der  Chronik,^  1873. 
Kittel,  Die  Biicher  der  Chronik,  1902. 

"       Sacred  Books  of  the  Old  Testament,  Chronicles,  1895. 

Ezra,  Nehemiah,  and  Esther 

Adeney,  Ezra,  Nehemiah,  and  Esther,  1893. 

Berth olet,  Esra  und  Nehemia,  1902. 

Guthe,  Sacred  Books  of  the  Old  Testament,  Books  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah, 

1896. 
Ryle,  Ezra  and  Nehemiah  in  the  Cambridge  Bible,  1893. 
Siegfried,  Esra,  Nehemia  und  Esther,  1901. 

I  and  II  Maccabees 

Bissell,  Apocrypha  in  Critical,  Doctrinal,  and  Homiletical  Commentary, 

1880. 
Grimm,  Die  Biicher  der  Maccabder,  1858. 
Kautzsch,  Apokryphen  und  Pseudepigraphen  des  A.T.,  1900. 

DETAILED   REFERENCES 

The  following  detailed  references  have  been  prepared  especially  to  meet 
the  needs  of  college  and  Bible  classes  and  private  readers.  They  do  not 
aim  to  give  a  complete  bibliography,  but  rather  to  call  attention  to  the  more 

488 


SOURCES  FOR  THE  HISTORY 

important  books  and  sections  dealing  with  a  given  topic.  Naturally,  greater 
prominence  is  given  to  works  written  in  English,  but  significant  chapters 
or  articles  in  French  or  German  sources  are  also  referred  to  and  are  dis- 
tuiguished  by  printing  the  names  of  the  authors  in  italics,  and  at  the  end 
of  each  section.  To  economize  space  the  standard  works  are  represented 
simply  by  the  names  of  their  authors,  followed  by  the  initial  letters  of  the 
chief  words  in  the  titles.  Whenever  there  is  any  doubt  regarding  the  mean- 
ing of  the  abbreviations,  they  can  be  readily  identified  by  referring  to  the 
Selected  BihUograpJuj  (pp.  485-88),  where  each  book  will  be  found  class- 
ified alphabetically  according  to  the  name  of  its  author.  In  the  classification 
of  the  references  the  order  of  the  main  divisions  of  this  volume  has  been 
followed  so  that  they  can  be  used,  in  connection  with  the  text,  as  guides  in 
further  systematic,  comprehensive  study. 

The  History  of  Israel's  Historical  and  Biographical  Narratives 

General  Introduction:  Encyc.  Bib.  II,  2075-79,2082-89;  Driver  LOT 
172-200,  516-54;  McFadyen  MPPH  3-5;  Kittel,  Die  Anfcingc  der  heb. 
Gesckichtsschreibung  im  A.T. 

Sources  of  Samuel-Kings:  Hastings  DB  IV,  382-91;  11,856-70;  Encyc. 
Bib.  IV,  4270-80;  II,  2664-71;  Driver  LOT  172-203;  Kautzsch  LOT  18-45; 
Smith  S  XI-XXIX;  Cook  in  AJSL,  1900,  pp.  145-77;  McFadyen  INIPPH 
139-43,  177-85;  Wellhausen  CHHB  238-302;  Budde  S  IX-XXV,  BUS 
167-276;  Nowack  BS  XIV-XXIX;  Benzinger  BK  VIII-XV;  Kittel  BK. 

Chronicler's  Ecclesiastical  History:  Hastings  DB  I,  389-97;  Encyc. 
Bib.  I,  763-72;  Driver  LOT  516-40;  Kittel,  Chronicles,  in  SBOT;  Barnes 
in  AJSL  Oct.,  1896;  Wellhausen  PHI  171-227;  McFadyen  MPPH  270-85; 
Kautzsch  LOT  121-28;  Benzinger  BC;  Kittel  BC  III-XVI. 

Sources  of  Ezra-Nehemiah :  Hastings  DB  I,  821-24;  Encvc.  Bib.  II, 
1478-87;  McFadyen  MPPH  314-18;  Driver  LOT  540-55;  Guthe  EN  in 
SBOT;  Torrey  CHV^EN;  BeHholet  EN  XI-XVI;  Kosters  WI;  Meyer  EJ; 
MarquaH  FIJA  28-66;  Geissler  LBE;  Siegfried  ENE  1-14. 

Records  of  the  Maccabean  Age:  Hastings  HI,  187-92;  Encyc.  Bib. 
Ill,  2857-79;  Niese  KBM;  Geiger,  Ursc/irift  Machabee;  Willrich,  Judaica; 
Destinon,  Die  Quellen  des  Josephus;  Schlatter,  Jason  von  Gyrene. 

Recovery  of  the  Original  Text:  Hastings  IV,  726-32;  Encyc.  Bib.  IV, 
5011-31;  Buhl,  Canon  and  Text  of  the  O.T.,  §§  23-99;  Driver  *HTBS  IX- 
LXXXIV;  Kenyon,  Our  Bible  and  the  Ancient  MSS.;  Weir,  A  Short  History 
of  the  Hebrew  Text  of  the  O.T.;  Abbot,  Original  Texts  of  the  O.  ami  N. 
T.,  1-63;  FieM.  Oriqen's  Hexapla;  Bleek  EAT,  §§  275-98;  Noicack  BS 
V-XIV;  Bcrthold  EXK  XV1-X\II. 

'  The  United  Monarchy 

Work  of  Samuel  and  (he  Establishment  of  the  Kingdom:  Ilasfings 

DB  IV.  412-15;  I\',  .381  82;  Knrvc.  IJih.  1\',  4.302-15;  Siiiitli  O'I'ii  106-22; 
Kent  UilP  I,  11.3-22;  Kitkl  1111  11,  94-104;  Smith  IM  4.3,  47,  85,389-91; 
Stade  GVI  I,  207-23. 

489 


DETAILED  REFERENCES 

Decline  of  Saul  and  the  Rise  of  David:  Hastings  DB  II,  511;  I,  560-66; 
Encyc.  Bib.  I,  1019-25;  II,  2231-32;  Smith  OTH  122-33;  Kent  HHP  I,  123- 
35;  Kittel  HH  II,  104-19;  Stade  GVI  1,  223-57. 

David's  Reign  over  Judah  and  over  all  Israel:  Hastings  DB  I,  566- 
73;  Encyc.  Bib.  I,  1025-35;  II,  2232-35;  Smith  OTH  133-55;  Cornill  HPI 
71-85;  Wellhausen  PHI  261-72;  Kent  HHP  I,  136-68;  Kittel  HH  II,  120- 
52;  Stade  GVI  I,  223-98;  Dieulajoij  RD. 

Solomon's  Policy  and  Reign:  Hastings  DB  IV,  559-69;  Encyc.  Bib. 
II,  2235-37;  IV,  4680-89;  Kent  HHP  I,  169-88;  Kittel  HH  II,  153-69;  Cor- 
nill HPI  86-95;  Bacon  in  New  World,  June,  1898,  pp.  212  ff.;  Smith  OTH 
156-63,  168-76;  Stade  GVI  I,  299-311. 

Temple  of  Solomon:  Hastings  DB  IV,  695-703;  Encyc.  Bib.  IV,  4923-40; 
Kent  HHP  I,  189-95;  Smith  OTH  163-67;  Robins,  The  Temple  of  Solo- 
mon; Guinard,  Motiographie  du  I'emple  de  Solomon;  Perrot-Chijnez,  Le  Temple 
de  Jerusalem;  Stade  GVI  I,  311-43;  Nowack  HA  II,  25-50;  Benzinger  HA 
383-8. 

History  of  Northern  Israel 

From  Jeroboam  to  Omri:  Hastings  DB  II,  516-17;  Encvc.  Bib.  II,  2239- 
40;  Smith  OTH  177-82;  Kent  HHP  II,  16-34;  Kittel  HH  11,  207-36;  Stade 
GVI  I,  344-57. 

Rule  of  the  House  of  Omri:  Hastings  DB  I,  51-53;  III,  620-21;  Encyc. 
Bib.  I,  89-93;  Smith  OTH  183-88,  194-97;  Kent  HHP  II,  37-43;  Kittel  HH 
II,  240-43;  Stade  GVI  I,  519-24,  527-41. 

Work  of  Elijah:  Hastings  DB  I,  687-91;  Encyc.  Bib.  II,  1270-74;  Kent 
HHP  II,  46-54;  Smith  OTH  188-93;  Harper  AH  XXIV-XLI;  Kittel 
HH  II,  213-66,  275,  279;  Cornill,  Prophets  of  Israel,  29-36;  Wellhausen  IIIJ 
64-69;  Gunkel  in  Preuss.  Jahrbuch,  1898,  pp.  18-51;  Stade  GVI  1,  524-27; 
Smend  LAR  152-59;  Clemen,  Die  Wunderherichte  iiber  Elia  und  Elisa. 

Popular  Traditions  about  Elisha  and  his  Real  Work :  Hastings  DB 

I,  693-96;  Encyc.  Bib.  II,  1275-78;  Harper  AH  XLI-LVIII;  Smend  LAR 
158-59;  Benzinger  BK  129-30. 

Rule  of  the  House  of  Jehu:  Hastings  DB  II,  564-66;  Encyc.  Bib.  II, 
2241-43;  Smith  OTH  198-218;  Kent  HHP  II,  61-97;  Kittel  HH  II,  237- 
78;  Stade  GVI  I,  541-85. 

Fall  of  the  Northern  Kingdom:  Smith  OTH  219-37;  Kent  HHP  II, 
98-110;  Kittel  HH  II,  284-98;  Stade  GVI  I,  598-601. 

History  of  Judah 

From  Rehohoam  to  Ahaz:  Kent  HHP  II,  35-37,  43-45,  120-26;  Kittel 
HH  II,  243-46,  279-84;  Stade  GVI  I,  345-49,  566-70. 

Assyrian  Period:  From  Ahaz  to  Josiah:  Hastings  DB  I,  53-54;  Encyc.  . 
Bib.  II,  2243-46;  Smith  OTH  238-59;  Kent  HHP  II,  127-64;  Kittel  HH 

II,  286-321;  Stade  GVI  I,  585-641. 

The  Great  Reformation  of  Josiah:  Hastings  DB  I,  596-603;  Smith 
OTH  260-74;  Kent  HHP  II,  172-82;  Kittel  HH  II,  321-25;  Stade  GVI  I, 
641-71;  Smend  LAR  QW-ll. 

490 


HISTORY  OF  JUDAH 

Babylonian  Period:  Encvc.  Bib.  II,  2246-48;  Smith  OTH  275-87;  Kent 
HHP  II.  183-89;  Kittel  HHII,  32J-31;  Stade  GVI  I,  G71-81. 

Worli  of  Jeremiah:  Hastings  DB  II,  569-73;  Encyc.  Bib.  II,  2366-71; 
Smith  OTH  287-94;  Kent  HHP  II,  190-94;  Cheyne,  Jeremiah:  his  Life  and 
Times;  Stade  GVI  I,  681-94;  Smend  LAR  252-62. 

Last  Days  of  the  Judean  State:  Hastings  DB  II,  513;  Smith  OTH 
294-300;  Kent  HHP  II,  194-204;  Kittel  HH  11,  332-33;  Stade  GVI  I,  694- 
703. 

The  Babylonian  Exile:  Smith  OTH  301-43;  Kent  HJP  1-98;  Stade 
GVI  II,  3-94;  Picpenbring  HPI  438-510. 

The  Re-establishment  of  the  Jewish  Community  in  Palestine 

Rebuilding  of  the  Temple:  Hastings  II,  514-15;  Encyc.  Bib.  II,  2252-54; 
TV,  4941-43;  Smith  OTH  344-81;  Kent  HJP  120-52;  Stade  GVI  II,  98- 
128;  Piepenbring  PIPI  511-28;  Rosters  WI  29-42;  Sellin,  Senibbabel. 

Work  of  \ehemiah:  Hastings  II,  515;  Encyc.  Bib.  II,  2254-55;  III, 
3380-87;  Smith  OTH  382-89;  Kent  HJP  153-94;  Cheyne  JUL  36-54,  64-69; 
Stade  GVI  II,  162-89;  Rosters  WI  42-73. 

Work  of  Ezra  and  the  Institution  of  the  Priestly  Law:  Encyc.  Bib. 
II,  1473-77;  Encvc.  Bib.  II,  2255-59;  Smith  OTH  389-412;  Kent  HJP  195- 
223;  Chevne  JRL  54-64;  Stade  GVI  II,  139-60;  Rosters  WI  51-54;  Piepen- 
bring HPI  536-44. 

The  ]\L\ccabean  Struggle 

Causes  of  the  Maecabean  Struggle:  Encyc.  Bib.  II,  2259-62;  Smith 
OTH  413-49;  Kent  HJP  284-330;  Riggs  HJP  14-28;  Streane  AM  14-34; 
Mathews  HNTT  1-22;  Schurer  JPTC^II,  186-212;  CornUl  HPI  175-93; 
Stade  GVI  II,  311-22,  334-35. 

Struggle  for  Religious  Freedom:  Encyc.  Bib.  II,  2263-64;  III,  28-50- 
56;  Smith  OTH  449-60;  Riggs  HJP  29-44;  Streane  AM  35-45;  Mathews 
HN^rr  23-35;  CorniU  HPI  193-97;  Schurer  JFIC  II,  213-24;  Stade  GVI 
II,  335-43. 

Attainment  of  Political  Independence  under  Jonathan:  Encyc.  Bib. 
II,  2264-65;  Smith  OTH  460-68;  Riggs  HJP  45-71;  Streane  AM  46-50; 
Mathews  HNTT  36-46;  Cornill  HPI  193-205;  Schurer  JPTC  II,  225-57; 
Stade  GVI  II,  343,  359-75. 

Simon's  Prosperous  Reign:  Smith  OTH  468-78;  Riggs  HJP  87-96; 
Streane  AM  50-53;  Mathews  HNTT  47-58;  Cornill  IlPI  205-208;  Schurer 
JPTC  II,  258-71;  Stade  GVI  II,  375-85. 

The  Life  of  the  Jews  of  the  Dispersion 

The  Story  of  Esther:  Hastings  DB  I,  773-76;  V,  91-109;  Encyc.  Bib. 
II,  1400-1407;  Toy  in  New  World,  VI,  130-45;  Rigg^i  HJP  72-86;  Schurer 
JFPC  II,  225-30. 

491 


HEBREW  CHRONOLOGY 

II 

HEBREW  CHRONOLOGY 

Living,  as  they  did,  a  quiet  agricultural  life  with  no  very  close  relations 
to  the  great  nations  of  antiquity,  it  is  not  strange  that  the  Hebrews  developed 
no  chronological  system  until  the  Assyrian  and  Babylonian  periods.  Even 
as  late  as  the  days  of  Amos  his  sermons  are  simply  dated  two  years  before 
the  earthquake.  No  attempt  is  made  in  the  early  sources  quoted  in  Samuel- 
Kings  to  fix  the  absolute  dates  of  events.  The  result  is  that  all  Hebrew  chro- 
nology before  the  division  of  the  empire  at  the  death  of  Solomon  is  only 
conjectural. 

Early  Egyptian  chronology  is  also  still  equally  indeterminate;  but  fort- 
unately the  Babylonians  and  Assyrians,  with  their  commercial  and  literary 
habits  and  their  close  connection  with  universal  history,  early  developed 
an  exact  system.  The  Assyrians  gave  the  name  of  some  high  official  to 
each  succeeding  year.  Copies  of  these  eponym  lists  have  been  discovered 
which  not  only  confirm  each  other,  but  also  connect  with  the  so-called  Canon 
of  Ptolemy,  which  gives  the  names  of  the  Babylonian,  Assyrian,  and  Per- 
sian kings  from  Nabonassar  to  Alexander  the  Great,  with  records  of  im- 
portant eclipses,  which  make  it  possible  to  fix  absolutely  the  given  dates 
and  to  relate  them  to  later  chronological  systems.  These  Assyrian  eponym 
lists  begin  with  the  year  893  B.C.  The  dating  of  important  events  in  the 
Assyrian  historical  inscriptions  and  chronicles  completes  the  chronological 
equipment  so  that,  when  the  Hebrew  and  Assyrian  histories  touch  each  other, 
a  fixed  date  is  at  once  established.  These  dates  are:  854  B.C.,  the  battle  of 
Karkar  at  which  Ahab  fought  against  Shalmaneser  II;  842,  when  Jehu  paid 
tribute  to  Tiglath-Pileser  III  to  establish  himself  on  the  throne  of  Israel; 
738,  when  Menahem  paid  tribute  to  /Assyria;  734,  when  Pekah  was  con- 
quered and  put  to  death  by  the  order  of  Tiglath-Pileser  and  Hoshea  was 
placed  in  his  stead  on  the  throne  of  Northern  Israel,  while  Ahaz  of  Judah 
paid  tribute  to  the  Assyrian  king;  7!22-7''21,  when  Samaria  was  conquered  by 
Sargon;  and  701,  when  Sennacherib  first  invaded  Judah. 

The  determination  of  Old  Testament  chronology  is  also  facilitated  by 
the  fact  that,  after  the  division,  the  histories  of  the  two  Hebrew  kingdoms 
touched  each  other  at  several  important  points,  as,  for  example,  when  Jehu, 
about  842  B.C.,  slew  both  Jehoram  of  Northern  Israel  and  Ahaziah  of  Judah. 
Even  with  these  fixed  dates,  the  details  of  Hebrew  chronology  would  be 
exceedingly  uncertain  had  not  the  state  annals  or  tradition  preserved  the 
approximate  lengths  of  the  reigns  of  the  different  kings.  Some  such  data 
were  evidently  before  the  late  prophetic  editor  of  I  and  II  Kgs.,  who  has 
developed  the  elaborate  chronological  system  which  runs  through  these 
books.  INIinor  errors  have  crept  in,  but  they  can  in  most  cases  be  corrected 
with  reasonable  assurance.  Thus  the  total  number  of  years  assigned  to  the 
kings  of  Israel  between  the  death  of  Solomon  and  Jehu's  revolution  in  842  B.C. 
is  ninety-eight,  and  to  those  of  Judah  during  the  same  period  but  ninety-five. 

492 


CHRONOLOGY  OF  THE  DIVIDED  KINGDOMS 

The  error  is  evidently  in  the  fourteen  years  assigned  to  Ahab's  sons  Ahaziah 
and  Jehoram,  whose  reigns  were  hniited  by  the  years  854  B.C.,  when  their 
father  fought  at  Karkar,  and  the  revolution  of  Jehu  in  84*^.  The  error 
probably  arose  because  Ahaziah  suffered  the  accident  recorded  in  II  Kgs.  1^ 
soon  after  his  accession,  and  his  reign  and  that  of  his  brother  Jehoram  as 
regent  were  both  counted,  although  they  were  contemporary. 

Also  in  the  period  between  842  and  722  b.c,  the  additional  twenty-two 
years  assigned  to  the  kings  of  Israel  can  be  traced  by  the  aid  of  the  Assyrian 
chronology;  for  in  the  reckoning  of  II  Kgs.  forty-one  years  are  assigned 
to  the  kings  who  reigned  between  738  B.C.,  when  ^lenahem  paid  tribute  to 
Assyria  to  establish  himself  on  the  throne,  and  722-721,  when  Samaria  fell. 
Evidently  the  round  numbers — ten  years  attributed  to  Menahem  and  the 
twenty  to  Pekah — should  each  be  read  two,  for  the  aniuils  of  Tiglath-Pileser 
III  (13,  lines  26-29)  record  the  murder  of  Pekah  in  734  B.C.  A  few  similar  errors 
have  crept  into  the  chronology  of  Judah  for  the  corresponding  period.  The 
reigns  from  Joash  to  Ahaz  yield  a  total  excess  of  thirty-six  years.  This  is 
probably  in  part  due  to  the  double  counting  of  the  reign  of  Uzziah  and  the 
co-regency  of  his  son  Jotham. 

Side  by  side  with  the  length  of  the  reigns,  the  late  prophetic  editor  of 
Kings  has  worked  out  an  elaborate  system  of  synchronisms  between  the 
reigns  of  the  kings  of  Israel  and  Judah.  His  model  was  probably  the 
similar  synchronistic  chronicles  among  the  Assyrians  and  Babylonians, 
illustrated  by  the  Babylonian  Chronicle.  Cf.  Appendix  X.  There  is  no 
evidence,  however,  that  in  preparing  this  system  he  had  any  other  data  than 
the  length  of  the  reigns  of  the  kings.  A  critical  examination  of  it  shows 
that,  in  working  it  out,  he  fell  into  many  errors.  Instead  of  furnishing 
additional  help  in  solving  the  intricate  problems  of  Hebrew  chronology,  it 
appears  to  have  influenced  the  synchronist  to  introduce  certain  of  the  errors 
which  have  been  noted  in  connection  with  the  total  length  of  the  different 
reigns.  The  most  striking  illustration  of  the  contradictions  into  which  his 
complex  system  led  him  is  found  in  II  Kgs.  18.  In  13  the  simple,  definite 
statement  is  made  that  Sennacherib's  invasion  (of  701  B.C.)  fell  in  the  four- 
teenth year  of  Hezekiah,  which  fixes  his  accession  in  715  B.C.  This  date 
was  probably  derived  from  the  early  annals;  but  in  ^  the  editor  states  that 
Hezekiah  began  to  reign  in  the  third  year  of  Hoshea  king  of  Israel  and,  on 
the  basis  of  this  reckoning,  adds  in  l"  that  Samaria  was  captured  in  the 
ninth  year  of  Hoshea  and  in  the  sixth  of  Hezekiah,  which  would  make  the 
date  of  Hezekiah's  accession  727-726  B.C.  The  recently  discovered  additional 
evidence  that  Sennacherib  a  .second  time,  about  (iOO,  invaded  Judah,  while 
Hezekiah  was  still  reigning  (cf.  Appendix  IX),  still  further  establishes  715  B.C. 
as  the  date  of  his  accession ;  for  it  alone  satisfies  the  older  testimony  (II  Kgs. 
18-')  that  he  reigned  twenty-nine  years  (715-29  =  G8G).  This  would  make 
the  reign  of  Manasseh  forty-five  instead  of  the  exceedingly  improbable 
fifty-five  years,  which  the  editor,  or  the  mistaken  reading  of  a  later  scribe, 
assigns  to  liiin  (II  Kgs.  21'). 

By  the  close  of  the  seventh  ceniiiry  n.c.  the  H<'brews  were  so  strongly  in- 
fluenced by  the  .sj»irit  and  chronologic;al  methods  of  the  Assyrians  and  Baby- 

493 


HEBREW  CHRONOLOGY 

lonians  that  from  this  tune  the  Old  Testament  historians  carefully  date 
all  important  events.  During  the  Babylonian  and  Persian  periods  it  is 
indicated  by  the  year  of  the  reigning  king  of  Babylonia  or  Persia.  In 
I  Maccabees  the  prevailing  era  began  in  the  spring  of  312  B.C.  when  the 
Seleucid   Empire  was  established   at  Antioch. 


Ill 

SHISHAK'S   LIST  OF  PALESTINIAN   CITIES 

On  the  southern  wall  of  the  great  temple  at  Karnak  is  found  a  huge  relief 
representing  Shishak  smiting  his  conquered  foes.  Behind  him  are  the 
names  of  a  hundred  and  fifty-six  districts  and  towns  which  he  claims  to 
have  conquered.  A  majority  of  them  may  be  identified  as  towns  of  Pal- 
estine. Many  of  them  are  small  and  unimportant,  but  the  list  as  a  whole 
leaves  little  doubt  that  the  rule  of  Egypt  was  acknowledged  practically 
throughout  Palestine,  while  the  army  of  Shishak  was  present  to  maintain 
the  ancient  title.  The  list  begins  with  the  border  city  of  Gaza,  which  repre- 
sented the  Philistine  cities,  and  then  gives  many  towns  of  Northern  Israel, 
among  which  are  Rabbith,  Taanach,  Shimem,  Rehob,  Hapharaim,  Gibeon, 
Bethhoron,  Aijalon,  Megiddo,  and  east  of  the  Jordan,  Mahanaim  and 
probably  Penuel.  There  is  no  evidence  that  these  towns  were  besieged 
and  captured.  Probably  they  simply  paid  tribute.  It  is  also  significant 
that  most  of  them  are  situated  either  on  the  broad  plain  of  Esdraelon  or 
along  certain  of  the  great  highways  of  Palestine,  and  therefore  most  ex- 
posed to  attack.  The  list  of  Judean  towns  is  longer  and  the  details  suggest 
that  the  conquest  was  more  complete.  Keilah,  Socho,  Ezem,  Arad,  and 
Beth-anoth  are  among  those  mentioned.  The  mutilation  of  the  inscription 
at  the  point  where  it  would  naturally  be  expected  explains  the  absence  of 
the  name  of  Jerusalem. 

IV 

THE   MOABITE   STONE 

In  1868  a  German  missionary,  F.  A.  Klein,  discovered  at  the  ruins  of  an- 
cient Dibon  a  monument  reared  about  825  B.C.  by  Mesha  king  of  Moab  to 
commemorate  his  victories  over  the  Israelites.  It  was  of  black  basalt,  about 
three  and  one-half  feet  high  and  two  feet  in  breadth  and  thickness,  -with 
rounded  top.  Fortunately  in  1869  M.  Clermont-Ganneau,  by  the  use  of  a 
paper  squeeze,  secured  a  rough  impression  of  it,  for  soon  after,  as  a  result 
of  the  eager  efforts  of  several  competing  collectors  to  gain  possession  of  it, 
the  stone  was  broken  in  pieces  by  the  native  Arabs  in  the  hope  of  receiv- 
ing more  profit  from  the  fragments.  Twenty  of  these  were  soon  recovered 
and  put  together  by  the  aid  of  the  earlier  impression  which  had  been  care- 
fully preserved.  It  is  now  deposited  in  the  Louvre  at  Paris,  and  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  words  can  be  completely  read.     The   letters   and  lan- 

494 


THE  MOABITE  STONE 

guage  are  practically  identical  with  those  found  on  the  earliest  Hebrew 
inscriptions.  The  monument  itself  commemorates  the  partial  reconquest 
of  Moab  by  Omri  and  the  steps  by  which  Mesha  later  gradually  threw  off 
the  Israelitish  yoke.  The  religious  ideas  and  the  language  are  closely  par- 
allel to  those  found  in  the  earhest  Old  Testament  narratives. 

MESHA'S  INSCRIPTION 

I  am  INIesha  son  of  Chemosh     .     .     .     king  of  Moab  the  Dibonite.     My  father  Intro- 
was  king  over  Moalj  thirty  years,  and  I  became  king  after  my  father.     And  I  made  <l"c- 
this  high  place  for  Chemosh  in  Karhoh  ( ?y  in  [gratitude  for]''  deliverance,  because  **"" 
he  saved  me  from  all  the  assailants  (.''),  and  because  he  made  me  see  my  desire  upon 
all  those  who  hated  me. 

Omri  was  king  of  Israel  and  he  afflicted  Moab  many  days,  because  Chemosh  was  Omri's 
angry  with  his  land.     And  his  son  succeeded  him;  and  he  also  said,  '  I  will  afflict  Moab.'  rule 
In  my  days  he  said     .     .     .     V)ut  I  saw  my  desire  upon  him  and  upon  his  house,  ^l^l\y 
and  Israel  perished  forever.     Omi'i,  however,  took  possession  of  the  land  of  IMedeba;'' 
and  he  occupied  it  during  his  own  days  and  half  of  his  sons'  days,**  forty  years;  but 
Chemosh  restored  it  in  my  days. 

And  I  fortified  Baal-meon;  and  I  made  in  it  the  reservoir ;■■   and  I  fortified  Kir-  Mesha's 
jathaim.'     And  the  men  of  Gad  had  occupied  the  land  of  Ataroth  from  of  old;  and  '=""" 
the  king  of  Israel  built  Ataroth  for  hmiself.     And  I  fought  against  the  city  and  took  an(Tile- 
it.     And  I  slew  all  the  people;  the  city  [became]  a  gazing-stock  to  Chemosh  and  to  struc- 
Moab.     And  from  there  I  l)rought  the  altar-hearth  of  Dodoh  ( ?) ;«  and  I  dragged  it  *'""  o^ 
before  Chemosh  in  Kerioth;  and  I  caused  the  men  of  Sharon  {?)^  to  dwell  there,  and  [.^{1' 
also  the  men  of     .     .     . 

Then  Chemosh  said  to  me,  'Go  and  take  Nebo  against  Israel.  So  I  went  by  night  Con- 
and  fought  against  it  from  the  break  of  dawn  until  noon,  and  I  took  it  and  slew  tliem  quest 
all — seven  thousand  men  and  women  and  .  .  .  female  slaves — for  I  had  de-  Nebo 
voted  it  to  Ashtar-chemosh.  And  I  took  from  there  the  altar-hearths  ( ?)  of  Jehovah, 
and  dragged  them  before  Chemosh.  And  the  king  of  Israel  had  fortified  Jahaz,'  Capt- 
and  occupied  it  while  he  fought  against  me.  But  Chemosh  drove  him  out  before  me.  V"'?"^ 
I  took  two  hundred  men  of  Moab — all  its  poverty-stricken  citizens — and  I  brought  ''^'^'^ 
them  into  Jahaz  and  took  possession  of  it,  to  add  it  to  Dibon. 

I  fortified  Ivarhoh  (?),  the  wall  of  the  forests''  and  the  wall  of  the  acropolis.'     And  Build- 
I  built  its  gates;  and  I  built  the  royal  palace;  and  I  constructed  the  sluices  of  the  reser-  i"f  ^f 
voir  (?)  for  the  water  in  the  midst  of  the  city.     And  there  was  no  cistern  in  the  midst 
of  tlie  city,  in  Karhoh  ( ?) ;  so  1  said  to  the  people,  '  Each  of  you  make  a  cistern  in  his 
own  house.'     And  I  cut  the  trenches  ( ?)""  for  Karhoh  ( ?)  with  the  help  of  the  prisoners 
of  Israel. 

I  built  Aroer,  and  I  made  the  highway  by  the  Arnon.     I  rebuilt  Beth-bamoth,  for  Be- 
it had  Ix'en  overthrown.     I  rebuilt  Bezer,  for  it  was  in  ruins,  [with  the  help  of]  fifty  l"'j''': 
men  of  Dihoii,  for  all  Dibon  was  obedient.     And  I  reigned  over  a  hundred  [chiefs]  (?)  (,t^,Ji. 

ill  the  cities  wjiicli  1  added  to  the  land.     And  I  built  Medeba  and  Beth-diblathaim  Moub- 

ite 

cities 

"  It  is  not  certain  what  vowels  are  to  be  supplied  with  the  consonants  in  the  text.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  the  place  was  identical  with  the  Karhu  mentioned  in  the  Karnaklist 
of  Haincses  II. 

''  J'iilinK  the  lacuna  according  to  the  implication  of  the  context. 

«(;f.  Num.  21-<",  Josh.  V.i'',  Is.   15-'.      In  the  text  the  form  is,  Mehedcha. 

<i  Omri  reigned  eighteen  and,  according  to  Kgs.,  his  sons  thirty-six  years.  The  round 
number,  Jortu,  represents  the  thirty-six  of  the  Heb. 

■••  Or,  pit. 

'Cf.  Gen.  14'',  .Jer.  48'. 

«  Heb.,  David.  Amariia  letters,  Dudu.     It  is  probably  the  name  of  a  local  god. 

•'  Cf.  I  Chr.  .5'". 

i  Cf.  for  the  siinilar  Heb.  customs,  Num.  2V-  3,  .losh,  6"-'«,  Dt.  2*',  3". 

iff.  Num.  21-'',   Dt.  2^'-',  Is.   \ry\  .Jer.  48'-''. 

^  Perhaps  the  wall  that  ran  beside  the  royal  park. 

1  Heb..  opiirl  or  hill.     Cf.  Is.  :52",  Neh.  3". 

"""  Lit.,  the  cuUiinja  of  some  kind. 

495 


MESHA'S  INSCRIPTION 

and  Beth-baal-meon.     And  there  I  placed  [those  who  bred  the  small]  (?)  sheep  of 

the  land. 
Sue-  And  at  Horonaim"  dwelt  the"     .     .     .     And  Chemosh  said  to  me,  Go  down,  fight 

cessful    against  Horonaim;   so  I  went  down  [and  fought  against  the  city  many  days,  and] 
the^  '"^    Chemosh  [restored  it]p  in  my  days     .     .     . 
south 


THE  WESTERN  CAMPAIGNS  OF  SHALINIANESER  II 

During  a  long  reign  of  twenty -five  years  (88j-860  b.c),  Ashurna9irpal  III 
succeeded  in  thoroughly  organizing  the  Assyrian  Empire,  and  by  a  series 
of  energetic  campaigns  in  the  East,  North,  and  West  made  it  the  dominant 
world-power  of  the  age.  For  a  century  his  descendants  held  the  throne  of 
Assyria  and  maintained  its  supremacy.  His  son  Shalmaneser  II  reigned 
for  thirty-five  years,  and  by  the  same  unwearied  military  activity  still  further 
expanded  the  boundaries  of  the  large  empire.  One  monument  alone  records 
thirty-three  different  campaigns.  In  854  B.C.  he  first  turned  his  armies 
toward  Southern  Syria,  and  from  this  time  fon\-ard  for  the  next  two  cen- 
turies Assyria  became  the  most  important  factor  in  Hebrew  history.  In 
succession  the  three  leading  states  of  Syria,  Hamath,  Damascus,  and  Israel 
contested  its  irresistible  advance  and,  weakened  by  their  wars  with  each 
other,  fell  in  turn  a  prey  to  its  conquering  armies. 

At  first  they  laid  aside  their  antagonisms  and  fought  together  at  Karkar 
on  the  Orontes,  twenty  miles  north  of  Hamath,  an  important  battle  in  which 
Shalmaneser  claims  the  victory,  but  the  fact  that  he  soon  retired  without 
imposing  tribute  on  the  local  kingdoms  indicates  that  the  result  was  far  from 
decisive.  His  record  of  the  campaign  is  found  on  a  monolith  now  in  the 
British  Museum.  It  is  dated  in  the  sixth  year  of  his  reign.  After  telling  of 
his  march  to  the  Euphrates  and  of  the  tribute  presented  by  the  north  Syrian 
states,  he  adds  (lines  9"b-i02).a 

From  Halman  (Aleppo)  I  departed;  to  the  two  cities  of  Irhulini  of  Hamath  I  drew 
near.  Adinnu,  IMashga,  Argana,  his  royal  cities  I  conquered.  His  spoil,  his  goods, 
the  possessions  of  his  palaces  I  brought  forth ;  to  his  palaces  I  set  fire.  From  Argana 
I  departed;  to  Karkar  I  drew  near.  Karkar  his  royal  city,  I  laid  waste,  I  destroyed, 
I  burned  with  fire,  1,'200  chariots,  1,200  horsemen,  20,000  men  of  Dad'idri  (Hada- 
dezer,  Ben-hadad  II),  of  Damascus;  700  chariots,  700  horsemen,  10,000  soldiers  of 
Irhulini  of  Hamath;  2,000  chariots,  10,000  soldiers  of  Ahab  of  Israel;  500  soldiers  of 
Guai,"^  10,000  soldiers  of  the  land  of  Mu^ri;  10  chariots,  10,000  soldiers  of  the  land  of 
Irkanat;  200  soldiers  of  ]\Iatinu-baal,  (]\Iattan-baal)  of  Arvad;  200  soldiers  of  the  land 
of  Usanata;  30  chariots,  10,000  soldiers  of  Adnu-bali  (Adoni-baal)  of  Shiana;  1,000 
camels  of  Gindibu  of  Arba  .  .  .  1,000  soldiers  of  the  Ammonite,  Basa  son  of 
Ruhubi  (Rehob);  these  twelve  kings  he  (i.e.,  Irkanat)  took  to  help  him;  for  battle 
and  combat  they  advanced  against  me.    With  the  exalted  succor,  which  Asshur,  the 

"  Cf.  Is.   155,  Jer.   48^-5. 

"  The  end  of  the  inscription  is  badly  mutilated. 

p  Restoring  the  text  in  accordance  with  the  preceding  idioms,  supported  by  two  surv-iving 
letters. 

^  Cf.  Schrader  KB  Pt.  I,  Vol.  I,  177-7.5;  Burney  NHTBK  375-77;  Hogarth  AA  93. 

•>  This  is  probably  identical  with  the  Kue  mentioned  in  I  Kgs.  ICF^,  together  with  Mu9ri. 
It  included  the  plain  of  Cilicia. 

496 


CAINIPAIGNS  OF  SHALMANESER  II 

lord,  rendered,  with  the  migiity  power,  which  Nergal,  wlio  marched  before  me,  be- 
stowed, 1  fought  with  them;  from  Karkar  toCiilzan,  I  effected  their  defeat;  14,000  of 
their  troops  with  weapons  I  slew;  Hke  Adar  (the  storm-god)  I  rained  down  a  flood 
upon  them;  I  scattered  their  corpses;  the  surface  of  the  wiklerness  (?)  1  fihed  with 
their  many  troops,  with  weapons  I  caused  tlieir  blood  to  flow.  ...  I  took  pos- 
session of  the  River  Orontes.  In  the  midst  of  that  battle  1  captured  their  chariots, 
their  horsemen  and  their  teams. 

During  the  lifetime  of  Ahab,  Israel  escaped  Assyrian  attack,  but  in  849  B.C. 
and  aeain  in  846  Shalmaneser  II  fought  other  indecisive  battles  with  the 
Syrian  allies.  By  843-842,  however,  Ben-hadad  II  of  Damascus  had  been 
murdered  bv  Hazael  and  the  house  of  Omri  had  been  overturned  by  Jehu. 
In  his  annals  (lines  9~b-99b)  and  more  fully  in  another  inscription  from 
Kalah  (Unes  ^"26)  Shalmaneser  describes  his  campaign  in  842  B.C.  against 
Hazael : 

In  the  eighteenth  year  of  my  reign  for  the  sixteenth  time  I  crossed  the  Euphrates. 
Hazael  of  Damascus  trusted  in  the  multitude  of  his  troops  and  assembled  his  in- 
numerable hosts.  Senir,<*  a  mountain  peak  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lebanon,  he  made 
his  stronghold.  I  fought  with  him,  I  accomplished  his  defeat,  6,000  of  his  soldiers 
I  slew  with  weapons;  1,121  of  his  chariots,  470  of  his  horsemen,  together  with  his  stores, 
I  took  from  him.  To  save  his  life,  he  retreated.  I  pursued  after  hun.  In  Damascus, 
his  royal  city,  I  besieged  him;  his  plantations  I  cut  down.  To  the  mountains  of 
Hauran  I  went;  innumerable  cities  I  destroyed,  I  laid  waste,  I  burned  with  fire.  Their 
prisoners  without  number  I  carried  off.  I  went  as  far  as  the  mountains  of  the  range 
Bali-rasi  (Ba<^l-rosh)^  a  promontory,  I  went;  there  I  set  up  my  royal  image.  At  that 
time  I  received  the  tribute  of  the  Tyrians,  of  the  Sidonians,  and  of  Jehu  the  son  of 
Omri. 

On  the  famous  black  obelisk  containing  the  annals  of  Shalmaneser  II's 
reign  the  tribute  which  Jehu  probably  paid  to  secure  the  support  of  Assyria 
is  again  mentioned: 

Tribute  of  Jehu  son  of  Omri:  silver,  gold,  a  golden  bowl,  golden  goblets,  a  golden 
ladle,  golden  pitchers,  bars  of  lead,  a  staff  for  the  hand  of  the  king,  spear-shafts,  I 
received  from  him. 

Again  in  839  B.C.  he  laid  his  heavy  hand  on  Syria.  The  record  is  found 
in  the  annals: 

In  the  twenty-first  year  of  my  reign  I  crossed  the  Euphrates  for  the  twenty-first 
time.  I  went  against  the  cities  of  Hazael  of  Damascus.  Four  of  his  cities  I  captured. 
I  received  the  tribute  of  the  Tyrians,  the  Sidonians,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Byblus. 

VI 

TIGLATH-PILESER  IIl'S  CONQUESTS  IN  PALESTINE 

For  nearly  half  a  century  after  the  death  of  Shalmaneser  II  there  were 
no  important  Assyrian  campaigns  in  Palestine.  In  his  review  of  his  reign, 
Adadnirari  (812-783  h*  ,)  r  laims  to  have  subjected  to  his  yoke,  Tyre,  Sidon, 

"Or,  dammed.     The  meaninpr  of  the  Assyrian  idiom  is  doulitful 

<1  f'f   Dt    3'',  where  Senir  is  iflentified  as  the  Amorite  name  of  Mt.  ITermon. 

•  Probably  the  famous  headland  at  the  mouth  of  the  Dog  Kiver  north  of  Beirut. 

4-97 


TIGLATH-PILESER  Ill's  CONQUESTS  IN  PALESTINE 

the  land  of  Omri,  Edom,  and  Philistia,  and  to  have  imposed  upon  these 
states  the  payment  of  tribute.  About  800  B.C.  he  also  forced  Damascus  to 
submit.  The  other  peoples  probably  anticipated  attack  by  at  once  acknowl- 
edging the  rule  of  Assyria. 

During  the  first  half  of  the  eighth  century  b.c.  the  Assyrian  kings  were 
again  occupied  with  problems  nearer  home.  The  accession  of  Tiglath- 
Pileser  III  (known  in  the  biblical  records  by  his  private  name  Phul  or  Pul), 
in  745  inaugurated  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  Assyrian  conquests  in  Pal- 
estine. The  years  742-740  were  spent  in  subjugating  Arpad  in  the  north. 
The  conquest  of  Hamath,  which  soon  followed,  is  also  recorded: 

Nineteen  districts  of  the  city  of  Hamath,  together  with  their  surrounding  towns, 
which  are  by  the  western  sea,  which  in  their  faithlessness  had  revolted  to  Azriyau 
(Azariah),  I  annexed  to  the  territory  of  Assyria.  My  officers  as  prefects  I  appointed 
over  them. 

The  Azariah  mentioned  is  probably  the  Azariah  or  Uzziah  of  Judah, 
whose  energetic  policy  and  ability  may  well  explain  why  he  had  become  the 
head  of  the  coalition  that  opposed  the  Assyrian  advance.  The  name,  how- 
ever, is  a  common  one,  so  that  the  identification  is  not  absolutely  assured. 
In  738  B.C.  Rezon  of  Damascus,  Menahem  of  Israel  and  the  other  Pales- 
tinian rulers  paid  homage  to  the  Assyrian  king,  but  there  is  no  evidence 
that  he  invaded  their  territory. 

The  great  Palestinian  campaign  of  Tiglath-Pileser  was  in  734  b.c.  Its 
effect  upon  the  politics  of  Israel  and  Judah  is  fully  recorded  in  the  Old 
Testament.  Unfortunately  the  Assyrian  record  is  badly  mutilated.  The 
fragments,  however,  are  important.  They  state  that  certain  cities  and 
territory  in  the  northern  part  of  Israel  were  annexed  to  Assyria,  and  add: 

Hanno  of  Gaza,  who  fled  before  my  arms,  escaped  to  the  land  of  Egypt.  Gaza 
[I  captured] ;  his  possessions  and  his  gods  I  carried  away,  and  I  set  up  my  royal  statue. 
.  .  .  The  land  of  the  house  of  Omri  ...  the  whole  of  its  iiihabitants,  to- 
gether with  their  possessions  I  deported  to  Assyria.  Pekah,  their  king,  I  slew.  Hoshea 
I  appointed  over  them.  Ten  [talents  of  gold,  1,000  talents  of  silver]  .  .  .  I  re- 
ceived from  them. 

Another  inscription  contains  the  additional  information  that,  together 
with  certain  northern  princes,  '  Sanibu  of  Amnion,  Salaman  of  Moab, 
Mitinti  of  Ashkelon,  Jauhazi  (Ahaz)  of  Judah,  Kaushmelek  of  Edom  and 
Hanno  of  Gaza,'  in  728  B.C.  paid  tribute  to  Tiglath-Pileser.  Meantime, 
after  a  siege  of  two  years,  Damascus  was  finally  conquered  and  its  power 
broken  so  that  the  rule  of  Assyria  was  established  along  the  eastern  Medi- 
terranean. 

VII 

SARGON'S  CAPTURE  OF  SAISIARIA 

In  724  B.C.  Hoshea,  encouraged  by  the  king  of  Egypt,  revolted  against 
Assyria.  Shalmaneser  IV  died  before  the  three  years'  siege  of  Samaria 
was  ended,  so  that  the  record  of  its  capture  in  722-721  is  found  at  the  begui- 
ning  of  the  annals  of  his  successor,  Sargon: 

498 


SARGON'S  CAPTURE  OF  SAMARIA 

In  the  beginning  of  my  reign  and  in  the  first  year  of  my  rule  ...  I  liesieged 
Samaria  and  conquered  it."  ...  Twenty-seven  thousand,  two  hundred  and  ninety 
of  its  inhabitants  I  carried  into  captivity;  fifty  of  their  cliariots  I  carried  away  from 
there  [to  add  to]  my  royal  fighting  force.''  ...  I  restored  it  again  and  gave  it 
more  population  than  formerly.  I  settled  there  people  from  the  lands  tiiat  I  had 
conquered.  I  appointed  my  officers  as  governors  over  them.  Tribute  and  customs, 
like  tliose  of  the  .Assyrians,  I  imposed  upon  them. 

VIII 

THE  SILOAM  INSCRIPTION 

In  1880  on  an  artificial  limestone  tablet,  cut  in  the  rock  at  the  entrance 
of  the  Pool  of  Siloam  on  the  south  of  the  temple-hill  at  Jerusalem,  a  brief 
inscription  was  accidentally  discovered  which  is  known  as  the  Siloam  in- 
scrijition.  The  Pool  of  Siloam  is  the  eastern  outlet  of  a  rock-cut  channel 
about  1,750  feet  in  length,  which  runs  from  the  Virgin's  Fount  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  southern  extension  of  the  temple-hill,  under  this  ridge  of  rock, 
to  the  T>Topcpon  Valley  on  the  west.  Cf.  maps  opp.  pp.  193  and  349.  The 
inscription  records  the  construction  of  this  remarkable  piece  of  ancient 
engineering,  which  is  generally  attributed  to  the  reign  of  Ilezekiah.  Cf. 
II  Kgs.  2020,  ij  ciir  3230  ^^^1  to  the  Moabite  stone  it  is  the  oldest-  in- 
scription in  the  language  and  writing  of  the  Hebrews  thus  far  discovered  with 
the  possible  exception  of  a  few  words  on  seals  and  jars.  It  is  published  in 
Cooke,  North-semitic  Inscri ptions,  pp.  15-17;  Lidzbarski,  Nordsemit  epigr.,  p. 
439 ;  Driver,  Notes  on  the  Books  of  Samuel,  p.  16.    The  translation  is  as  follows : 

[Behold]  the  piercing  through!  And  this  was  the  manner  of  the  piercing  through, 
while  yet  [the  stone-cutters  were  lifting  up]  the  pick,  each  toward  his  fellow,  and 
while  yet  there  were  three  cubits  to  be  [cut  tlirough,  there  was  hearil]  the  voice  of  each 
calling  to  his  fellow,  for  there  was  a  fissure  {.'')  m  the  rock  on  the  right  hand.  .  .  . 
And  on  the  day  of  the  piercing  through,  the  stone-cutters  (lit.,  hewers)  each  smote, 
so  as  to  meet  his  fellow,  pick  against  pick.  And  the  water  flowed  from  the  source 
to  the  pool,  1,200  cubits;  and  the  height  of  the  rock  above  the  stone-cutters  was  one 
hundred  cubits. 

Detailed  explorations  of  the  tunnel  by  Warren  and  Conder  have  revealed 
the  two  shafts  which  penetrate  the  rock  from  either  side  and  nearly  meet 
in  the  centre.  The  slight  variation  in  direction  is  corrected  by  a  connecting 
shaft  precisely  as  described  by  the  inscription.  The  water  also  still  flows 
through  it,  as  it  did  in  early  times,  from  the  perennial  spring  outside  the 
walls  to  a  point  inside  the  ancient  city. 

IX 

SENNACHERIB'S  INVASIONS  OF  JUDAH 

In  711  B.C.  Judah  was  partially  involved  in  the  rebellion  of  the  Philistine 
city  of  Ashdod  against  Assyria.  Sargon  also  mentions  Moab  and  Kdom 
as  parties  in  the  rebellion.     The  judgment,  however,  fell  chiefly  upon  Ashdod 

•  Three  lines  are  lackinK  at  this  point. 

*>  A  parallel  version  states,  /  allowed  the  rest  of  them  to  retain  their  posaeaaiona. 

499 


SENNACHERIB'S  INVASIONS  OF  JUDAH 

and  Judah's  submission  was  accepted.  But  the  spirit  of  revolt  continued 
to  smoulder  in  Judah  and  blazed  into  a  flame  in  705  B.C.  when  Sargon  died 
and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sennacherib.  For  the  first  three  years  he 
was  occupied  in  Babylon  and  the  East.  Under  the  leadership  of  Sidon  in 
the  north  and  Askelon  and  Ekron  in  the  south,  most  of  the  states  of  Pales- 
tine were  bound  together  in  a  coalition  against  Assyria.  Egypt  also  sup- 
ported the  rebels,  and  in  Judah  the  Egyptian  party  gained  the  ascendancy, 
notwithstanding  the  impassioned  protests  of  Isaiah.  Cf.  Vol.  Ill  in  loco. 
Two  well-preserved  duplicate  versions  of  Sennacherib's  account  of  his 
early  campaign  in  701  b.c.  are  preserved  in  the  British  Museum.  The 
references  to  Judah  are  found  in  the  Taylor  Cylinder,  Col.  II,  34-III,  41. 
The  king  first  tells  of  the  subjugation  of  the  northern  coast  towns,  Sidon, 
Zarepta,  Achzib,  and  Accho.  Menahem  of  Samsimuruna,  Tubalu  of  Sidon, 
Abdiliti  of  Arvad,  Urumilki  of  Gebal,  Mitinti  of  Ashdod,  Buduilu  of  Ammon, 
Chemoshnadab  of  Moab,  Malikram  of  Edom  brought  him  tribute  and  took 
the  oath  of  fealty.  The  rebellious  king  of  Askelon,  Zedek,  was  carried 
away  captive,  together  with  his  family  and  retainers,  to  Assyria,  and  Shar- 
ruludari  son  of  Rukibti,  the  former  king,  was  placed  over  the  people  of 
Askelon.     The  narrative  adds: 

Defeat        In  the  course  of  my  campaign,  Beth-dagon,  Joppa,  Bene-barak  and  Azuru,  the 
of  the     cities  of  Zedek,  which  had  not  quickly  submitted  to  my  rule,  I  besieged,  conquered, 
ites^aml  carried  off  their  spoil.     The  leaders,  nobles,  and  people  of  Ekron,  who  had  cast  Padi 
their        (their  king  by  virtue  of  oath  and  covenant  with  Assyria)  into  iron  chains,  and  had 
^-JJjes  at  delivered  him  to  Hezekiah  of  Judah,  who  had  imprisoned  him  in  darkness — their 
iih'^     heart  trembled.     They  smumoned  the  kings  of  Egypt,  the  archers,  the  chariots,  the 
65-83)    horses   of   the   king   of  Miluhhi,  forces  innmnerable,  and  they  came  to   their  aid. 
Before  Eltekeh  they  drew  up  in  battle  array  against  me;  they  raised  their  weapons. 
In  reliance  upon  Asshur,  my  lord,  I  fought  with  them  and  effected  their  defeat.     The 
commander  of  the  chariots  and  the  sons  of  the  king  of  Egypt,  together  with  the  com- 
mander of  the  chariots  of  the  king  of  Miluhhi  I  myself  took  alive  as  prisoners  in  the 
midst  of  the  battle.     Eletkeh  and  Timnath  I  attacked,  conquered,  and  carried  off 
their  spoil. 
Their  I  advanced  upon  Ekron,  and  the  chief  officers,  the  magistrates,  who  had  offended, 

punish-  I  slew,  and  on  stakes  about  the  city  I  impaled  their  corpses.  I  coimted  as  prisoners 
amfthe  ^he  inhabitants  of  the  town  who  had  done  evil  and  mischief.  To  the  rest  of  them, 
rein-  who  had  not  practised  wickedness  and  misdeeds,  who  had  not  shared  in  their  crime, 
state-  I  proclaimed  amnesty.  I  brought  Padi  their  king  from  Jerusalem  and  installed  him 
Pa/u  "  o'^  the  throne  of  his  sovereignty  over  them.  The  tribute  of  my  sovereignty  I  imposed 
(III,        upon  him. 

1-1  la)  13 ^t  Hezekiah  of  Judah  who  had  not  submitted  to  my  yoke,  forty-six  of  his  fortified 
Con-  towns,  together  with  the  innimierable  fortresses  and  small  towns  in  their  neighborhood, 
quest  with  assault  and  battering-rams  and  approach  of  siege-engines,  with  the  attack  of 
cities^  infantry,  of  mines  ...  I  besieged  and  captured.  Two  hundred  thousand,  one 
of  Ju-  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  young  and  old,  male  and  female,  horses,  mules,  asses,  camels, 
f|^h         oxen  and  sheep,  without  number,  from  their  midst  I  brought  out  and  counted  them 

lib-       ^^  spoil. 

20a)  I  shut  him  up  like  a  bird  in  a  cage  in  the  midst  of  Jerusalem,  his  royal  city.     I 

Siege  of  erected  fortifications  against  him  and  those  coming  forth  from  the  gates  of  his  city  I 
Jerusa-  turned  back.     His  cities  which  I  had  plimdered  I  cut  off  from  his  domain,  and  gave 
(in,        them  to  Mitinti  king  of  Ashdod,  to  Padi  king  of  Ekron,  and  to  Zilbil  king  of  Gaza 
20b-       and  I  diminished  his  territory.     To  the  former  payment  of  their  yearly  tribute,  the 
33)  tribute  of  subjection  to  my  sovereignty  I  added  and  laid  it  upon  them.     The  terror 

of  the  glory  of  my  lordship  overwhelmed  Hezekiah  himself,  and  the  Arabians  and 

500 


THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  701   B.C. 

his  trusted  soldiers,  ^\llo^n  he  had  introduced  for  the  defence  of  Jerusalem,  his  royal 
city,  laid  down  their  arms. 

Together  with  thirty  talents  of  gold  and  eight  huiulrwl  talents  of  silver,  I  caused  Spoil 
to  be  brought  after  me  to  Nineveh,  my  royal  city,  precious  stones,  sparkling     .     .     .  ^^'^ 
stones,  great  lapislazuli  stones,  couches  of  ivory,  thrones  of  state  of  elephant  skins  tjvgg 
and  ivory,     .     .     .     wood,  whatever  there  was,  an  enormous  treasure,  and  his  daugh-  from 
ters,  the  women  of  his  jxilace,  his  male  and  female  servants  (?);  and  for  the  payment  Jerusa- 
of  tribute  and  the  rendering  of  homage  he  despatched  his  envoy.  (HI 

34-41) 

The  event  here  recorded  is  evidently  the  same  as  tlie  one  referred  to  in 
II  Kgs.  IS^"^"^*^.  The  exact  historical  background  of  the  narratives  in 
18^"-2037  is  not  so  clear.  They  are  usually  assigned  to  the  days  imme- 
diately following  Hezekiah's  surrender,  on  the  assumption  tliat  Sennacherib, 
while  at  Lachish  and  before  departing  for  Egypt,  ilemanded  the  uncon- 
ditional surrender  of  Jerusalem.  But  the  implication  of  IS^'^'i*^,  as  well  as 
of  Sennacherib's  inscription,  is  that  Hezekiah  had  already  yielded  every- 
thinsr.  The  reference  in  19'^*^'  ^"  to  the  murder  of  Sennacherib  connects 
the  preceding  events,  not  with  the  beginning  of  his  reign  in  701,  but  with 
its  close  twenty  years  later.  Furthermore  Tirhakah,  whose  expedition  is 
mentioned  in  19" "9,  does  not  appear  to  have  become  master  of  Egypt  until 
about  691  B.C.  A  fragmentarv  text  recently  discovered  bv  the  French 
Assyriologist  P.  V.  Scheil  is  claimed  to  furnish  direct  proof  of  a  long- 
suspected  western  campaign  of  Sennacherib  between  691  and  689  B.C.  (Cf.  O. 
Weber,  Sanherih  in  Das  Orient,  3,  1905.)  From  this  and  the  statement  in 
Esarhaddon's  inscription  that  Sennacherib  captured  Adumu,  an  Arabian 
fortress,  it  would  appear  reasonably  certain  that  during  the  last  decade 
of  his  reign  he  made  a  serious  endeavor  to  bring  into  complete  subjection 
the  rebellious  states  along  the  eastern  ^lediterranean,  including  the  neigh- 
boring Arabian  tribes,  as  a  preliminary  to  the  conquest  of  Egypt.  It  is  also 
significant  that  the  Egyptian  tradition  regarding  his  invasion,  which  is  re- 
counted by  Herodotus,  styles  him,  the  king  of  the  Arabians  and  the  Assi/rian-s. 
The  invaders  are  also  called,  the  Arabian  host.  This  would  confirm  the  in- 
ference drawn  from  tlie  inscriptions  that  the  conquest  of  northern  Arabia 
immediately  preceded  the  invasion  of  Egypt.  Naturally  Sennacherib  would 
be  desirous  of  having  Jerusalem  com[)lctely  in  his  control,  and  yet  would 
be  loath  to  take  the  time  re<iuired  for  its  caj)ture  by  siege.  The  situation 
meets  fully  the  conditions  implied  by  the  narratives  in  II  Kgs.  18i'-19-^''. 

The  absence  of  detailed  As.syrian  records  of  this  cainf)aign  may  well  be 
due  to  the  disastrous  outcome.  Herodotus  states  that  while  the  Egyptian 
army  lay  at  Pelusium  on  the  borders  of  Egypt  opj^osite  the  invading  host, 

there  came  in  the  night  a  mulliliule  of  field  mice,  wliic-h  devoured  all  the  f|uivers  and 
l)ow-strings  of  the  enemy  and  ate  the  tliongs  by  which  tliey  managed  their  siiields. 
Ne.vt  morning  they  commenced  their  fliglit,  and  great  multitudes  fell,  as  tliey  had 
no  arms  with  wliich  to  defend  themselves.  There  stands  to-day  in  the  temi)le  of 
Vulcan  a  stone  st^itue  of  Setlios,  with  a  mouse  in  his  hand,  and  an  inscription  to  this 
effect,  Look  on  me  and  learn  to  reverence  the  gtxls. 

When  it  is  recallccl  that  the  mouse  was  the  ancient  svinbol  of  |)cstilence 
(cf.  §  4),  it  is  clear  Ihat  the  Egy|)tian  tradition  and  ihe  lldirew  narratives  in 

.'■)()  1 


SENNACHEIB'S  INVASION  OF  JUDAH 

I  Kgs.  1935  both  reflect  the  same  story.  Both  suggest  that  on  the  borders  c 
Egypt,  the  home  of  contagions,  the  Assyrian  army  was  overtaken  by  a  virulent 
plague  which  forced  them  to  retreat,  and  that  the  unexpected  deliverance 
was  attributed  by  Hebrews  and  Egyptians  alike  to  divine  interposition. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Babylonian  Chronicle  indicates  that  a  rebellion  in 
Babylon  made  Sennacherib's  presence  in  the  East  about  690  B.C.  absolutely 
necessary,  and  in  this  fact  is  doubtless  one,  if  not  the  chief  reason,  for  his 
sudden  abandonment  of  the  Egj^Dtian  campaign.  These  conclusions  remove 
the  many  difficulties  connected  with  the  earlier  dating  of  the  incidents  re- 
corded in  II  Kgs.  181^-19^'^  and  accord  with  the  oldest  chronological  data. 
Cf.  Appendix  II.  For  recent  discussions  of  these  problems,  cf.  Nagel,  Zug 
des  Sanherib  gecjen  Jerusalem,  1903;  PraSek,  Sanherib's  Feldzug  gegen  Juda, 
1903;  Weber,  Sanherib  Konig  von  Assyrien,  705-681,  1905. 


THE  BABYLONIAN  CHRONICLE  (B) 

Fragments  of  four  distinct  Babylonian  chronicles  have  been  discovered, 
which  record  in  brief  annalistic  form  the  events  of  as  many  different  periods. 
The  longest  and  best  preserved  is  the  Babylonian  Chronicle  (B),  a  tablet 
containing  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  lines,  and  dated  in  the  twenty- 
second  year  of  Darius  I.  It  chronicles  the  chief  events  of  the  history  of 
Babylonia  and  Assyria  from  the  days  of  Tiglath-Pileser  III  through  the  reign 
of  Ashurbanipal,  covering  the  period  of  over  a  century  when  Assyrian  history 
touched  that  of  the  Hebrews  most  closely.  Not  only  is  this  chronicle  of  great 
historical  value,  but  it  also  suggests  the  nature  of  the  state  annals  and  the  later 
royal  chronicles  of  Israel  and  Judali  from  which  the  oldest  data  in  the  books 
of  Kings  were  ultimately  derived.  The  formulas  of  the  editor  of  these 
books  are  also  closely  parallel  to  those  in  the  Babylonian  Chronicle. 

The  Babylonian  Chronicle  (B)  has  been  published  by  Pinches  in  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Societi/  of  Biblical  Archoeologij,  VI,  pp.  193  ff.;  by  Winckler, 
in  Zeitschrift  filr  Assijriologie,  II,  pp.  148  ff.,  and  in  Schrader  KB,  II,  pp. 
274-85.  The  following  extracts  from  the  most  important  section  illustrate 
the  general  character  of  this  remarkable  document: 

In  the  third  year  of  Nabonassar  king  of  Babylon,  Tiglath-Pileser  (III)  mounted 
the  throne.  In  the  same  year  he  invaded  Babylonia  and  plundered  the  cities  Rapiku 
and  Hamranu.     He  carried  away  the  gods  of  Shapazza. 

During  the  reign  of  Nabonassar,  Borsippa  rebelled  against  Babylon.     (The  sue-  Events 
cessful  battle  which  Nabonassar  fought  against  Borsippa  is  not  mentioned.)"     In  '^ 

^ Nabonassar's  fifth  year  Ummanigash  mounted  the  throne  of  Elam.     In  the  fourteenth  ntSsai-'s 

(1, 1-5)  year  Nabonassar  fell  sick  and  died  in  his  palace.     Nabonassar  reigned  fourteen  years  in  reign 

Babylon.     Nadinu  his  son  mounted  the  throne  of  Babylon.  (1,6-13] 

"  This  is  e^^dently  a  note  from  the  editor  of  the  Chronicle  calHng  attention  to  an  important 
fact  which  the  earlier  source  or  annals,  from  which  he  compiled  his  data,  failed  to  mention. 
This  reference  is  exceedingly  suggestive. 

502 


THE  BABYLONIAN  CHRONICLE 

Reign  In  the  second  year  Nadinii  was  killed  in  a  rebellion.  Two  years  Nadinu  reigned 
^"w  '^f"  in  Babylon.  Shuinukin,  a  governor  of  a  province,  who  led  the  revolt,  moinited  the 
ffon'of"  throne.  Two  months,  .  .  .  days  Shuinukin  reigned  in  Uabylon.  Ukinzir  .  .  . 
Nadinu  seized  the  throne. 

(!■    ^  In  the  third  year  of  Ukinzir,  Tiglath-Pileser  invaded  IJabylonia,  laid  waste  Bit- 

-pj"**^    Amidvani,   and  took   Ukinzir  captive.     Three  years   Ukinzir   reigned  in  Babylonia. 
latli-       Tiglath-Pileser  mounted  the  throne  of  Babylon.     In  the  second  year  of  Tiglath- 
Pileser    Pileser,  in  tlie  month  Tebet  he  died.     .     .     .     years  Tiglath-l'iU'ser  reigned  in  Bab- 
rule  of    yhmia  and  Assyria,  two  years  he  reigned  as  the  estidjlished  ruler  of  Babylonia. 
Bab-  On  the  twenty-fiftli  of  Tebet,  Shahnaneser  mounted  the  throne  of  Assyria.     The  Reign 

ylonia     city  of  Shabarain  was  destroyed.     In  the  fifth  year  of  his  reign,  in  the  month  Tebet,  °| 
jg'_9gs    Shahnaneser  died.     Shalmaneser  reigned  five  years  in  Babylonia  and  AssjTia.  maii- 

Reign         ^"  *^^^  twenty-second  of  Tebet,  Sargon  mounted  the  throne  of  Assyria.     In  Nisan  eser 
ofSar-    Merodach-Baladan  mounted  the  throne  of  Balnlonia.     In  the  second  year  of  Mero-  J,^_^J>\ 
gon  and  dach-Baladan,  Ummanigash  king  of  Elam  in  the  province  of  Durilu  fought  a  successful  "' 
Elam-     '•'ittle  against  Sargon  king  of  Assyria.     He  devastated  Assyria  and  slew  many.     IMero- 
ite  in-    dach-Baladan  and  his  people,  who  had  come  to  the  help  of  the  king  of  Elam,  did 
vasion     not  arrive  in  time  for  the  battle  and  foHowed  (?)  after  him. 

31-37)        ^'^  *''^  twelfth  year  of  ]\Ierodach-Baladan,  Sargon  invaded  Babylonia  and  fought  a  Sar- 
successful  battle  against  Merodach-Baladan.     Merodach-Baladan  at  the  head  of  his  goii's 
nobles  fled  to  Elam.      Merodach-Baladan   reigned  twelve  years  in  Elam.      Sargon  quest 
seated  himself  on  the  throne  of  Elam.     In  his  thirteenth  year  Sargon  seized  the  land  of 
of  Bel  and  conquered  Dur-Jakin.     In  his  fourteenth  year  the  king  remained  in  the  ^\^^'. 
land  [of  Babylon].     In  the  fifteenth  year,  on  the  twenty-second  of  Tcshrit,  the  gods  ^nd 
of  the  coast-lands  came  back  to  their  place     .     .     .     was  established  in  Assyria.     In  i'.lam 
his  sLxteenth  vear  Sargon  marched  to  Tabal.  (11,1-9) 


't>^ 


Lines  10-18  are  lackintij,  and  19-23  appear  to  have  recorded  another 
attempt  of  Merodach-Baladan  to  seize  the  throne  of  Babylonia  while  Sen- 
nacherib was  king  of  Assyria.  Finally,  Belibni  became  king  of  Babylonia. 
The  narrative  is  again  well  preserved: 

In  the  first  year  of   Belibni,  Sennacherib  destroyed  Hirimma  and  Hararatu.     In  Sen- 
the  third  year  of  Belibni  Sennacherib  invaded  Babylonia  and  plundered  Babylonia,  nache- 
Belibni  and  his  noljles  were  carried  away  to  Assyria.     Three  years  Belibni  had  ruled  recon- 
in  Babylon.     Sennacherib  placed  Ashur-nadin-shum  his  son  on  the  throne  in  Babylon,  quest 

of 

Bab- 
^  ylonia 

XI  24-31) 

CONTEMPORARY   ACCOUNTS   OF  THE   CONQUEST   OF 

BABYLON  BY  CYRUS 

The  late  biblical  narrative  regarding  the  conquest  of  Babylon  by  Cyrus 
is  richly  supplemented  by  contemporary  inscriptions.  The  brief  historical 
record  is  found  in  the  chronicle  of  Nabuna'id  and  Cyrus  or,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  the  Annalistlc  Tablet  of  Cyrus.  It  chjsely  resembles  the  Babylonian 
Chronicle.  The  first  part  is  broken.  The  chief  recorde<l  event  of  the 
sixth  year  of  Nabuna'id,  the  last  king  of  Babylonia,  was  the  revolt  of  the 
troops  of  .V.styages,  who  delivered  their  king  into  llic  hands  of  Cyrus  the  king 
of  .\rislian.  Cyrus  then  attacked  and  captunvl  l-lcbatana,  thus  laying  the 
foundations  of  the  Persian  empire.  In  llie  ninth  year,  it  is  recorded  that 
Cyrus  king  of  Persia  collected  his  troops  and  crossed  the  Tigris  below  Arbela, 

50. '3 


CONQUEST  OF  BABYLON  BY  CYRUS 

conquering  certain  adjacent  territory.    Under  the  seventeenth  year  (538  B.C.) 
is  found  the  account  of  the  final  conquest  of  Babylon : 

Con-  In  the  month  Tammiiz   (.June- July),  after  Cyrus  had  fought  a  successful  battle 

^y^^^  against  the  troops  of  Babylonia  at  the  city  of  Opis,  on  the  banlvs  of  the  River  ZalzaHat, 
North-  he  subdued  the  inhabitants  of  Babylonia.  Whenever  they  gathered  together,  he 
ern  smote  them.       On  the  fourteenth  of  the  month,  Sippar''  was  taken  without  a  battle. 

lOTiT     Nabuna'id  fled. 

(II,  On  the  sixteenth,  Gubaru,  governor  of  the  country  of  Gutium,  and  the  soldiers  of  Cap- 

12-15a)  Cyrus  entered  Babylon  without  a  battle.     Nabuna'id,  since  he  had  been  shut  in,  t^re  of 
was  taken  prisoner  in  Babylon.     To  the  end  of  the  month  Tammuz,  the  shield-bearers  lon'^' 
of  the  country  of  Gutium  guarded  the  gates  of  Esagil:''  no  one's  spear  approached  (III, 
Esagil  or  came  within  the  sanctuaries,  nor  was  any  standard  brought  therein.  j5b- 

Occu-  On  the  third  day  of  jMarcheshvan  (Oct. -Nov.),  Cyrus  entered  Babylon  .  .  . 
^f  th*"  Peace  he  established  for  the  city;  Cyrus  proclaimed  peace  for  all  Babylon.  Gubaru 
city  by  his  governor  appointed  governors  in  Babylon.  From  the  month  Kislev  (Nov. -Dec.) 
Cyrus  to  the  month  Adar  (Feb.-lVIarch)  the  gods  of  the  country  of  Babylonia,  whom  Na- 
^^^C  buna'id  had  brouglit  flown  to  Babylon,  returned  to  their  own  cities.  On  the  eleventh 
24a)  day  of  Marcheshvan,  during  the  night,  Gubaru  made  an  assault  ( ?)  and  slew  the  king's 
son  (?).  From  the  twenty-seventh  of  Adar  to  the  third  of  Nisan  (March- Apr.)  there 
was  lamentation  in  Babylonia:  all  the  people  smote  their  heads. 

Further  light  is  shed  upon  the  manner  in  which  Cyrus  became  master 
of  Babylonia  by  the  proclamation  issued  by  him  to  his  new  subjects  soon 
after  he  entered  Babylon.  It  also  clearly  indicates  his  attitude  toward  the 
religions  of  the  conquered  peoples,  and  therefore  indirectly  illuminates  the 
problems  presented  by  the  opening  chapters  of  Ezra.  The  cylinder  on 
which  it  is  inscribed  is  badly  broken,  but  most  of  it  can  still  be  deciphered. 
Omitting  the  fragments  of  the  opening  lines,  the  decree  reads: 

Mar-  The  daily  offerings  [Nabuna'id]  suspended     .     .     .     He  established  in  the  city  the 

"^"l^^f     ^vorship  of  Marduk  the  king  of  the  gods      .     .     .      On  account  of  their  [the  Bab- 
Cyrus     ylonians']  complaints,  the  lord  of  the  gods  [Marduk]  was  very  wroth.  The  gods  dwell- 
to  the     ing  among  them  left  their  abodes  in  anger,  because  [Nabuna'id]  had  brought  them 
^'^°^    to  Babylon.     Marduk    .     .    .    showed  compassion.     In  all  lands  he  looked  around 
Ionia       ^iid  sought  a  righteous  prince,  after  his  own  heart,  whom  he  took  by  his  hand.     Cyrus 
(7-19)     king  of  Anshan  he  called  by  name,  he  proclaimed  him  by  name  for  the  sovereignty 
of  the  whole  world.     He  subdued  under  his  feet  Kutu  (Gutium)  and  all  the  Umman- 
manda,"'  the  black-headed  races  which  [Marduk]  had  given  into  his  hands;  he  cared 
for  them  justly  and  righteously.     Marduk,  the  great  lord,  beheld  with  joy  the  pro- 
tection (?)  of  his  people,  [Cyrus's]  beneficent  deeds,  and  his  upright  heart.     To  his 
city  Babylon  he  commanded  him  to  march,  and  made  him  take  his  way  to  Babylon. 
Like  a  friend  and  a  helper  he  went  at  his  side.     His  great  hosts,  whose  number  like 
the  waters  of  the  river  could  not  be  known,  with  their  weapons  girded  on,  advanced 
beside  him.     Without  fighting  or  battle,  he  made  him  enter  Babylon.     His  own  city 
Babylon  he  spared  distress.     Nabuna'id  the  king  who  did  not  fear  him,  he  delivered 
into  the  hand  [of  Cyrus].     All  the  men  of  Babylonia,  the  whole  land  of  Sumer  and 
Akkad,  the  nobles  and  the  governors,  bowed  before  him  and  kissed  his  feet,  rejoiced 
at  his  dominion;  their  faces  beamed.     The  lord  [Marduk]  who  by  his  power  makes 
the  dead  live,  who  shows  favor  at  all  times  of  distress  and  need,  graciously  approached 
[Cyrus]  and  honored  his  name. 


*  A  town  near  the  Euphrates  northwest  of  Babylon. 

''  The  great  temple  of  Babylon. 

"The  northern  hordes  over  which  Astyages  ruled. 

50-1 


PROCLAMATION  OF  CYRUS 

I  am  Cyrus,  the  king,  of  hosts,  the  great  king,  the  mighty  king,  king  of  Babylon,  His 
king  of  Sumer  and  .Ikkad,  king  of  tlie  four  quarters  of  the  earth,  the  sou  of  Cam-  titles 
byses,  the  great  king,  king  of  tlie  city  of  .\nshan,  tJie  great-grandson  of  Teispes  the  ances- 
great  king,  king  of  the  city  of  Anshan,  the  enduring  offspring  of  royalty,  whose  reign  try 
Bel  and  Nebo  love,  whose  dominion  tliey  desired  for  the  gladness  of  their  hearts.  (7O- 

-Vfter  I  had  peacefully  entered  Babylon,   1   occupied  \\ith  rt>joicing  and  festivity  K^tib- 
the  king's  palace  as  my  royal  residence.       ^larduk  [inclined  toward]  me   tlie   open  li'sh- 
hearts  of  tlie  inhabitauLs  of  Babylon,  and  daily  I  revered  him.     Mv  vast  army  spread  "lent  of 
itself  out  peacefully  in  Babylon:  tlie  whole  land  of  Sumer  and  Akkad  I  freed  from  jj^'^'""'^ 
every  oppressor.     In  Babylon  and  all  its  cities  I  cared  \\ell  for  their  inhabitants    .     .     .  Baby- 
Their  sighing  I  stilled,  their  sorrow  1  relieved.     To  [do  these]  acts  Marduk  the  great  '^"  _ 
lord  gave  me  command.     To  me,  Cyrus,  the  king  who  reveres  him,  and  to  Cam-  28a) 
bj'ses,  the  son,  the  offspring   of   my  body,     ...     to  the  whole  of  my  army  he 
graciously  inclined  and  in  peace  kindly     .     .     . 

All  the  kings  who  dwell  in  royal  halls,  wlio  in  all  tlie  world,  from  the  upper  [Medi-  Resto- 
terranean]  to  the  lower  sea  [Persian  Gulf],  live  inland,  together  with  the  kings  of  the  r^^tion 
Amorite  laud  [Phcrnicia  and  Phih'stia],  the  inhabitants  of  tents,  all  of  tliem  brought  peoples 
their  rich  tribute  and  in  Sluiannabi  [a  quarter  of  Babylon]  kissed  my  feet.     To  [the  and 
cities  of  Assyria]  the  gods  who  abode  in  them  I  restored  to  their  place  and  settled  in  S'xls  of 
a  pennanent  abiding  place.     All  their  populations  I  gathered  together  and  restored  t<ulieir 
to  their  own  dwellings.     The  gods  of  the  land  of  Sumer  and  Akkad,  whom  Nabuna'id.  homes 
to  the  displeasure  of  the  lord  of  tlie  gods  had  brought  to  Babylon,  at  the  command  of  i^^^~ 
Mardidv,  the  great  lord,  I  caused  to  take  up  their  abode  safely  in  their  own  shrines      ^ 
in  gladness  of  heart. 

5lay  all  the  gods,  whom  I  restored  to  their  own  cities,  daily  before  Bel  and  Nebo  Con- 
speak  of  length  of  days  for  me!     May  tliey  utter  words  in  my  favor  and  to  ^Nlarduk,  eluding 
my  lord,  may  they  say:  'Cyrus  the  king,  who  revereth  tliee,  and  Cambyses  his  son  (g^^Js) 
.     .     .     made  them  all  dwell  in  a  quiet  habitation.' 

XII 

THE  GADATAS  INSCRIPTION 

Another  interesting  contemporary  illustration  of  the  attitude  of  the  early 
Persian  kings  toward  the  religions  of  the  peojiles  subject  to  them  is  found 
in  an  inscription  of  Darius,  discovered  in  1889  in  the  province  of  Magnesia 
and  published  in  Bulletin  de  Correspondance  Hellenique,  XIII,  529: 

The  king  of  kings,  Darius  the  son  of  Hystaspes,  speaks  to  his  servant  Gadatas  as 
follows:  I  hear  that  you  have  not  conformed  in  all  points  to  my  instructions.  To  be 
sure  you  have  taken  great  troulile  to  cultivate  the  land  which  belongs  to  me,  since 
you  have  transplanted  in  the  soil  of  Asia  Minor  the  plants  from  the  trans-Euphrates 
province.  I  praise  your  foresight,  and  for  this  you  will  have  great  thanks  in  the 
royal  court.  l{ut  on  the  other  hand,  because  you  have  annulled  my  arrangement 
in  regard  to  the  gods,  in  case  3'ou  do  not  do  differently,  I  will  make  you  feel  the  auger 
which  you  have  aroused  in  me.  For  you  have  compelled  the  gardeners  consecrated 
to  .\pollo  to  pay  tril)ute  and  to  work  profane  ground,  thus  failing  to  appreciate  the 
feeling  of  my  ancestors  toward  the  god  who  said  to  the  Persians:     .     .     . 

Darius  here  figures  as  the  cliam|)ion  of  the  great  god  Apollo  again.st 
the  excessive  zeal  of  one  of  his  agents  in  Asia  Minor,  a  certain  Gadatas.  who 
hatl  evidently  compelled  those  in  charge  of  the  gardens  connected  with  a 
temple  f)f  .\poll(»  to  pav  tribute.  |)n»bal)lv  in  money,  and  lo  w<u"k  in  the 
rorrrr  or  forced  labfir,  which  all  oriental  rulers  im|)f)sed  upon  llicir  subjects. 
The  inference  is  that  all  connected  with  the  temple  were  free  from  ta.xalion. 

505 


TABLE  OF  MONTHS 


XIII 


THE  HEBREW,  BABYLONIAN,  AND  MACEDONL\.N  MONTHS 

The  Hebrews,  in  common  with  the  Canaanites,  Babylonians,  and  Assyr- 
ians, divided  their  year  into  lunar  months  of  about  twenty-nine  days,  twelve 
hours  and  forty-four  minutes.  The  names  of  only  four  of  the  early  Canaanite 
months,  which  the  Hebrews  adopted  and  used  until  the  Babylonian  exile, 
have  been  preserved.  Two  of  them,  Ethanim  and  Bui  have  also  been  found 
on  Phoenician  inscriptions  dating  from  the  fourth  century  B.C.  During  the 
exile  the  Jews  ceased  to  use  the  old  Canaanite  names,  and  the  editors  of  the 
books  of  Kings,  Jeremiah,  and  Ezekiel  substituted  numerals.  From  the 
period  of  the  exile  the  Jews  adopted  the  Babylonian  names. 

The  old  Hebrew  year  began  about  the  middle  of  September,  as  did  the 
sacred  year  even  in  later  times;  but  with  the  adoption  of  the  Babylonian 
names  for  the  months,  the  Babylonian  new  year,  beginning  about  the  middle 
of  March,  was  also  accepted  by  the  Jews  in  their  secular  calendar. 

The  following  table  will  facilitate  the  identification  of  the  different  months: 


Canaanite 

and  Early 

Hebrew 

Exilic 
Num- 
ber 

Babylonian 
and  Assyrian 

Jewish 

Macedonian 

Modern 
Equivalents 

Abib 

1 

2 
3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 
10 
11 
12 
Inter- 
calary 

Nisannu 

Airu 

Nisan 

Xanthicos 

Artemisos 

Daisios 

March-i\priL 
April-May. 

May-June. 

June-July. 
July-Aug. 

Ziv 

Iwar 

Sivaiiu  or 

Siniannu  .... 
Duzu 

Sivan 

Tamniuz 

Panemo.s 

Loos 

Abu 

Ab 

Ululu 

Elul 

Gorpiaios 

Huperberetaios 
Dios 

Aug.-Sept. 
Sept.-Oct. 
Oct.-Nov. 

Ethaiiim . 
Bui 

Tashritum 

Arab  samna.  . .  . 

KLslimu 

Tebitu 

Tishri 

Marcheshvan 

Kislev 

Tebeth 

Shebat 

Apellaios 

Audunaios 

Peritios 

Dustros 

Nov. -Dec. 

Dec. -Jan. 

Shabatu 

Addaru 

Arhu  mahru  sa 
Addaru 

Jan. -Feb. 

•  •.....•  . 

Adar 

After  Adar  or  Sec- 
ond Adar 

Feb.-March, 

506 


The 

Student's  Old  Testament 

Logically  and  Chronologically 
Arranged  and  Translated 

BY 

CHARLES    FOSTER    KENT,  Ph.D. 

WOOLSEY    PROFESSOR    OF    BIBLICAL    LITERATURE    IN    YALE    UNIVERSITY 

Announcement 


The  five  essen=  >^JHE  Old  Testament  is  a  library  containing 
tiais  for  Old  Tes=  V_^  the  writings  of  Israel's  inspired  teachers, 
^™)  A  systemat-  ^^'^^  lived  at  periods  far  removed  from  each  other, 
ic  classification  of  wrote  from  widely  different  points  of  view,  and 
expressed  their  thoughts  in  the  language  and  liter- 
ar\'  forms  peculiar  to  the  primitive  Semitic  East.  Their  modern 
readers,  however,  live  in  the  very  different  western  world.  The 
result  is  that,  while  the  combination  of  early  songs,  prinili  ive 
traditions,  ethnological  tables,  tribal  stories,  genealogical  Hsls, 
prophetic  exhortations,  la^vs,  judicial  precedents,  and  historical 
narratives  found,  for  example,  in  such  a  book  as  Exodus,  seems 
perfectly  natural  to  the  intuitive  Oriental,  it  is  a  fertile  source  of 
confusion  to  the  logical  Occidental.  The  obvious  solution  of  the 
difficult)'  is  to  be  found  in  systematic  classification.  This  work 
was  begun  by  the  Greek  translators  of  the  Old  Testament,  to 
whom  is  chiefly  due  the  approximately  logical  arrangement  of 
the  books  in  the  English  Bible.  The  confusion  may  be  still  fur- 
ther eliminated  b}--  grouping  together  those  writings  which  have 
the  same  general  theme,  aim,  and  literary  form,  and  then  by  re- 
arranging them  within  each  group  in  the  approximate  order  in 
which  they  were  written. 

Where  there  are  different  versions  of  the  same 

(a)  A   compara-  .  ,  , 

tive  presentation   narrative  or  where  two  or  more  have  been  com- 
of  its  original    ijJned   together— as  is  often  the  case  in   the  first 

sources  •      •      • 

twelve  books  of  the  Old  Testament— it  is  impor- 
tant that  the  originally  distinct  rersions  be  printed  side  by  side, 


THE   STUDENT'S    OLD    TESTAMENT 


as  in  a  harmony,  that  they  may  be  studied  compaiatively  and  as 
independent  literary  units. 

The  third  essential  is  a  clear,  vivid,   dignified 
*\\i'  ^^'   translation,  which  will  represent  not  merely  the 
words    but  also    the    ideas,   the  spirit,   and    the 
beauty   of  the  original,   and  which  will  put  the  reader,  unac- 
quainted with  Hebrew,  in  possession  of  the  latest  contributions 
of  philology,  exegesis,  and  theology. 


The  fourth  is  a  clear  literary  analysis,  which  will 
liter- 
ary  analysis 


(4       ear    i  er-   j^^i^gii^pQggjjjie  j-^adily  to  trace  the  logical  thought 


of  a  story,  law,  sermon,  or  poem,  and  to  note  the 
relation  of  the  different  parts  to  each  other  and  to  the  whole. 

/e>  III  „•    *j  Finally  concise,  lucid  notes  are  demanded,  which 

(S)  Illuminating  -/  '  ' 

introductions  and    will  at  once  prcscut  the  historical    background 
00  -no  es.  ^^^  ^^^  critical,  geographical,  and  archaeological 

data  required  to  illuminate  the  obscurities  of  the  text,  without 
distracting  attention  from  its  beauty  and  thought. 

. .  .     ,  These  five  absolute  essentials  the  Students'  Old 

Aims   and    plan 

of  the  Student's  Testament  aims  to  supply  in  the  fullest  measure 
es  amen  .  ^^^^j  -^  ^j^^  most  direct  and  usable  form.  The  gen- 
eral plan  is  unique  in  its  simplicity  and  economy  of  space.  By 
combining  a  lucid,  scholarly  translation,  a  logical  and  chrono- 
logical classification,  and  a  critical  and  a  literary  analysis  of  the 
text  with  brief  introductions  and  notes  at  the  foot  of  the  page, 
the  reader  is  at  once  placed  in  command  of  the  practical  results 
of  modern  biblical  research,  many  of  which  are  otherwise  found 
only  in  cumbersome  technical  works,  intelligible  only  to  the 
specialist. 

The  sane,  careful  scholarship  and  the  reverent 
Its  origin.  .  .   .  -      ,  ,  .  , 

constructive    spirit    oi    the    author    are    already 

known  to  a  wide  circle  of  Bible  students  through  his  History  of 
the  Hebrew  People  and  his  vcltjmes  in  the  Messages  of  the  Bible. 
The  present  extensive  work  is  the  result  of  years  of  preparation, 
in  which  he  has  also  been  abls  to  profit  by  the  generous  sugges- 
tions and  criticisms  of  a  large  number  of  biblical  scholars  and 


THE    STUDENT'S    OLD    TESTAMENT 


practical  teachers.  The  whole  has  been  prepared  to  meet  not 
theoretical  but  practical  needs  and  has  been  tested  at  each  point 
in  university  and  Bible  classes. 

The  work  embodies  the  positive  conclusions  of 
Its  point  of  view    ^|^^  many  hundreds  of  earnest  critical  scholars, 

and  method.  -^ 

who  have  during  the  past  two  centuries  been 
grappling  with  the  intricate  problems  of  the  Old  Testament.  For 
the  first  time  in  its  history  the  various  versions  of  its  more  im- 
portant stories  and  historical  records  are  printed  throughout  in 
parallel  columns  so  that  they  can  be  readily  studied  in  approxi- 
mately their  original  form.  In  the  introductions  and  foot-notes 
the  biblical  data  upon  which  these  results  are  based  are  cogentl)^ 
presented  so  that  the  ordinary  Bible  reader  can  i-eadily  under- 
stand and  estimate  their  significance.  Where  the  positions  are 
estabhshed  the  fact  is  indicated,  and  where  there  is  still  uncer- 
tainty this  is  also  frankly  stated.  When  at  times  the  author's 
conclusions  differ  from  those  of  the  majority  of  scholars  the 
reasons  for  the  departure  are  fully  outlined. 

To  the  ordinary  conservative  biblical   student. 

Its  pract  ca     -^yho  rejects  or  views  with  alarm  the  critical  posi- 
value.  -"  '■ 

tions  of  modern  Old  Testament  teachers,  an  op- 
portunity is  offered,  for  the  first  time,  of  ascertaining  just  what 
those  positions  are  and  the  chief  reasons  therefor.  To  many  it 
will  be  a  genuine  relief  to  find  that  the  foundations  of  Christian 
faith,  instead  of  being  destroyed,  arc  simply  being  laid  on  a 
deeper  and  broader  historical  basis,  and  that  the  newer  methods 
of  interpretation  are  supremely  helpful  in  gaining  a  true  knowl- 
edge of  the  eternal  messages  of  the  Bible.  To  the  rapidh"- increas- 
ing body  of  progressive  Bible  readers,  who  accept  the  principles 
and  in  general  appreciate  the  practical  value  of  critical  biblical 
research,  this  clear,  definite  presentation  of  its  more  important 
fruits  cannot  fail  to  be  most  welcome.  It  furnishes  to  the  his- 
torian the  data  for  the  easy  reconstruction  of  biblical  history, 
to  the  literary  student  the  basis  for  a  new  understanding  and 
appreciation  of  the  wonderful  literature  of  the  Old  Testament, 
and  to  the  pastor,  the  Sunday-school  teacher,  the  parent,  and 
the  individual  reader  positive  religious  facts  and  teachings,  the 


THE    STUDENT'S    OLD    TESTAMENT 


want  of  which  is  being  strongly  felt  in  this  age,  when  destructive 
conclusions  are  much  in  evidence.  Above  all  the  Student's  Old 
Testament  presents  those  foundations— laid  bare  through  the 
untiring  labors  of  generations  of  Christian  scholars  and  by  the 
faithful  application  of  scientific  method — upon  which  Old  Testa- 
ment interpretation  and  doctrine  promise  in  the  future  to  rest. 

No  effort  or  expense  has  been  spared  to  make  this  work  a  com- 
plete manual  for  class-room  stud}^  for  reading,  and  for  reference. 
Each  volume  is  complete  in  itself,  embodying  all  the  cognate  Old 
Testament  and  apocr^-phal  literature  in  its  given  field.  A  detailed 
table  of  contents,  index,  page-headings,  and  cross-references  facil- 
itate its  use  by  primary  as  well  as  advanced  readers. 

Each  volume  is  also  fully  equipped  with  thoroughly  modern 
topographical  and  historical  maps,  which  are  introduced  in  con- 
nection with  the  literature  of  each  period.  Comparative  chrono- 
logical charts  make  it  possible  to  trace  readily  the  growth  and 
approximate  dates  of  the  Old  Testament  and  apocryphal  writ- 
ings in  connection  with  the  events  and  movements  which  deter- 
mined their  form  and  which  in  turn  they  record.  Tables  of 
weights  and  measures  and  carefulh'  selected  and  detailed  bibli- 
ographies, introduced  in  connection  with  each  epoch,  supply'  both 
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